Amelia Airheart Needs Some Input on Her Airline
Great news, friends! I successfully finished flight school and graduated with flying colors! The ducks weren’t too bossy, thank goodness. I think it’s something about their squawking that makes them seem that way. Sometimes it’s easy to be misunderstood, you know? As we loons know better than most. Some people think we’re creepy with our beautiful eyes and our melodious (eerie) call. Can’t please everyone, I guess.
You haven’t heard from Scottie and I for a bit because I flew him to Rochester for a test trip. My first flight with a passenger was pretty good, but I can tell you we’re not going to allow snacks on board. Having a squirrel chomp down pinecones the whole way south was not only messy but also noisy, distracting, and possibly a bit dangerous. We made it there okay and had a safe landing at the Mayo Clinic helipad. Boy, are those people doing some great work! Thanks for all you’re doing, team!
I am also pleased to announce that I have a name for my fabulous new airline: En Plein Air (it’s French because I’m Canadian) and means “outdoors”. Perfect, because this airport experience is all about the outdoors. You’ll get on a flight outdoors (ramps for everyone, no discriminatory stairs here!) While you’re waiting you’ll be able to enjoy beautiful walks in the park, go for a swim in the lake, climb some trees nearby… whatever you want. If it’s cold, sleds and skis are provided. If you’d rather hang out “indoors” there will be a cool, multi-tiered airport pavilion. I’m thinking this design might work out great, if we can figure out bigger ramps and landing places for all our friends.
When it’s time for you to leave, we’ll just give you a shout, your flight bird will come to you, you’ll hand in your tickets, and off you go. You don’t have to keep them in a fancy ticket holder like ours.
One of the problems we have to figure out is how to make sure your luggage makes it safely to your destination. Scottie and I may have overpacked for this research excursion. But, we figure, the same might be true for our customers. How can you go to the mountains without ski gear, for example? Exactly- it would be hard. Do we attach the suitcase to a luggage strap and hang it below? Enlist another bird to fly it on a back like they do with those cool camel and elephant riding things? If you have ideas, let us know.
That cool pavilion will have heaters and fans as needed. It will also have super-great libraries (shout out to all the fantastic librarians we know!) where you can check out books for your travel. Just drop them off at any of our airport locations or your local library. We’ll get them back! There will also be shops and restaurants (eating al fresco is encouraged).
It’s also really important for my airport to support the arts and provide some interesting sculptures and paintings to look at. Nothing worse than boring white walls everywhere you look. Or just trees, for that matter. Variety is the spice of life and mine involves chocolate and cinnamon and fresh walleye and cookies and french fries. What was I talking about? Oh, yeah, art. Here are some choices- let us know what you think!
Probably shouldn’t have saved this for last, but customer service is definitely important if you want lots of customers. I’ve met the new team and think they’re going to make a fantastique crew! Lots of energy and ideas. Some of them are going to be a little flighty, but I’ve managed this long with Scottie for a best friend and he’s all over the place. Can’t wait to meet you and see you on a flight real soon! We’ll have a big soireé (party) when the airport’s about to open. RSVP, please! (that’s also French, but I won’t bore you with the translation.) Au revoir for now!!!
