Bricks now Boarding part 3: Familiar Team Experiences
An airplane control Yoke
Part 3 (told you this was a big project!) of our American Airlines project was the things that you would recognise within an airport. All the little things that their team works with on a day to day basis.
Flight Crew
Probably the most visible airline employees are the ones you see on board! So it was only natural that we’d do something connected to an airplane - but what? After a lot of discussion, we opted for something that staff are really hands on with - the control yoke! This model is of a Boeing 787 control yoke, around 2/3 life size. It certainly feels like a real one to me!
I hate this colour!
Apron crew
You might not see them as often, but there are a whole range of people working on the aiport apron (the concrete bit the planes are on). From engineers to baggage handlers, they are all involved in making sure you and your luggage get to the right place.
The obvious thing to build here is a high-vis jacket. You’ll see everyone wearing one to make sure they are safe.
Building a LEGO model of something that in reality is cloth, isn’t that easy! I did get one big help from LEGO though in the colour. Only released in 2022, this colour really is perfect for a high-viz jacket.
The only downside to using this colour is that it’s REALLY bright! I mean, it’s meant to be - but I wouldn’t suggest building out of it for days on end….
Online
Airlines are huge users of technology - there’s just too many parts to keep track of. So to reflect this, we decided that an iPad would be a great representation. With the AA website on, of course!
This is where our printing capability really came into it’s own. As much as I’d like to say that building a grey slab is complex, I can’t say it was the hardest model! Even so - it did get a headphone jack and volume buttons. And it may have duped a few staff into thinking it was the real thing!
To highlight the technical crew, we also decided to build something they’d all be familar with - a wrench. Just don’t use this one to tighten any real nuts!
A LEGO wrench
A LEGO iPad
An American Airlines tug and cargo container
Cargo
Carrying freight is a huge part of any airlines business, so we couldn’t miss out freight. We also wanted to reflect the teams that transport baggage and everything else that goes onto a plane.
The obvious answer? An airline tug carrying a freight container. Something ubiquitous but also somehow out of sight.
Next up….. the Admirals Club!
