Orlando, Florida is in the business aviation spotlight this week with NBAA 2014 being held at the Orange County Convention Center. There is no better way to get an inside look into the city than to talk with a local member of the business aviation community. Kelly Lussiano, a Beyond and Above trained corporate flight attendant, stepped forward to share her personal insights regarding Orlando and her opinions on how to be successful in private aviation.
Although Kelly Lussiano calls Orlando home, she is very flexible and thus is not only based out of Orlando International Airport (KMCO), but also Tampa International Airport (KTPA), John F. Kennedy International Airport (KJFK), Detroit Metropolitan International Airport (KDTW) and Greater Cincinnati International Airport (KCVG). She started her career in commercial aviation as a flight attendant where she gained 15 years of experience before making the transition to private aviation. She has been a corporate flight attendant for over a year now and had her last recurrent training in March 2014. Kelly is an active member of the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA).
Throughout the past 16 years, Kelly has flown on numerous aircraft, including CRJ-200, CRJ-700, CRJ-900, EMB-120, Saab 340, Challenger 601, Challenge 604, Falcon 50 and Gulfstream. She also has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Marketing and Hotel Restaurant Management from Saint Leo University.
While Kelly loves Italian cuisine and lasagna is one of her favorite dishes, she loves to eat sushi while in Orlando. For corporate flight attendants visiting Orlando for the first time, she says “shopping is a must. I suggest shopping at Premium Outlet Orlando and Mall of Millenia. For visiting some of Florida’s renowned beaches, the closest to Orlando are Coco Beach and Daytona Beach.”
Since Orlando has so many tourists year-round, Kelly shared some local tips. “If you want to visit any of the theme parks in Orlando, you can get a great deal on tickets by purchasing them ahead of time. When it comes to eating out, “Restaurant Row” has lots of dining options and is located close to attractions on International Drive. For exploring the area and avoiding the stress of traffic, the I-Ride Trolley is an easy way to explore the International Drive without a car.”
When she is busy traveling, Kelly has two favorite destinations. “I love San Francisco! There is so much to see and do. I have been to Fisherman’s Wharf, and it has a beautiful view of Alcatraz. My favorite part of the trip was bike riding over the Golden Gate Bridge,” she said. “Another favorite destination is Treasure Cay. I love Green Turtle Cay, with its beautiful white sand beaches and the water is so bright blue. Treasure Cay has plenty of restaurants, bars and shops. My favorite place to eat is Tipsy Seagull, great food and beautiful waterfront view.”
For someone considering becoming a flight attendant for business aviation, Kelly says the first important steps are to “obtain a valid passport and attend a corporate flight attendant training course. After completing the course and starting a career, she says the key to success is “to be a team player. This means being dependable, honest, flexible, hardworking and capable of making sound decisions. People skills are just as important. Most of the time you are interacting with passengers and crew, so excellent communication skills are a must! I believe in service with a smile. It is important to be responsible and reliable in the toughest situations, and I always do what it takes to get the job done.” The next time you are looking for a corporate flight attendant in central Florida, contact Kelly Lussiano at kellyullussiano@gmail.com.
This article is part of a series of interviews we are conducting with contract cabin crew members; individuals not employed by Air Culinaire Worldwide. If you would like to be considered for an interview, which is posted on our blog and all of our social media accounts, please contact socialmedia@airculinaire.com.
