What, exactly, is an FBO?

FBOs are the aviation equivalent of full-service gas stations. They typically offer a wide range of services. The acronym stands for fixed-base operator, and it had its genesis in the early days of aviation, when itinerant operators flew from field to field and airport to airport, eking out a living selling their services to people who would pay them to fly their raggedy old airplanes. When one of these operators decided to put down roots and run an airport-based business, that operator became "fixed," in the sense of no longer traveling. Some of these operators built thriving businesses, and the company that provided fuel, hangars and other airport services became known as the FBO. The term is now widely used all over the world, despite some efforts to modify it.