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Ex-fighter pilot Mike Ritchie has been a loyal and proud member of the WestJet team since the very beginning.

And through the years, he has developed enormous respect for the way Western Canada's favourite airline does business.

So when Ritchie and an enthusiastic partnership group decided to open the FlightDeck International Bar & Grill on Harvest Hills Boulevard N.W., they all agreed to follow the WestJet customer-service blueprint to the letter.

Patrons always come first, receiving full value and terrific service at a reasonable price, with as much sheer pleasure as possible thrown in as a side dish.

"A lot of us live in the neighbourhoods just northwest of the airport, along with about 80,000 other people. It's a terrific place to live, but the infrastructure has been late catching up," Ritchie explains his desire to inject new life into his favourite part of town.

"People are begging for the kind of quality restaurant and lounge where you can kick back after work. They want a place to enjoy their friends and family as well as one of the finest steaks in town," he adds.

Scheduled to open in December, the FlightDeck International Bar & Grill has been inspired by the upscale international-style dining rooms that have most impressed Ritchie and his colleagues during their world-wide travels.

The FlightDeck International Bar & Grill will combine the informal elegance of an Air Force officer's mess with the relaxed appeal of the most successful North American sports bars.

Ideally situated in Harvest Hills Crossing, well within sight of Calgary's busy International Airport, the FlightDeck will include more than 100 state-of-the-art television screens while boasting a hospitable outdoor patio with southwest exposure.

"We wanted to create the kind of welcome-home feel that enables you to meet your friends after work in an atmosphere of sheer comfort. And I think we've succeeded," Ritchie adds.

But good intentions alone don't make a world-class restaurant. The professional pilot and his partners - many of whom also fly North American skies on WestJet's behalf - quickly realized the need to engage specialized help.

To that end, they brought aboard some of the brightest names in the business to help pull their dream together. For example, the ownership group wished to raise the bar in terms of attractive surroundings. They spared no expense, asking Gibbs Gage Architects to draw up the plans.

Meanwhile, interiors were created by Calgary's fabled Baboushkin Design Group, which has worked wonders with high-end city restaurants from the River Cafe to the Barley Mill in Eau Claire to the new Metropolitan Grill.

One of their smartest moves was to recruit Jeff Hurkett to take charge of operations.

Though youthful, Hukett has rapidly built a reputation as one of the most gifted restaurant managers in the trade, known for his energy and efficiency as well as for the terrific rapport he shares with staffers and customers alike.

Particular care was also taken with menu development - but without the sacrifice of reasonable price points. The international menu at the FlightDeck is as eclectic as they come, but that doesn't mean it's restricted to strictly exotic fare.

There'll be something for everyone, prepared with only the freshest and finest ingredients.

"I've been to Europe many times, as well as to Asia, so I've cherry-picked some of the best menu choices I've enjoyed during my travels. Calgary has become a very cosmopolitan city, so we want our menu to reflect that diversity. No matter who you are or where you come from, you'll find something to your taste," says Ritchie.

Naturally, it takes a pro to live up to such lofty culinary ambitions and head chef Peter Brazeau fills the bill, with 20 years experience in some of the finest hotels and kitchens across the city.

Just to keep the momentum going, Ritchie and confreres have come up with an enlightened entertainment policy to keep things rolling after the dinner dishes are cleared away.

During the evening, they'll welcome the most accomplished bands in the city to the FlightDeck dance floor, offering a musical mix to include Celtic, blues, rock and country.

By the way, corporate Calgary will also find a lot to like at the FlightDeck. It's an ideal space for booking informal seminars, brainstorming sessions and business lunches. A private room will soon be available for more formal functions.

Wait for it. The FlightDeck International Bar & Grill is soon to open its doors. Once you get a taste of Mike Ritchie's dream, you may never want to leave.

Please see the website at www.flightdeck.ca. And call 403.226.1001 for information and corporate bookings.