Flight Training - August 2019 - 29

ROAD TRIP

BY MIKE COLLINS

OSHKOSH ALTERNATIVES
YOU DON'T HAVE TO FLY INTO WITTMAN TO GO TO AIRVENTURE

TAKE THE LEAP

NOTAM? YES MA'AM
Special procedures apply
beyond Oshkosh

ALMOST EVERY PILOT WANTS TO FLY INTO EAA AIRVENTURE OSHKOSH, THE WORLD'S LARGEST

gathering of aviation enthusiasts and general aviation aircraft. The Experimental Aircraft Association puts on the event every July at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, and it's
popular-attracting around 10,000 aircraft.
That's a lot of air traffic. But fear not. If you're a new pilot-or any pilot-you can fly to
AirVenture without landing at Oshkosh. There are two great airports nearby that, while busy at
times, see far fewer aircraft operations. Fond du Lac County Airport in Fond du Lac is 13 nautical
miles south-southeast of Oshkosh and Appleton International Airport in Appleton, Wisconsin, is
16 nm north.
Both offer AirVenture visitors parking (note, you may be directed onto grass); frequent shuttle
buses to Oshkosh and camping on the field are available-just hop the bus to AirVenture each morning. Because of high demand, rental cars should be reserved in advance, and may be expensive.
At Fond du Lac, if you want to park on a hard surface, contact FBO Fond du Lac Skyport in
advance and make a reservation-otherwise you'll park in the grass. Appleton's FBO, Platinum Flight
Services, does not take reservations during AirVenture. Plan to park in the grass, almost everybody
does. Note that tiedowns are required at both airports; if you don't have or didn't bring any, sets will
be available to buy for about $20.
Camping fees at each airport are modest, and round-trip bus rides to AirVenture cost around $30
per day (bring cash!).
mike.collins@aopa.org

WHY YOU SHOULD GO

EAA AirVenture Oshkosh is the world's largest annual gathering of aircraft
and aviation enthusiasts. If it's aviation, it's probably there.

If you fly into Fond du
Lac County Airport
for AirVenture 2019,
be aware that the FAA
will operate a temporary air traffic control
tower at the airport
from Saturday, July 20,
through Sunday, July 28.
The tower is open from
7 a.m. until 8:30 p.m.
Central time, except that
it will close at 5 p.m.
Central on July 28.
Appleton International
Airport has a control
tower year-round that
operates from 5:30 a.m.
until 11 p.m. Central time
daily. However, because
of higher than normal
traffic volumes, the FAA
publishes recommended
arrival routes for use
during AirVenture.
Arrival information for
both airports is included
in the EAA AirVenture
notam, a 32-page notice
to airmen that should
be considered required
reading if you're flying
an aircraft to either airport (see pages 20 and
22, respectively). The
document is available
online.
eaa.org
Insider's tip: If you
must fly commercially
try General Mitchell
International Airport in
Milwaukee; it's a 92-mile
drive to AirVenture-
but the airport offers
a multitude of flights,
including discount carriers, and it's far enough
away that rental car
prices don't normally
increase because of high
AirVenture demand.

AOPA.ORG/FT 29

http://www.eaa.org http://www.AOPA.ORG/FT

Flight Training - August 2019

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