Lots of camper activity today, and we're going to close Camp Scholler registration for the night (it's about 8:15 pm CDT). The campground needs some additional time to dry for tent and small-unit campers, and we're arranging for more hard surface for the big Class A-type rigs.
Check back in the morning, around 6:30 am and we'll have an update. Thanks for your patience with a situation that most of us haven't seen before at Oshkosh, and especially thanks to all the volunteers for putting in a very long day.
Saturday, July 24, 2010
Saturday 7/24 update #9: Aircraft arrivals
It's been a long day for the aircraft ops group, but one that brought some significant progress. Tom Poberezny noted that Sunday's goal is to open some sort of homebuilt and vintage parking on Sunday morning. Vintage will be moving some planes from Taxiway Papa to the Vintage parking area as a test early Sunday. If all goes well, additional vintage aircraft will be placed and homebuilts will also be moved into parking areas.
In the warbirds area, some light aircraft are being positioned on turf parking areas, but the bomber line area probably needs another day of drying. Runway 4/22 and other hard surfaces are serving as excellent temporary parking locations for other warbird aircraft.
In the North 40, crews will assess the situation on Sunday morning. It's likely that transient aircraft camping and parking will remain closed through at least Sunday morning, with a further determination being made at that time. The big "super sucker" trucks that have been vacuuming water from throughout the grounds this weekend could be employed in some areas.
One other note: since many aircraft were or will be delayed in arriving at Oshkosh this weekend, more time to arrive on Monday is being explored. Necessary adjustments to allow more arrivals would change the showcase flying and air show schedule that day.
Time for everyone to rest a little. Kudos to all their efforts. They'll be back at it at sunrise (or sooner) on Sunday!
In the warbirds area, some light aircraft are being positioned on turf parking areas, but the bomber line area probably needs another day of drying. Runway 4/22 and other hard surfaces are serving as excellent temporary parking locations for other warbird aircraft.
In the North 40, crews will assess the situation on Sunday morning. It's likely that transient aircraft camping and parking will remain closed through at least Sunday morning, with a further determination being made at that time. The big "super sucker" trucks that have been vacuuming water from throughout the grounds this weekend could be employed in some areas.
One other note: since many aircraft were or will be delayed in arriving at Oshkosh this weekend, more time to arrive on Monday is being explored. Necessary adjustments to allow more arrivals would change the showcase flying and air show schedule that day.
Time for everyone to rest a little. Kudos to all their efforts. They'll be back at it at sunrise (or sooner) on Sunday!
Saturday 7/24 update #8: Drive-in camping
Smaller camping units and tent campers are still being placed in Camp Scholler in the driest areas that can be found. The sites with water and electrical hookups are mostly unavailable at this time.
Additional areas to park large Class A-type rigs are still being secured. These off-site locations will allow the big rigs to park safely while Camp Scholler continues to dry and firm up.
Although advance camping purchases for Sunday and Monday nights are no longer available, all are welcome to purchase camping credentials at the Camp Scholler entrance. Large units that must park off-site because of the wet conditions will be directed to the appropriate location.
As Camp Scholler's annual expansion continues, the conditions have created a situation where it's important for people to be courteous to one another. The grounds situation forced EAA to eliminate the borders between such areas as generator-operation sites, campers with pets and the like, so we're asking a few extra favors from campers:
-- If you have a generator, please observe an unofficial curfew of 10:30 p.m. This is a courtesy for your neighbors.
-- If you have a pet in your camping unit, be especially attentive of the pet's whereabouts and behavior.
-- Please limit driving on the campground roads, as they are still in a fragile state and need more time to dry.
Most Oshkosh visitors already do this as a part of their DNA. But we're all in this together, so a little extra courtesy is always a great thing as we head toward opening day.
Additional areas to park large Class A-type rigs are still being secured. These off-site locations will allow the big rigs to park safely while Camp Scholler continues to dry and firm up.
Although advance camping purchases for Sunday and Monday nights are no longer available, all are welcome to purchase camping credentials at the Camp Scholler entrance. Large units that must park off-site because of the wet conditions will be directed to the appropriate location.
As Camp Scholler's annual expansion continues, the conditions have created a situation where it's important for people to be courteous to one another. The grounds situation forced EAA to eliminate the borders between such areas as generator-operation sites, campers with pets and the like, so we're asking a few extra favors from campers:
-- If you have a generator, please observe an unofficial curfew of 10:30 p.m. This is a courtesy for your neighbors.
-- If you have a pet in your camping unit, be especially attentive of the pet's whereabouts and behavior.
-- Please limit driving on the campground roads, as they are still in a fragile state and need more time to dry.
Most Oshkosh visitors already do this as a part of their DNA. But we're all in this together, so a little extra courtesy is always a great thing as we head toward opening day.
Saturday 7/24 update #7: Aircraft arrivals
The aircraft ops team's update session was late this afternoon, and there's good news. Showplanes that had been parked on hard surfaces on the north and northeast side of the airport are being re-positioned on Taxiway Papa (parallel to Runway 18/36) later this evening and tomorrow morning. Volunteers in those areas are organizing ways to bring the aircraft to the taxiway and be ready for possible parking on Sunday. EAA's goal is to sequentially open the grass aircraft parking areas at some point tomorrow. Homebuilts will be the first allowed to park, followed by vintage aircraft. If those parking efforts are successful, and then, hopefully either late Sunday or on Monday, other general aviation aircraft and those in the North 40 could begin parking in the regular areas. If any of those events do occur, the exact times will be announced, and will be based on safety for the aircraft and the grounds.
The Oshkosh ATIS still notes that the aircraft camping and parking areas are still closed. Non-showplane GA aircraft could be diverted to Appleton or Fond du Lac. There is a limited amount of hard-surface parking at Oshkosh.
In the warbirds area, the hard surface parking is filling nicely on Runway 4/22, which is the usual hard-surface parking area for warbirds. In addition, some areas are showing promise as drying continues with good weather forecast.
In the North 40, volunteers and EAA staff are continuing to check the firmness of the parking areas each hour to determine when and where some parking might be allowed.
Among of the other mass arrivals that had not been previosuly announced -- the Cessna arrival will not take place Sunday, with an exact arrival still to be scheduled. Meanwhile, the Comanche mass arrival has been scrubbed, with individual aircraft able to arrive on their own.
Several DC-3s are scheduled to arrive at Oshkosh on Sunday, and will be parked in the most suitable areas that protect the aircraft and grounds.
The operations group is scheduled to meet one more time this evening, and we'll pass along any updates!
The Oshkosh ATIS still notes that the aircraft camping and parking areas are still closed. Non-showplane GA aircraft could be diverted to Appleton or Fond du Lac. There is a limited amount of hard-surface parking at Oshkosh.
In the warbirds area, the hard surface parking is filling nicely on Runway 4/22, which is the usual hard-surface parking area for warbirds. In addition, some areas are showing promise as drying continues with good weather forecast.
In the North 40, volunteers and EAA staff are continuing to check the firmness of the parking areas each hour to determine when and where some parking might be allowed.
Among of the other mass arrivals that had not been previosuly announced -- the Cessna arrival will not take place Sunday, with an exact arrival still to be scheduled. Meanwhile, the Comanche mass arrival has been scrubbed, with individual aircraft able to arrive on their own.
Several DC-3s are scheduled to arrive at Oshkosh on Sunday, and will be parked in the most suitable areas that protect the aircraft and grounds.
The operations group is scheduled to meet one more time this evening, and we'll pass along any updates!
Saturday 7/24 update #6: Auto parking
Along with aircraft parking areas and the campgrounds, EAA staff and volunteers are continuing to monitor the status of auto parking lots, with some visitors arriving on Sunday before the official opening day on Monday, July 26.
At the current rate of drying, it appears that the auto lots will be in adequate shape for opening day. For visitors to AirVenture on Sunday, July 25, the Red and Orange auto lots will be used, as they are currently in the best shape.
Further updates on auto parking lots and other areas of the AirVenture grounds will be posted as they develop.
At the current rate of drying, it appears that the auto lots will be in adequate shape for opening day. For visitors to AirVenture on Sunday, July 25, the Red and Orange auto lots will be used, as they are currently in the best shape.
Further updates on auto parking lots and other areas of the AirVenture grounds will be posted as they develop.
Saturday 7/24 update #5: Drive-in camping
Campers are still lining up to check in at AirVenture. Tent campers are being allowed to find a dry spot of their choosing in the campground. They are encouraged to find a location and settle in instead of driving excessively in the campground roads. 
With the conditions, the emphasis is on finding suitable locations, so the usual boundaries between handicapped, 24-hour generator and other areas are no longer being used.
The big rigs are still being held to the hard surfaces, in and out of Camp Scholler.
The volunteers are doing a great job on every level -- greeting campers, escorting them to positions and providing services to those who might find themselves "in a little too deep" on certain roadways.
Some areas in the campground, especially those on higher knolls that are receiving direct sunlight, are beginning to dry.
There's still more than a day to go before opening day, and with good weather forecast, the status is aimed at steady improvement.
Saturday 7/24 update #4: Aircraft arrivals
A sunny, breezy afternoon has helped the field conditions enough that we can start devising a plan for when we can start parking showplanes. The only question is when.
The goal today is to get showplanes, such as homebuilts and vintage aircraft, into position on hard surfaces near the flight line. That way, it will be easier to put them in parking and camping position as conditions allow.
The plan is based on areas that seem to be drying fastest. Homebuilts and ultralights would be brought in first, followed by vintage aircraft, then warbirds, and finally those who plan to park in the North 40. As we move showplanes off the hard surfaces on the north side, it will open more space for other aircraft there.
There is no exact time for that to occur, and it would be Sunday at the earliest. We are continuing to monitor each parking area hourly, and all parking will be done with the emphasis on aircraft and grounds safety. Inbound pilots can also monitor the AirVenture parking page at www.airventure.org/aircraft/parking_status.asp.
In other updates, the Mooney mass arrival has been scrubbed and those aircraft will arrive individually. The Bonanzas will land in Manitowoc instead, and then bus to Oshkosh. A truck with their camping supplies will meet them at the North 40, and they will have a tent camping compound in the North 40.
In addition, exhibitor aircraft are being brought in individually and palced on hard surfaces. The only aircraft that are delayed are heavier aircraft that will be exhibited on turf areas.
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