The tremendous volunteers are much refreshed after a night to rest. Usually they assist people at the entrance and on an as-needed basis within the campground. For the past two days, they have extended their shifts and individually escorted many people to campsites, and also tended to those who have been parked off-site in the big camping rigs and motorhomes.
Sorry about any inconvenience that shutting off registration last night may have caused. As I mentioned last night, the admissions group was at the end of its limits, and we preferred not having campers trying to find their way through the dark, especially if it's in a location where they might not be familiar. It's a unique year, and the folks out there are going the extra mile to accommodate as many people as possible. Most attendees have been incredibly patient and understanding, as we know EAA members are. The volunteers and staff appreciate that.
Also, EAA staff and volunteers will be going through some of the off-site areas later today and tomorrow with information on the most frequently asked questions, such as dump station options and other key info.
This morning, the Country USA grounds across the highway from EAA have been opened to the Class A rigs and heavy units. That will add considerable territory and allow us to move more units into position.
One item that was passed along -- if you brought a four-wheeler or other extra vehicle and are in Camp Scholler, please be considerate and don't use that vehicle on the turf roads. Those ATVs chew up turf in a hurry, and it may mean your car (or your neighbor's) gets stuck later. When the roads become impassable, it also means things such as port-a-pottie pumping and maintenance is delayed. Not a good thing.
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Sunday update 7/25 #1: Aircraft arrivals
Good morning! The homebuilt and vintage aircraft parking volunteers are starting to bring some showplanes into parking positions, but it's still somewhat slow. Want to make sure to do it right. Sometimes it's move 20 feet to advance 5.
In homebuilt, the RV parking area seems to be doing the best, with airplanes being positioned there.
Vintage aircraft areas are drying slowly and volunteers there are being careful to preserve aircraft and the turf. Some locations are dry; some have mushy ground or visibile water.
In warbirds, there is a enough hard surface parking to welcome expected arrivals today. Lighter aircraft are being placed on the turf on an individual basis. There are some spots drying well with others that are still quite soft.
We're encouraging North 40/general transient aircraft to use Appleton and Fond du Lac at least for today. The ATIS information is also stating that. That will allow us to get showplanes parked and free up more room if we need hard surface to park North 40 aircraft. So your help is much appreciated.
The AirVenture Cup racers will stay in Fond du Lac for the time being before coming up as a mass arrival.
The crews have done a marvelous job and working as fast as conditions allow. They are checking all areas of the field each hour to see what areas may be opening. Taxiway Papa will continue to be used as a staging area before homebuilts and vintage aircraft are parked. If conditions remain soft, other options could be considered as well.
The next meeting is late this morning, so we'll have an update after that. Thanks for your patience!
In homebuilt, the RV parking area seems to be doing the best, with airplanes being positioned there.
Vintage aircraft areas are drying slowly and volunteers there are being careful to preserve aircraft and the turf. Some locations are dry; some have mushy ground or visibile water.
In warbirds, there is a enough hard surface parking to welcome expected arrivals today. Lighter aircraft are being placed on the turf on an individual basis. There are some spots drying well with others that are still quite soft.
We're encouraging North 40/general transient aircraft to use Appleton and Fond du Lac at least for today. The ATIS information is also stating that. That will allow us to get showplanes parked and free up more room if we need hard surface to park North 40 aircraft. So your help is much appreciated.
The AirVenture Cup racers will stay in Fond du Lac for the time being before coming up as a mass arrival.
The crews have done a marvelous job and working as fast as conditions allow. They are checking all areas of the field each hour to see what areas may be opening. Taxiway Papa will continue to be used as a staging area before homebuilts and vintage aircraft are parked. If conditions remain soft, other options could be considered as well.
The next meeting is late this morning, so we'll have an update after that. Thanks for your patience!
Saturday, July 24, 2010
Saturday 7/24 update #10: Camp Scholler arrivals
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.
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 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.
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