Increasing chatter on social media about an impromptu fly-in (described in some posts as a protest) at Wittman Field in Oshkosh in late July has prompted the airport authority to issue a notice on what those flying (or driving) to KOSH can expect. EAA says it has also sent a note to members reminding anyone with a need to get Wittman in their logbook, despite the COVID-19 cancellation of this year’s event, that the airport is open like it is the other 51 weeks of the year and nothing more. None of the temporary services and amenities that welcome the hundreds of thousands of attendees each year will be there. That means, among other things: no camping, no airside access to AirVenture facilities, no access to Papa 2 taxiway (Boeing Plaza) and for those that come on four wheels or more, no Camp Scholler. Setting up those huge camping areas requires permits and EAA didn’t get them this year. The EAA museum will also be closed.
“As AirVenture 2020 is not taking place, Wittman Regional Airport will operate normally as a public use airport with contract tower services,” the authority said in its statement. “For those considering flying to Oshkosh in late July, it’s important to manage expectations about what is permissible.” That essentially means itinerant parking is available at the Basler FBO ramp and terminal and that’s it. “For those who still want to fly to Oshkosh during AirVenture week, we encourage you to park at the Terminal / Basler FBO ramp, stay at one of our local hotels, and enjoy some of Oshkosh’s hospitality. Please coordinate with Basler Flight Service to arrange any ground handling needs.”
Considering how many people don’t bother to read the NOTAM before flying into AirVenture, I bet there’s going to be more than a few pilots flying in anyway and wondering where everybody went.
Wisconsin bars and restaurants are all open and they close a huge cash cow over a Dempanic Scare Tactic. This is such a shame. When it’s all said and done, I hope everyone will look to those that caused this and vote accordingly. Insanity is not what created the United States greatness.
amen
Agree or disagree with EAA’s decision to cancel the event, or Wisconsin’s decision to re-open, the pandemic is not a scare tactic, it is a real health crisis. I find this chart a useful illustration: https://aatishb.com/covidtrends/?country=Canada&country=Germany&country=New+Zealand&country=South+Korea&country=US&country=Wisconsin . It compares how Wisconsin and the USA are doing relative to competent measures (Canada, Germany) and genuine success stories (New Zealand, South Korea). The chart plots new confirmed cases against total confirmed cases, on a log-log axis. This factors out differences in testing effectiveness and honesty of reporting, since those affect both axes. A straight diagonal line shows exponential growth: all countries started out here. The curve bending downwards shows success at containing the pandemic.
Wisconsin is doing worse that the other countries, and the US as a whole is doing worse than Wisconsin. This chart is enough to persuade me not to take a trip to KOSH until the curves bend down significantly.
You speak the truth Doug! Heck, if “demonstrators” can create the city of Chaz in WA with no regard to health, safety or personal property, maybe fellow pilots can take over the airport and create a new city of Cloudz. LOL!
As of today, Tucson is running out of ICU slots. Some scare tactic!
Let’s also remember that pulling off AirVenture requires hundreds of people working their butts off for several months, and they would have had to start in May. While people have the right to their own opinion about how real Covid-19 is, they have no right to impose it on all the volunteers that make AirVenture possible.