Yes, it’s three months away, but the official FAA NOTAM is now available, and if you are planning to fly in to EAA AirVenture this summer, it’s not too soon to start studying up on the event’s unique arrival and departure procedures. The NOTAM provides details for the many types of aircraft that fly to Wittman Field in Oshkosh, as well as to nearby airports. You can print out all 28 pages of the PDF booklet online right now or call EAA at 800-564-6322 and they will mail you a free copy. Changes this year include that the fly-in procedures start a day earlier than usual, taking effect Friday, July 20. The FAA will also use a new, higher-powered frequency for the Arrival ATIS this year, 118.75, so pilots can start to listen in from farther out. Additionally, a new landing area has been established for helicopters, and flight hours in the North and South Flight Service Briefing Annexes have been expanded. Events at the show that have so far been confirmed include visits from the U-2 spyplane, U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptors, the Beach Boys, all the usual aircraft and aerial events and more to come. “Over the next three months, through the spring and into the summer, the excitement will build as we prepare to welcome the world to Oshkosh once again,” Tom Poberezny, EAA president and AirVenture chairman, said on Monday. “While the aircraft lineup already committed to AirVenture is outstanding, over the next few months announcements of other airplanes and personalities will round out the event’s lineup to make it truly ‘The World’s Greatest Aviation Celebration.'”
