Text message service to smooth Oshkosh arrivals

In a teaming-up of technology and tradition, text messages will augment the customary notice to airmen the FAA has published for this year’s event to inform pilots of AirVenture arrival procedures and other crucial information. The annual fly-in convention of the Experimental Aircraft Association that draws pilots and aviation devotees by the thousands each year will run July 22 through 28. The flight procedures outlined in the notam will govern comings and goings from Wittman Regional Airport between July 19 and July 29.

“By texting OSHARRIVAL to 64600, pilots can receive the latest status updates for AirVenture arrivals and plan accordingly, whether that means continuing to Oshkosh or perhaps temporarily stopping at an outlying airport if traffic levels are very high,” EAA said in a news release.

The new text-messaging system joins two long-established sources of text information for AirVenture: OSHALERT, which provides AirVenture site weather and other updates, and OSHFUN, which gives details of AirVenture features and highlights, the EAA said.

The text service was a product of aviators’ input. “We used pilot feedback to create recommendations to the FAA for enhancing the notam and arrival processes,” said Sean Elliott, EAA’s vice president of advocacy and safety. “It is every pilot’s responsibility to read and understand the current Oshkosh notam before they fly to AirVenture, but the text message system adds a level of up-to-the-minute complementary information that was not available previously.”

The FAA’s 2019 AirVenture notam also contains changes including new procedures for aircraft diversions to Fond du Lac County Airport in the event of closure of Wittman Regional Airport, removing previous transponder-use restrictions, and new IFR routings.

Additional EAA AirVenture information, including advance ticket and camping purchase information, is available on the organization’s website.