Aircraft Parking Update: North 40 Project No Problem for Arriving Oshkosh Aircraft
Expanded areas near homebuilt camping, South 40 more than offset lost North 40 spaces
July 10, 2016 – Some adjustments on the EAA AirVenture Oshkosh grounds have countered lost aircraft camping spaces caused by this spring’s Wittman Regional Airport project that impacted the north side of the North 40 area.
Along with the new South 40 area established earlier this year, other moves allowed aircraft camping spaces to be created on the south side of the North 40 and adjacent to homebuilt camping.
“Welcoming aircraft to park and camp is a high priority for us, so we urged staff and volunteers to be creative in finding areas that could be used,” said Rick Larsen, EAA’s vice president of communities and member programs who coordinates features and attractions at AirVenture. “It was truly a cooperative effort that resulted in finding an equivalent number of camping spots to those lost through this year’s airport project.”
Working in cooperation with the Warbirds of America, two lesser-used parking rows in the Warbirds area adjacent to the North 40 will be open to general aviation camping.
Along with the South 40, where the new aircraft camping area is coming along very well due to excellent weather in late June, additional aircraft camping will be just south of the current homebuilt camping area. That includes much of the former Lot B (Yellow Lot) vehicle parking area. It will be accessed via the P1 taxiway off Runway 18/36. Aircraft ground marshals will direct aircraft to the proper areas as needed.
Moving aircraft camping into that area relocates permit auto parking, with a small portion of the former Lot B still available with the remainder moving into the Green Lot near the Nature Center. General auto parking will move to other lots throughout the grounds.
Traditionally, Monday and Tuesday are the most congested days in the GA aircraft camping areas, a combination of the early arrivals prior to opening day along with those who arrive during the first part of AirVenture week. North 40 volunteers continually monitor available spaces in for arriving aircraft to provide updated information for aircraft arrivals.
“The airport project is a one-year project, but the cooperative work of EAA volunteers and staff made it possible to find ways to welcome more airplanes to the World’s Greatest Aviation Celebration,” Larsen said. “We want to make sure that we can welcome as many people as possible who want to fly their aircraft to Oshkosh.”
