Understanding Air Traffic Control
at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh
DEPARTING AIRVENTURE
Two different procedures are available
for departing AirVenture - depending on weather conditions and your
preferred method of flight: either VFR or IFR.
Thoroughly review the information in the Special
Flight Procedures AirVenture Oshkosh NOTAM prior to beginning
your journey home. Ensure that you always have a copy of the NOTAM with
you, and remember, the information presented here is NOT a
substitute for the official NOTAM.
Also, when OSH is IFR, taxiing is
prohibited except for aircraft with an IFR clearance.
During AirVenture, whether departing VFR
or IFR, all surfaces other than the active runways are considered to
be Non-Movement Areas. This doesn't mean that you cannot taxi on
them - it simply means that Air Traffic is only controlling surface
traffic that is on active runway.
Please be alert for
taxiing aircraft in all aircraft parking areas.
VFR
Departures | IFR Departures
VFR
Departures
Begin your journey home by first
reviewing the AirVenture NOTAM and obtain a proper weather
briefing.
Monitor the OSH Departure ATIS on frequency
128.75 (to ensure that OSH is indeed VFR and that the airport is
open for departures).
Prior to engine start, place a sign in
your windshield with the letters "VFR". This sign will
indicate to the ground volunteers that you intend to depart VFR. When
you are ready to begin your taxi, do not
contact Ground Control. Instead, follow the directions of
the EAA flagpersons and begin to taxi in the direction of the runway
designated for your parking area (if identified).
Once reaching the active runway, hold
short of the runway and monitor the applicable tower frequency. FAA
Air Traffic Controllers are stationed on elevated platforms near the
runway departure points, and they will clear radio equipped aircraft for
take off via the applicable frequency.
Aircraft departing Runways
9 or 27 shall monitor 121.75.
Aircraft departing Runways
18R or 36L/36R shall monitor 118.9.
Aircraft departing Runway
18L shall monitor 126.6 (post-air show only, when needed)
Please pay close attention to what is
being stated by the air traffic controllers. This is a very busy time
for both the pilots and the controllers. Vigilance is a must.
For aircraft not equipped with radios or
unable to communicate with Air Traffic Control, place an additional sign with
the letters "NORDO" in the windshield indicating your
lack of ability to communicate via the radio. Upon reaching the
departure end of the active runway, hold short and follow the hand
signals of the FAA Air Traffic Controllers wearing pink shirts adjacent
to the departure end of the active runway.
larger view
Do not confuse the EAA volunteers (in
orange shirts / vests) with the FAA Air Traffic Controllers (in pink
shirts).
After receiving your takeoff clearance,
follow the procedures as described in the AirVenture NOTAM for that
particular runway. Make sure to carefully scan for other aircraft as you
depart the OSH area - traffic volume will usually be very high.
Have a safe flight home!
IFR
Departures
A smooth IFR departure from AirVenture
involves: planning (following procedures), patience and position
(both reporting your position on the airport to Ground Control as you
taxi and locating the proper IFR staging area).
REMEMBER
- OSH IFR DEPARTURE RESERVATIONS ARE REQUIRED
(see page 24 of NOTAM)
The ground movement portion of
departing IFR from OSH AirVenture is identical to the VFR
departure procedure, with the exception of contacting Clearance
Delivery and Ground Control before beginning your taxi. Prior to
engine start, place a sign in
your windshield with the letters "IFR". This sign
will indicate to the ground volunteers that you intend to depart
IFR. This is very important as IFR and VFR aircraft may depart from different
locations on the runway.
Monitor the OSH Departure ATIS on frequency
128.75 to verify weather and runway in use, then contact
Clearance Delivery to receive your IFR clearance. Please note
that you will not be initially issued a transponder code with your
clearance. This will be issued later, along with your takeoff
clearance - after coordination with Milwaukee Approach has been
completed and you have been released for departure.
Next,
contact Ground Control when directed, advising the controller of
your position.
For example:
"Oshkosh Ground, November One Two
Three, a red and white Cessna one eighty, IFR, with clearance, located
south of the Runway 9/27 midfield taxiway in camping, ready for
taxi".
Ground Control will visually confirm your
location, and when applicable, advise you to follow the EAA flagpersons
to the departure runway. This controller will also request one or more
position reports from you as you taxi. Due to the large number of
aircraft operating on the surface at OSH, these position reports are
very important in assisting Ground Control in tracking your progress.
This process is also very important to you, the pilot, as Ground Control
cannot continue to coordinate your departure unless he/she knows your
exact location.
The next, very important step is to locate
and position your aircraft in the appropriate IFR Staging Area.
These areas are identified below, and in the AirVenture NOTAM.
larger
view
If for some reason you have been directed
by EAA flagpersons to a point other than an IFR Staging Area for
departure:
CONTACT GROUND CONTROL AND
ADVISE THEM OF YOUR SITUATION.
This situation will happen if you do not
have an "IFR" card prominently displayed in your windshield.
Do not
depart with the other VFR traffic!
Upon reaching the IFR staging area, hold
short of the active runway and remain on Ground Control until directed
to monitor the applicable Tower frequency.
FAA Air Traffic Controllers are stationed
on elevated platforms near the runway departure points. They will
provide you with a transponder code, assigned heading and altitude, and
(when the time comes) a takeoff clearance.
Please pay close attention to what is
being stated by the air traffic controllers. This is a very busy time
for both the pilots and the controllers. Vigilance is a must.
REMEMBER
- DO NOT TAKE OFF WITHOUT AN ASSIGNED TRANSPONDER CODE!
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