Before wheels up en route to OSH, it’s essential to become familiar with the EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2024 Notice (commonly known and published before as Oshkosh NOTAMS ). The Notice provides detailed, necessary information to make your arrival and departure to this year’s 71st fly-in convention, held July 22nd through 29th, a success.

With more than 10,000 aircraft expected to arrive at Wittman Regional and other nearby airports, the density of aircraft is only exceeded by the hundreds of thousands of attendees in total that are expected to attend this year. And just because you may be familiar with last year’s arrival and departure notes, keep in mind that there are some new changes in store for you this year. In fact, many of the updated changes for this year were a direct result of feedback from pilots like you, with a dose of FAA recommendations as well.

So, what can you expect if you are flying into OSH this year (other than the requisite sweaty palms?) The first thing to consider is that the 2024 Notice is effective from Noon CDT on Thursday, July 18 through Noon CDT on Monday, July 29. Since many different aircraft types traverse the airspace, the FAA-designed Notice provides procedures for the many types of aircraft flying in for the event.

• READ MORE: Welcome to Oshkosh

Some of the surprise changes for this year include a TFR that will be in effect in Milwaukee (KMKE) airspace from July 15 through 18, a direct result of the Republican National Convention taking place during this time.

Anyone who has flown into AirVenture in the past is well familiar with the FISK holding procedure. However, don’t get too comfy with that procedure this year, as the FISK holding procedure has changed, as evidenced by several pages dedicated to these changes in the Notice. By the way, for you early birds, there are no FISK arrivals on Thursday, July 25, before 8 a.m., so go ahead and enjoy that Grand Slam breakfast and plan your arrival accordingly.

As before, ATC assignable transition points will also be part of the 2024 plan. This includes approaching Oshkosh from the west, which is planned to ease holding and congestion.

Transition points include Endeavor Bridge, Puckaway Lake, and Green Lake. These will be announced on the arrival ATIS when ATC activates these points, typically during high traffic times.

Even seasoned pilots will tell you that preparation is critical to your safe and successful journey to and from AirVenture. EAA’s vice president of advocacy and safety, Sean Elliott, says, “The most essential information for any pilot flying to Oshkosh involves reading and thoroughly understanding the 2024 AirVenture Notice to ensure safe operations on arrival and departure.”

With total aircraft operations at Wittman alone expected to average up to 148 takeoffs and landings per hour when the airport is open, understanding the procedures in detail becomes even more critical.

As a successful fly-in attendee, you will be part of a group of pilots who will experience one of the most exhilarating aspects of general aviation—flying into EAA AirVenture: an experience that should not be taken lightly.

Pilots can download a digital version of the Notice at EAA.org/NOTAM.

The post Changes in the 2024 AirVenture Notice Worth Examining appeared first on Plane & Pilot Magazine.

As seismic activity increases beneath Iceland’s Fagradalsfjall volcano, experts warn of a potential eruption that could have far-reaching consequences for air travel. The Icelandic Meteorological Office has been closely monitoring the situation, raising the alert level, and prompting discussions about the potential impact on both commercial and general aviation operations.

The Icelandic Met Office reports a surge in seismic activity near the volcano, signaling a possible eruption in the coming days and prompting the evacuation of nearby Grindavik. 

The memory of the 2010 eruption of Eyjafjallajökull looms large in the collective consciousness. The event led to widespread disruptions in the aviation industry, with volcanic ash clouds drifting across Europe, causing the largest peacetime closure of the continent’s airspace. The closure affected approximately 100,000 flights, stranding millions of passengers and resulting in an estimated economic impact of billions of dollars lost. More recently, the 2014 eruption of Bárðarbunga led to temporary airspace closures and flight diversions. 

The Keflavik International Airport (BIKF) in Iceland holds particular significance for general aviation pilots navigating across the Atlantic. Serving as a vital waypoint between Europe and North America, Keflavik is a crucial refueling and stopover point for smaller aircraft making transatlantic crossings. An eruption near Keflavik could impact flight routes, necessitating alternative plans for GA pilots navigating the challenging Atlantic airspace.

• READ MORE: Ferrying for Television

Volcanic ash clouds pose a significant threat to aviation, as they can damage aircraft engines and pose risks to flight safety. The U.S. Geological Survey emphasizes that volcanic ash clouds are composed of fine particles and glass that can cause engine failure and damage crucial aircraft components. 

• READ MORE: Weather Hazards

Pilots are advised to stay informed about volcanic activity and exercise caution when flying near affected regions. The USGS provides guidelines on how pilots can identify volcanic risk and take necessary precautions. Some tips include:

• Monitoring volcanic ash advisories: Pilots should regularly check for volcanic ash advisories issued by relevant authorities. These advisories provide real-time information on the location and concentration of volcanic ash clouds, and may include SIGMETs, NOTAMs, and any USGS-issued volcano observatory notice for aviation (VONA).
• Weather radar and satellite imagery: Utilizing advanced weather radar and satellite imagery can help pilots identify volcanic ash clouds and plan alternative flight paths to avoid potential hazards.
• Communication with Air Traffic Control: Maintaining open communication with ATC is crucial during volcanic events. Pilots are encouraged to report any encounters with volcanic ash and follow controllers’ instructions promptly.
• Volcanic risk assessment: Pilots should recognize and assess volcanic risk factors. These include understanding the characteristics of volcanic ash clouds and their potential impact on aircraft systems, and evaluating the potential risk when making a go/no-go decision.

While the situation in Iceland is unfolding and being closely monitored, airlines and aviation authorities worldwide are preparing for potential disruptions. Passengers are advised to check with their airlines for updates on flight schedules and be aware of the evolving situation as experts work to mitigate the potential impact of the impending volcanic eruption.

The post Icelandic Volcano Puts Aviation on Alert appeared first on Plane & Pilot Magazine.

During the annual convention, the control tower at KOSH becomes the busiest in the world. Pilots are instructed to land their aircraft on particular colored dots, and radio traffic is kept to a minimum because there are so many aircraft on approach. On average, an airplane lands every 17 seconds on the north-south runways. The east-west runway, which serves the warbird ramp, is also busy, as is the smaller ultralight and vintage area on the south end of the airport.

The FAA oversees the event and the publication of the NOTAM.

The 32-page document can be downloaded here.

The NOTAM begins with notes on preflight planning. The first thing you read is that “pilots should be prepared for the possibility of diverting to an alternate airport such as Fond du Lac (KFLD), Appleton (KATW), or Green Bay (KGRB).”

It is noted that Fond du Lac will have a temporary control tower in operation during AirVenture. The frequency can be found in the NOTAM.

Once you land, you will be directed to parking—there is information on the printed sign you should have in your aircraft and displayed so the ground crew knows where to put you. For example, GAC means General Aviation Camping.

Since so many pilots come from outside the area, the NOTAM has detailed VFR traffic transition diagrams warning the visiting aviators about military operations area, special traffic advisories, and terminal areas to avoid. Another page walks you through transitioning through the airspace managed by Chicago Approach.

Arrivals are explained in both a textual and pictorial fashion. For example, all variations of the Fisk arrival are spelled out, and there are accompanying drawings and photographs with annotations.

Notes for Fond du Lac arrivals and departures can be found as well.

The plans for large formation arrivals are also explained. The NOTAM reads: “To increase efficiency and safety of traffic arriving at Wittman Regional Airport, several large groups of similar-performance aircraft have been approved to make formation arrivals. Participation in these arrivals is limited to aircraft registered in each group and requires an FAA letter of authorization.

“These formation arrivals are scheduled for late morning through midafternoon on Saturday, July 22, and for early morning on Sunday, July 23. Weather and other factors may change the schedule. Traffic using the Fisk VFR arrival to Oshkosh can expect delays during these large formation arrivals.”

Type of Aircraft Matters

Warbirds, ultralights, helicopters, and seaplanes—pay attention because there are special procedures just for you.

Holding Patterns

Pilots should be prepared to enter a holding pattern when arriving at Oshkosh. The NOTAM provides detailed instructions on when and how to enter the hold along with airspeeds, altitudes, and what geographic point you will be holding over. Pilots who have never flown a holding pattern before would be wise to get some experience with this before they head for the show. You will also want to carry extra fuel for this contingency.

Changes

Among the changes in this year’s NOTAM, the ultralight area has been shifted slightly, and pilots are cautioned not to overfly the area.

Be sure to read the details on the distance between colored dots on both Runways 36L and 36R along with when to exit the runway. Don’t confuse the runways—36L is the wider of the two. Don’t overshoot.

Canadian pilots receive special mention in the NOTAM, and there are procedures for pilots without radios as well.

VFR departures and IFR departures are also spelled out, along with notes on picking up an IFR clearance after departure.

There is some irony in the presentation of the 2023 NOTAM—it features a B-17 on the cover. The image was selected by the FAA—the creators of the NOTAM—months ago, perhaps because AirVenture is known as one of the few places where the average person can get up close to an airworthy B-17.

There are less than 25 of the iconic aircraft still flying. At this time, it is unknown if any B-17s will be making it to AirVenture. Several of the aircraft, including the EAA’s Aluminium Overcast, have been self-grounded out of an abundance of caution because of a potential wing spar issue. The aircraft are undergoing meticulous inspections. As this story was going to print, the FAA had not released an airworthiness directive for the B-17 wing spars.

Editor’s Note: This story originally appeared on flyingmag.com.

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