EAA AirVenture will debut a new text messaging system to its notam procedures for arrivals into the airshow, which takes place from July 22 to 28, 2019.
Pilots provided feedback to EAA operations, and this is one of the enhancements planned to the famous arrival process established to manage the large volume of traffic that descends upon the Oshkosh’s Wittman Regional Airport in Wisconsin each summer for the event.
Sending a text reading “OSHARRIVAL” to 64600 will trigger the system to deliver the latest status updates for the AirVenture arrival, and allow pilots to plan accordingly—including any necessary delay or diversion because of high traffic levels or weather.
The 2019 Oshkosh notam has been issued, and is in effect from 6 a.m. on Friday, July 19, until noon on Monday, July 29, Central Daylight Time. The new notam includes the following changes:
- New procedures for aircraft diversion to Fond du Lac (KFLD) in the event of airport closure at Wittman Regional Airport (KOSH)
- Removal of restriction on transponder use
- IFR routing changes
Other changes include updates to best practices, including procedures to limit the impact of mass arrivals—such as those orchestrated by type club and warbird groups flying into the show—and use of an ATC ground stop/delay system as far out as 150 nm.
Previous text messaging systems, including “OSHALERT” (for weather and other site updates) and “OSHFUN” (for airshow features and highlights) remain in place. They use the same number (64600) as the new system.
