ATW Handles Fair Share Of AirVenture Traffic

by ANN Correspondent Matthew Russell

Everyone knows the EAA's annual AirVenture fly-in is large enough to temporarily convert Wittman Regional Airport (OSH) into a medium-sized city, and its effects are noticeable throughout the Oshkosh area. As with local retail businesses such as hotels, restaurants, and department stores, neighboring airports seem to benefit from AirVenture as well.

Of these, one of the most active is the Outagamie County Regional Airport (ATW) in nearby Appleton.

Maxair Inc., Outagamie Airport's FBO, has quietly been serving AirVenture-bound pilots since the mid-1980s. The operation at Appleton is located some 20 miles north of Wittman Field, and has grown in sync with the EAA convention. ANN discussed the details with Maxair's Director of Line Services, Pat Roovers.

"We have designated EAA parking areas, and have housed up to 750 small planes [for AirVenture] in the past. Normally, we fill to around 85 percent of capacity."

Though perhaps it pales in comparison to the 10,000 aircraft nesting in the meadows at Wittman Field... the parking, fueling, and securing of up to 750 aircraft are still not small tasks. Roovers explains how the effort at Maxair is largely volunteer-driven. The local EAA chapter provides most of the volunteers, which can number up to 20 per day. Coordination is strong between the volunteer directors, the Civil Air Patrol, and the FAA; including meetings to carefully plan the procedures which will help arriving EAA pilgrims find the tie-down area with ease.

Roovers also describes considerable support from the surrounding community. The Fox Cities Tourism Bureau sets up a temporary information and assistance desk to answer questions about the area. Motor coach charter Nationwide Travelers provides a bus and shuttle service to AirVenture on an hourly basis each day. Nonprofit vendors set up concession stands in the airport parking lot. A local construction company provides a trailer for the CAP to use when closing flight plans, and a car dealer provides four vans to shuttle pilots and luggage on the airport grounds.

The EAA itself provides scooters and golf karts to increase the mobility of the staff and volunteers.

Roovers describes the workload on airport employees as strenuous but fun. She says, "...everyone at the airport gets in on the action. Each employee seems to find a second role to play during EAA, to help the volunteers and pilots. We have radios and equipment to maintain, and we provide water, sunscreen and refreshments to keep the volunteers happy."

Why Appleton? Even though camping is prohibited on the airport, Roovers says many pilots are drawn to the peaceful tempo at Appleton, both in the air and on the ground. "The whole of AirVenture is a half-hour down the road and we've never had to turn anyone away when they land here," she says.

FMI: www.atwairport.com/