Website Loaded With Information

By ANN Correspondent Rose Dorcey

You've never been to Wisconsin. You'll be flying. You'll need fuel. You'll need food. What one resource can give you Dairystate flight planning information, along with likely places to fuel your tummy? Check out the Wisconsin Department of Transportation's Bureau of Aeronautics website.

The easy-to-navigate site provides a wealth of information to those who are making their way to the Dairystate, whether by air or auto, including road conditions and construction zones, rest areas and scenic by-ways. But let's concentrate on the air-area of the site, since we've already established that you're flying to this year's big event.

The general information page includes a listing of aviation publications. It's where you can find free access to several useful pre-flight planning tools, such as the online Wisconsin Airport Directory. Here you can download and print an overhead photo of the airport you're interested in, and for larger facilities, an airport diagram. You will also find the communication and navigation frequencies, along with the services the airport offers and the name and phone number of the FBO. Important notes and cautions are also included, such as "deer, cranes and turkeys in vicinity of airport" and "residential airport, people and equipment may be near runway". Nearly 140 airports are listed.

A separate webpage shows a listing of fuel services at Wisconsin airports, so if you're looking for 80 octane or 100 low lead, Jet A or Mogas, you'll know where to find it.

Once you know where to fill your tanks, you need to know where to fill your tummy. The Points of Interest near Wisconsin Airports listing features over 500 restaurants and cafes that are located either on or within five miles of an airport. Restaurant phone numbers are included, along with courtesy car (and in some cases - courtesy bike) information. Some restaurants provide pickup and return services; at least one welcomes seaplanes. The document also tells if golf, camping, and hotels are located nearby. Note: call ahead for hours and days of operation. A quick look shows that a few restaurants have since closed.

There are links to Wisconsin airports, weather-related websites and aviation organizations. Flying a seaplane to Wisconsin? You will find a list of seaplane bases and seaplane restrictions. A handy poster shows Wisconsin airports with right-hand traffic patterns. For your trip home, the site also features links to Department of Transportation Aeronautics website from other states.

FMI: www.dot.state.wi.us/modes/air.htm