It's Getting Closer!

Planning any flight today is an adventure... especially so if you're going to AirVenture.

Your planning begins with the FAR 91.103, Preflight Action. The regulation is both very specific and very general all at the same time. The reg states, "Each pilot in command shall, before beginning a flight, become familiar with all available information concerning that flight." EAA and many others provide lots of assistance for you.

Planning a cross-country trip, especially a long one, involves many details and will probably require developing at least several alternative plans. Flexibility and patience are two important traits for pilots making their pilgrimage to aviation's Mecca. Your capability and that of your aircraft are two items that are mandatory to know and abide by.

There are several on-line flight planning options available. EAA provides their version called, Aeroplanner. You can easily find it from the first FMI link below. AOPA also has a flight planner available. Visit their web site to access their planner.

Commercial vendors also provide a number of programs. The FAA still has their text-based planner, DUATS, provided by two contractors. You can reach them online at www.duat.com or www.duats.com. Registration at both is required.

Nearly every state provides some form of airport directory. Many include pictures or at least diagrams of the airport and its facilities. Some states even provide an online version of their directory. The Wisconsin Department of Transportation is an excellent example. Their airport directory includes pictures of every public use airport in the state. Currency should not be a problem as some pages were updated in the last few weeks. There are links to every other state's aeronautics office on that web page, too. See the third link below to visit Wisconsin's web page.

Even the shortest flight to Oshkosh requires a thorough reading and understanding of the EAA AirVenture 2006 NOTAM. The NOTAM is available for download as a .pdf file from the first web link listed below. You can also request a hardcopy from EAA either online or by calling 800-564-6322. After studying the NOTAM, you should spend some time reviewing the Flight Arrival Procedures web page. Plenty of great tips, suggestions, and answers to your questions are located there. The second link listed below will take you to that page.

There are many adventures in getting to AirVenture. Building or restoring your aircraft, obtaining your pilot certificate, or just getting current are all examples. Planning your flight to Oshkosh is an adventure and, for some, a challenge, but help is out there. Visit these web sites, collect the data, read, study, and plan. Your flight to Oshkosh will soon be here and it too will be an adventure.

FMI: www.airventure.org/2006/flying/index.html, www.airventure.org/atc/, www.dot.wisconsin.gov/travel/air/airportdirectory.htm