Oshkosh Is NOT Your Average Garden Party
by ANN Correspondent Annette Kurman
It's a party for you -- and 700,000 of your closest friends --
that gets underway shortly, but took oh-so-many months in the
planning to ensure a fabulous and safe time for attendees,
volunteers, sponsors, vendors, and everyone else involved in this
annual week-long aviation love fest.
As you may know, planning a dinner party for eight is
challenging enough; how in the world do you prepare for a crowd
closing in on three-quarters of a million individuals?!
The planning starts even before the previous event concludes,
with the AirVenture staff evaluating how they did from sponsor,
visitor, and EAA member feedback: what worked, what could be
improved.
According to Dick Knapinksi, of the EAA's media and public
relations department, the planning in many ways is similar to that
of other large-scale public events, with a focus of "ensuring that
we are ready to serve a large group of visitors who come to us in a
diverse number of ways."
Think sanitation, insurance and security. Over a thousand
port-o-potties serviced a half-dozen times daily certainly goes a
long way in the area of sanitation, while insurance coverage is
required not just for aircraft, but for volunteers, the grounds,
aerial exhibitions, and much more.
"Everyone becomes comfortable with how things are covered (by
insurance)," said Knapinski.
One incalculable aspect of AirVenture that staff and volunteers
have no control over is the weather. Will it rain? Will it be
chilly? Will it be hot? Traditionally, said Knapinski, the summer
weather pattern is 80s with perhaps some humidity and maybe one
thunderstorm during the week. If it's warm, they have to be
prepared for those are unprepared; visitors who neglect the need
for sunscreen, hydration, a hat and appropriate dress. Having
worked with the two local hospitals for a number of years,
AirVenture staff, he said, has a very good relationship with the
hospitals, which are attuned to and ready for the types of cases
that might come their way.
At the convention, however, are a troop of volunteer physicians,
nurses, firefighter first responders, and EMTs who can take care of
anything not requiring hospital care.
Safety and security are certainly high on the minds of anyone
involved in planning a large-scale event. Meeting the needs of
individuals with disabilities, keeping the product and exhibition
areas secure, and traffic control are just some of the tasks that
need to be done. Other areas, said Knapinski, include moving people
outside of traffic areas, maintaining vehicle-free zones, not
permitting solicitation in the parking lots and campgrounds, trash
pick up, and designating certain areas for smoking (away from the
airplanes, please).
They also take precautions to prevent "bad" things from
happening. Just like attending a concert for Tom Petty, there will
be checks of backpacks and coolers. EAA also reserves the right to
check vehicles. Other security measures will take place behind the
scenes and won't be visible to the average attendee.
So if you're spending $5-6 million to put on this gig, how do
you pay for it? Money comes from a variety of sources, said
Knapinski, including admissions, sponsorships and merchandise
sales. New and renewal EAA membership monies go back to the
organization.
It's the community, stupid
In many cases, an
annual event really has to do new things to remain "fresh" and
continue to draw the same numbers of people. AirVentures is no
different, as each year there is a new focus or new "must see."
However, for those tens of thousands of people who converge on
Oshkosh year after year, there's more to it than that.
Said Knapinski, people come to Oshkosh for the first time to see
all the planes. They come the second time for the people. "They
come to share a sense of community that's all about flying," he
said, where they don't have to explain why aviation is so important
to them, the language of aviation, or how planes stay up in the
air. It's an annual aviation family reunion.
And, he added, each visit can be as large or small as that
person wants. "They make it what they want it to be, design their
own itinerary that meets their own needs."
Part trade show, part air show, part educational workshop --
it's all there and waiting, with only five days to go!