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!

FMI: www.airventure.org