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.