OSHKOSH FAA EAA NAA

[kyleb]

Well, looks like I might stand corrected. It's pretty muddled for my weary brain but apparently the EAA controllers do get at least their expenses paid. However (if I read it correctly) they 'volunteer' to do Oshkosh duty ...hmmmmm .

Mike

The controllers "volunteer" the same way you volunteer in the military. They're volunteering to take the assignment, not to perform the assignment without pay...

[jc pacquin]

I just hope oskosh and Lakeland continue! I've only been to each twice but to someone not mechanically inclined ( to say the least) I was in total awe of the aircraft that people ,like the ones on this site, have rebuilt better than new , workmanship that is fantastic! One fellow had a T6 with the side panels removed. It looked like a Swiss watch, every detail PERFECT. A Stearman.....SAME. ( I had one at the time and mine was a real dog compared to it.) I asked the T6 owner " do you do this for a living?" " Oh no ". he replied, I own an airconditioning company, this is my first rebuild, and I did the engine too!" It makes me proud to be an American when I meet and speak with folks like this! Amazing talent. Next day, he fired it up to leave and it ran beautifully. Or the good looking girl swinging in a hammock with the ropes attached to each propeller of a DC 3. She explained her husband flew it to Georgia tech football games with their friends. On and On! Watta show! Best JP!

[MikeB]

I guess this is 'the word' on the FAA contollers and Oshkosh (from the EAA Forum site)

"The EAA staffer you spoke to on Wednesday was correct. Here’s a somewhat truncated timeline of events (sorry in advance for the length):

In April, Congress give special permission to FAA to move money within its budget for air traffic services because of the air traffic tower and controllers issue. FAA officials contacted at the time and asked specifically about AirVenture operations assured EAA it would be “business as usual.”

On May 13, in a personal conversation with EAA Chairman Jack Pelton and EAA VP Advocacy and Safety Sean Elliott in Washington, D.C., FAA Administrator Michael Huerta and COO David Grizzle laid out this ultimatum:

1.EAA will sign a contract and pay the fees
2.Failure to do so means FAA will not give EAA the air traffic staff and waivers (including the NOTAM) needed to bring in all the airplanes for the event
3.EAA is not allowed to run the event as an uncontrolled field or with retired/volunteer controllers
4.If EAA doesn’t sign the contract in a rapid fashion, FAA won’t send the controllers


The initial contract called for a payment of $479,000 (eventually reduced to $447,000). Mr. Grizzle and FAA representatives contacted EAA on a nearly daily basis at the end of May demanding that contract be signed or no controllers would be scheduled for Oshkosh, citing a 60-day advance notice. U.S. Rep. Tom Petri, who represents Oshkosh in the House, asked FAA a list of very specific questions regarding FAA’s assessment and was basically told by Mr. Grizzle that FAA’s position would not change. Afterward, Senators began circulating a letter to FAA demanding answers to this new policy and calling the sudden charges “unacceptable.” The Senate originally required a response by June 7, but delays in completing the letter in the Senate moved the response date to no later than June 13. FAA demanded a signed contract prior to that date or would not schedule controllers.

As far as we know, as of June 19 the Senators have yet to receive an official response.

Using contract tower controllers was also studied, but FAA’s current contract tower agreement with Wittman Regional Airport includes language that states that the contract tower crew will not operate the tower during AirVenture week."

Mike

[Paul Agaliotis]

It looks like the FAA moved pretty quick to let the EAA know of the problem. You have to remember all of the saber rattling about air safety at that time, it was kind of like the "millenium bug" theory. The FAA needed to move money to other places and they did. If they didn't, there would be a faction of people exposing this expenditure as wasteful spending for special intrest groups. The EAA created this Frankinstein now they should find a way to operate independent of others. If they can't afford the costs, shut it down. There will always be a group in line to fill this vacume.
The key problem is the lack of a budget. Let your elected stooges know about about that. Your input to Washington should be about the budget, not a flyin as EAA suggests.

JC,
I see all of the key people in your posts. It's amazing these guys are still walking around. Just for some quick reading check out Robert Mueller. Heir Mueller currently runs the FBI. Grover Norquist is another operator. On my local level we had Donna Blue Aircraft another fine piece of craft work.
Paul

[MikeB]

Paul,
Good points although I'd hate to see it shut down. It's one event I look forward to every year. I've been going since the first one (I think 1968 or 1969). At that time my dad, brother and I parked our car along the road where the main gate is now and you had to have a pilot's license to get on the flight line. As a numbers guy I'd like to see a breakdown on the actual costs of the event to the FAA. $447,000 seems like a lot but then what do I know? I fly a Champ not a Lear jet so maybe my perspective is not in tune with the FAA. I do know the event draws a lot of folks and money to the Oshkosh area. Motels are almost impossible to book and even a Motel 6 is around $200 per night which does not include hot and cold running 'maids'. Prices at the event itself are high but not any higher than attending a pro football or baseball game. Some folks complained about $3 bottled water (which is obviously a rip off) but you can fill your own bottle for free from the water stations. At the end of the day I usually slip over to Friar Tucks for a cold "refreshement" and meal at a reasonable price.

I agree about the feds budget. It seems almost incomprehensable that our congress can't get their act together and come up with a balanced budget on time (and not continuing resolutions). States (at least ours) are required to write a balanced budget on time. It takes a lot of arm twisting and screaming but it does get done. Of course we're part of the problem if we keep electing the same dopes year after year.

Enough already................

Mike

[jc pacquin]

Paul...I have followed robert mueller. He has an excellent education, served his country with honor and seems to have done a commendable job under both bush and Obama. As for Bengazhi I trust robert gates to be a stand up person, calm, intelligent not prone to shoot his mouth off without concrete facts. His description of Chris Stevens, the time line , etc. seems to be a logical explanation, including the army general who offered stevens extra troops twice but stevens refused.The IRS situation is a puzzle to me as the person in charge when this tax evasion investigation began was a republican appointed by bush. As for mena, Arkansas, Barry seale sure isn't walking around. Clinton sure is as are the Bush's.Drugs constitute a very big part of our economy and the banks that Launder the money are not held accountable. (BCCI was a big one) the money is so big, no one questions the CIA in a really serious manner. ( It certainly funded iran contra!)Plane watchers have reported the rendition flights for years and the aircraft are well known. I had not heard about Donna blue which is obviously another of their fronts. Maybe they could fund Oshkosh! Best, JC.

[Paul Agaliotis]

Mike,
We the voters were tired of a budget that was so delayed. We wanted this sequestration to motivate our elected officials to create a budget on time. They have failed us. The current administration let them know that they needed a budget and they decided to play political games to call the bluff, he wasn't bluffing. Now these wonks in D.C. want to blame somebody for their lack of action. The President is doing a lot of stuff I don't agree with, but this isn't one of them. This guy means what he says and I find that frighteningly refreshing.
Remember this when you cast your vote next time. If it says incumbent next to the name, try the other guy.
Paul

[jc pacquin]

If one contemplates the current presidents past one should ascertain that he does mean what he says. Born poor but with a bright mind he received a full scholarship to Columbia, after graduating he then received a full scholarship to Harvard law school where he was elected head of the Harvard law review by his peers, a real honor. He could have gotten a nice cushy job on Wall Street as all those firms like to have a token black or two but instead he went back to Chicago to work with the poor and eventually became interested in politics. He also taught constitutional law at the University of Chicago during this time. A Republican bastion if there ever was one! Needless to say, he is very familiar with the constitution and its meaning. He's hard to rattle as he's been poor, been on the streets and is not a push over. I think if the republicans had not lied about him, his birthplace, his religion, death panels, etc. they would have been far ahead of the game. Ronald Reagan never would have accepted this nutty behavior. I voted for Reagan. I think Reagan, if told about the particulars of Oshkosh might have insisted it go on with government help. With the current atmosphere , if I were President OBAMA , I would probably not comment for fear of having the crazies go crazie. Oshkosh is an international event and a great showcase for American talent and freedom. I sure hope it continues. Best JC