In years past, working Airventure was a plum assignment for controllers. I understood that there was so much competition for it that controllers were limited to a maximum number of years working it so others (new to Oshkosh) could have a chance to do it.
Maybe the controllers' enthusiasm for working Airventure has waned and needs to be rekindled.
Team, I am trying to communicate everything here and sometimes I guess it isn't getting through. There was a very good reason why some of the experienced controllers weren't there last year and it had nothgin to do with fees or burnout. Not unlike any other "company" in the world where good people get promoted, that happens a lot within the FAA. Many good, even great, controllers have been promoted to jobs that for one reason or another left them "non-current" for controlling, so they were excluded from OSH this past year. The FAA is working inside, and with the Union, to correct this. Again, EVERYONE is working thier pillars to fix this.
As for this comment:
Mass arrivals should have a time slot. Nothing should be able to change it including weather. If for some reason they can't make the slot then they fly the published approach like everyone else. No military flybys either.... remember the movie Top Gun..... "Negative Ghostrider, the pattern is full!"
I really wish some of you would take the time to read the whole thread before you post. I already addressed this. The mass arrivals will get one time slot, and if weather impedes it then they have to follow the procedure at a later date just like everyone else. I also addressed the military effect---they are being worked with as well.
I really appreciate all of the thoughts and inputs by everyone. But I am also asking for your patience and willingess to accept change. I can't emphasize enough how much time every week since OSH was spent on this, with lots of scenarios playing out. For those of you who continue to think that the current NOTAM works and it was only due to weather this time, I assure you that you are not correct in your thinking. This wasn't the only bad year we've had at OSH. This change is long overdue, and it was not just a knee-jerk reaction. Please don't forget that it is now a "proposal" to the FAA. We are also waiting to see what they come back with, as the FAA owns the NOTAM. However, they were very much a part of the planning process, and I assure you that they have a really god view into things that work and don't work at high-traffic events. They brought that experience to the table.
The current NOTAM has been in place for almost 30 years. OSH has grown substantially, and what worked then will not continue to work for the current growth along with projected future growth. This new procedure is a combination of new routes along with the initial use of new technology. As I mentioned, it is not set in stone and most likely will continue to morph over the next few years. Heck, we may not even see a repeat of the weather situation we had this past year for a long time, and that would be good.
We as pilots also need to think about our own arrival plans so that we all don't enbd up there at the same time. There just isn't enough concrete and airspace to make it all work. Plans are being created to incent pilots to arrive earlier and later, and those will be communicated once they are finished.
We are being told the NOTAM should be out by end of Q1 in order to meet some timelines for publication.
Again, thanks, and please trust that LOTS of people were involved in this for an inordinate amount of time, with the paramount theme being the safety of our members. Let's all work together and give it a success, with the attitude that everyone is primed for changes if needed. Nobody thinks it is perfect, but we have a lot of constraints to work with.
Step back, take a breath, and know we are all on the same team.
Vic