OSH Arrival 411

[captain_john]

I am studying this page from the Airventure website:

http://www.airventure.org/atc/index.html

If you are flying in, it could be of help to you too!

This Thursday Wicked Stick and I will be going to Worcester, MA for a briefing sponsored by the feds on OSH arrivals.

This is going to be fun! I hope the weather is good!

CJ

[captain_john]

Last night Wicked Stick and I drove (argh... crappy WX!) to Worcester, MA for an OSH Briefing.

It was TREMENDOUS!

It was an FAA Wings seminar and the presentaion was offered by a gentleman who is a veteran controller at OSH. The info was enlightening and if you have a chance to attend one in your area, I highly suggest it!

There are 2 altitudes to use, depending on approach speeds. They use 1,800' for 90 kts. and 2,300 for 135 kts..

I am wondering which one to use int he Cherokee Six, as I can fly in both equally as well (or bad depending on how you view it!).

The Six likes 120 Mph on the approach. This falls in between both speeds. I think that I will do the 135 kt. altitude because I expect that there will be fewer planes on that altitude.

Any advice from veterans?

CJ

[Spike]

Seems to me to be a simple question, which speed are you more comfortable transitioning intto a slam dunk approach ?


-- John

[728GD]

Hey Cap!

I believe it depends on what day you are going to arrive. If you arrive during high volume, I would suggest the lower/slower route. Since there are many, and I mean MANY more planes flying this arrival route, you will get priority over the higher/faster one. Generally when things get crazy, the higher aircraft will be sent out to the holding pattern for a time until they can be fit back into the mix of things.

Go out with your six, load it up like you were heading there and fly the speeds. See how you feel with the slower speed, drop some flaps if you need to and just get comfortable. If it doesn’t feel right, go with the higher speeds. You do not want to be worried about your ability to control the airplane when you are executing the arrival procedures with a couple hundred airplanes in the area. Also I recommend practicing spot landings prior to the trip. You WILL be asked to hit a dot on the runway.

We flew in once in a Seneca and stayed down with the low and slow. If we would have taken the higher slot we would have had to wait for about another 15 to 20 min. Watch for traffic, stay in line, S - turn if you need to, and most importantly, LISTEN. If you have my luck, you'll be following a beautiful Cub screaming along trying to make the 90 kts speed limit! One thing I will promise you, you will never forget the experience!

[captain_john]

Spike, with the Hershey Bar Wing... EVERY approach is a slam dunk!

Hahaha, anyone who has flown one can relate!

All kidding aside, she can descend quick and land pretty short for such a big plane!

GD, I was leaning towards high/fast before your comments. Just because high/fast is always the right combination whenever possible.

After reading your comments, I think I might just go low and slow!

We will have about 7 hours (the whole trip out there) to practice with speeds and configurations. If I recall the settings correctly, one notch and 23 squared gets me the desired 90 knots. I have it written down in my instrument bag and need to dig it out.

The S-turns are a key component to consider, too!

I am sure that I won't forget it! Maybe giving my video camera to the rear pax would be a way of sharing it with friends later!

CJ

[svanarts]

I'd hardly call myself a veteren but I have flown in there once. Bear in mind that I generally avoid controlled airports when I can, being a country boy and all. However, that being said, the approach into OSH was probably the easiest, best approach to a fly-in event I've ever experienced. These guys are PROS. The ATC tutorials on the website are really good to get you familiar with what's going to happen but in reality it was much easier to me to actually do it than read about it. Basically:

• - Fly to Ripon.
  - Locate the railroad tracks heading North toward OSH.
  - Locate an airplane.
  - Follow him.
  - Don't transmit anything on the radio, listen.
  - Be sure to know what colors your airplane is. Some people apparently don't know.
  - The controllers will spot you, tell you to rock your wings, and give you approach instructions.
  - You change to the tower freq. when instructed and LISTEN. You will be told where to land.

I couldn't believe how easy it was. It was easiest part of my whole trip and the part I was dreading the most. It really is just basically listen carefully and do what you're told. If you don't you'll be vectored out of line and told to start over. I was lucky and didn't have to hold over the lake or anything but I guess that does happen when it gets really busy. I always arrive before the show starts.

Then main things to do to get ready is as others have pointed out. Practice level flight at the published approach speed. Then practice level flight about 5 knots slower. Just in case you get behind a slow-poke. These guys know their airplanes and what the capabilities are. They will generally route the slower guys to the same runway and the faster guys to the same runway.

For instance, when I was in line (at the lower pattern alitude) I was behind a Cessna 337, he was behind a Luscome or some such. I have now idea what was behind me. When we were vectored to land (using landmarks) the 337 was told to land on the farther spot (can't remember the colors), I was told to land on the mid spot, and it turned out a 172 was put in behind me and told to land on the nearer spot. The used our respective approach speeds to separate us. Those guys are UNBELIEVABLY good.

I'm stoked. Can you tell?

[728GD]

Hey guy’s, have fun and think about us poor aviators sitting at home during Oshkosh. I know, it’s my own fault. My N number says it all, 728GD. July 28th put together with Gayle and Dale. My anniversary date. What was I thinking??? Let's see, what else happens during the last week of July??? She drugged me!

Now if my wife loved to fly it would be a slam dunk, unfortunately Gayle is not very comfortable in an airplane. She is working on it, but a cross country flight from Folsom CA to Oshkosh WI just is not in the cards nor will it be in the near future. She has told me I could go, it would be ok…. Yeah right, miss our anniversary, I’m sure I would never here the end of that!! Oh well, couldn't make it anyway, no vacation time left and I’m chasing an oil leak right now. Isn’t flying fun? It’s amazing, anything can fly if you throw enough money at it!! Shoot ‘in for Copperstate this October.

You all have fun, fly safe, and tell us all about the cool stuff you buy. Some of us will be living through your reports and pictures…

Dale

[svanarts]

Dang, GD, I could use some company too! I'm down in Modesto. I guess I'll be heading east by myself. I'll rock my wings to you as I'm climbing over the Sierras.

[728GD]

svanarts,

We will have to hook up one of these days. I'm going to be down for awhile now though. That little oil leak I have been chasing is not as little as I first thought.

For some unknown reason I have a leak on the top of the case seam just ahead of where the case rises up to meet the accessory case. It shows up within 5 seconds of starting the engine, so it is obviously high pressure oil and has to be from the cam. I am extremely frustrated right now. I don't have anywhere to work on it myself so I have someone pulling the engine as I type this. I plan on taking off the accessory case and PRAYING I find something I can fix there. Otherwise its opening up the whole case... UUUG!! I will have to send it off for that. Any ideas, please let me know.

Dale

[svanarts]

Wish I had some ideas. I'm an engine idiot. If only it were a DNS problem I could probably help out.