Preparing to depart. At 7 a.m. Monday volunteer Departure Briefing co-chairman Dick Schlinsog delivers the first departure briefing to a small group of pilots. Photo by Dave Higdon

Since the airspace around EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2007 is packed with all manner of flying machines, safe departures are a going concern for pilots leaving the fly-in. Fortunately, expert help is available, thanks to the volunteers of the Departure Briefings Committee.

"A lot of people don’t know about it," said Elton Eisele, co-chairman of Departure Briefings. "We send out rovers—people on motor scooters and Gators—to run up and down rows [of parked airplanes], looking for people who are leaving and ask them if they have the departure procedures."

The one-on-one briefings, which Eisele said only take a minute or so, include information on altitude and headings, and distance from the airport at which pilots can resume their own navigation. Briefers also dispense cards with departure procedure information. (This information is also available in the NOTAM covering the special procedures in effect at Wittman Field (KOSH) during the fly-in.)

Though the departure procedures have changed little over the years, temporary adjustments are often instituted on a daily basis. For example, the airport may be closed at unscheduled times to accommodate the arrival or departure of military aircraft. So Eisele says it’s important for all pilots to get departure briefings, no matter how many times they’ve flown out of AirVenture.

Departure Briefing co-chairman Dick Schlinsog addresses a small group of pilots as he explains the nuances of departing Wittman Regional Airport. Photo by Dave Higdon

"There are a lot of people that have done this year after year and say, ‘I know how to do this.’ They can get annoyed or testy; they’re in a hurry. But it’s important to make sure everyone’s on the same page."

The departure briefings begin at 7 a.m. daily and are available at seven locations: at the South 40 aircraft parking area, near the seaplane tent at the approach end of Runway 36; in front of the Antiques/Classics building; at the mobile Flight Service Station by the ultralight area; by the FAA building; by the RV aircraft parking area; in the warbirds parking area; and at the Departure Briefings Headquarters at Building 54, just east of the current control tower.

Last Tuesday morning, Greg Scates from Rosemond, California, who made his fourth trip to AirVenture in his RV-6A this year, was getting a departure briefing at the headquarters building. Standing in front of a large poster board with a layout of the airport, briefer Michael Schlinsog from Minocqua, Wisconsin, explained the outbound route for takeoffs from Runways 36 Right and Left to Scates.

"I’ll be back," Scates said at the conclusion of the briefing, explaining that he was leaving to take his wife to visit her parents, and would return with his father-in-law the following day to show him the fly-in.

Also manning the headquarters briefing station that morning was Richard Schlinsog, Michael’s father, now in his 26th year as a volunteer briefer. "You get to meet a lot of people," said Richard, explaining why he enjoys briefing duty.

Eisele, in his 17th year as a departure briefer, said his committee is always looking for new people. Anyone interested in volunteering can get information at the departure briefings headquarters.

When he’s not volunteering at AirVenture, Eisele, of Schaumburg, Illinois, is a flight instructor and high school band director. (He organized the AirVenture Concert Band, which had its debut at the fly-in this year.) His two sons also serve as volunteer departure briefers.

"We get right out there on the runway," Eisele said, expounding on the allure of serving as a departure briefer. "You feel like you’re on the front lines. Sometimes you’re working hand in hand with pilots, anyone from J-3 Cub pilot to P-51 pilot. It’s quite an adventure."