# TO: U.S. Department ofTransportation Docket Management

Facility 1200 New Jersey Avenue,

SE West Building
Ground

Floor Room Wl2-140 Washington,

DC 20590 

# PETITION

FOR EXEMPTION

FROM FEDERAL AVIATION REGULATION 14 CFR PART 139.101

TO PERMIT CERTAIN UNSCHEDULED

AIR CARRIER OPERATIONS AT WITTMAN REGIONAL AIRPORT

(KOSH)

AT LIMITED

TIMES DURING

EAA AIRVENTURE

2016 PETITIONER: Wittman Regional

Airport 525

W

20

1 h 

# Avenue Oshkosh, Wisconsin 54902-6871 Dated: February

10, 2016PetitionSummaryWittmanRegionalAirport(KOSH),ownedandoperatedbyWinnebagoCounty,andlocatedinOshkosh,Wisconsin,seeksanexemptionfromFederalAviationRegulation(FAR)14CFRPart139.101,generalrequirementsforairportcertification.ThereliefsoughtundertheexemptionistopermitcertainunscheduledaircarrieroperationsatKOSHatlimitedtimesduringtheweekofExperimentalAircraftAssociation(EAA)AirVentureOshkosh,July25-31,2016.WittmanRegionalAirport,alargegeneralaviationairportcomprisedofapproximately1,400acres,doesnotholda14CFRPart139certificate;thatcertificatewassurrenderedin2006followingthediscontinuationofairlineservicein2003.Fourrunwaysaremaintainedattheairport:•Runway18-36:8,002ftx150ft(concreteingoodcondition);ILSRwy36(NOTAMEDoutofserviceforEAAAirVenture Oshkosh)•Runway9-27:6,179ftx150ft(concreteingoodcondition)•Runway5-23:3,697ftx75ft(asphaltinfaircondition)-NOTAMEDclosedtoairoperationsduringEAAAirVenture•Runway13-31:3,061ftx75ft(asphaltinfaircondition)-NOTAMEDclosedtoairoperationsduringEAAAirVentureTaxiwayA,whichparallelsRunway18-36,isdesignatedRunway18L-36RfromTaxiwayA6toapoint6,700north(betweenTaxiwayA2andA1)forEAAAirVentureOshkosh.Runway18-36isre-designated18R-36Lduringthatsametimeperiod.Runway18L-36RisusedbyB-11aircraftorless.Onehundredsixty-three(163)aircraftarebasedattheairport,rangingfromturbinecorporateaircraftandlargepistonmulti-engineaircrafttogyrocopters.Theairportseesnearly70,000aircraftoperationsannually,ofwhichapproximately18,000occurduring10-dayperiodaroundEAAAirVentureOshkosh.Operationsintheairtrafficcontroltower(ATCT)iscontractedthroughMidwestAirTrafficControlServices,althoughFAAcontrollersandsupervisorsassumeairtrafficcontroloperationsdutiesfora10-dayperiodforEAAAirVentureOshkosh.NormalATCThoursoutsideofEAAAirVentureOshkoshare0600-2200localdaily.WittmanRegionalAirporthasadedicatedmaintenancecrewforoperationsandmaintenanceduties.ARFFservicesareprovidedbyOshkoshFireDepartmentutilizingWinnebagoCounty-ownedARFFequipment,whichmeets14CFRPart139.315IndexCstandards.ReasonforPetitionEAAAirVentureOshkoshisthelargestfly-ineventintheworld.Morethan10,000aircraftvisitKOSHoverthecourseofoneweek.Generalaviationaircraftmakeupthevastmajorityofthosevisitingaircraft.Despitethis,theairportreceivesrequeststooperateunscheduledcharteroperationsoraircarrieroperations.LimitedunscheduledcharteroperationsoccurduringAirVenture,bringingattendeestotheevent.EAAmembersfromaspecificregionoftheUSorforeigncountriesmakeupthemajorityofthefare-payingpassengersonthesecharters.ThepassengersontheseflightsareprimarilycomprisedofpilotsandaviationenthusiastswhowishtoattendEAAAirVentureOshkoshbutmaynothavetheabilitytoattendbyothertravelmeans.Onasmallerscale,passengersmaybeemployeesand/orguestsofaspecificaviationvendor,oralsonewsmediapersonnelattendingtocoveraspecifictopicoccurringatAirVenture.

# The aircraft

are operated

by

14 CFR

Part 121-certified

air carriers.

These flights

may

be round-trip

or one-way, depending

on arrangements

made

by the group. Additionally, AirVenture

is host

to the Old Glory Honor Flight

of Northeast Wisconsin.

As

a general aviation airport,

both

of these operations

would necessarily

call

for the airport

to meet

the requirements

of

14 CFR
Part
139. Previously,

the Federal Aviation Administration

(FAA) Airport Division
granted

a time-limited

Part

139 certificate

to KOSH

to accommodate

these operations.

Due

to

a recent

legal decision,

the FAA

will

no longer

grant

atimelimited

14 CFR
Part

139 operating certificate.

These charter

and

air carrier operations

are essential

to the continued

success

of AirVenture, necessitating

an exemption

from

14 CFR
Part 139.101

to allow them during

the 2016 event. 

# Description

of Relief Sought Due

to the scheduling

nature

of these operations,

the specific aircraft

type used

for them cannot

be reasonably determined

within

the time constraints

required

to file this petition.

The following

aircraft were used

for the aforementioned

operations

during



# Air Venture

2015: 

# Carrier

Flight

Aircraft

Operation

Date Scheduled

ARFF Number

Index Xtra

700

B737-400
MDW-OSH

07/20/2015

Arrival@

B Airways

1230

hrs Xtra

8700

B737-400
MDW-OSH

07/20/2015

Depart@

B Airways

1330

hrs American

9480

MD-80

DFW

- OSH 07/23/15

Arrival@



# c 1600

hrs American

9481

MD-80

OSH-DCA

07/24/15

Depart@



# c 0645

hrs 

# American

9482

MD-80

DCA-OSH

07/24/15

Arrival@



# c 1815

hrs American

9483

MD-80

OSH-DTW

07/24/15

Depart@



# c 1915

hrs Wittman Regional

Airport

is seeking

relief
from

14 CFR
Part 139.101

for similar operations

during AirVenture

2016.

The operations

during

the 2016 event

may include,

but

are not necessarily

limited

to, the above aircraft. American
Airlines

has historically

operated

aircraft

for the Old Glory Honor Flights, and

it
is anticipated

the airline

will again

be the carrier

in 2016

for the flight.

As previously

noted, charter flights

may

be booked

with

any

14 CFR
Part

121 operator. Operations

of aircraft to/from Wittman Regional

Airport

will

be limited

to aircraft

no larger

than ARFF Index C-category

aircraft,

with seating capacities

of no greater

than

240 passengers

. 

# Airport Certification

Manual Wittman Regional

Airport

will maintain

and comply
during

air carrier operations

with

a current Airport Certification

Manual (ACM) throughout

the exemption

period.

All airport tenants

and stakeholders

in the ACM

will have

the opportunity

to share, review

and discuss

their applicable

portions

of the manual. These participants

include,

but

are not limited

to management

and personnel

from airport management and maintenance/operations,

Oshkosh

Fire Department

(ARFF), Winnebago

County Sheriffs Department, Winnebago

County Emergency Management,

Oshkosh

Police Department,

FAA ATCT, FAA Technical,

EAA

, Basler Flight Service,

and Myers Aviation.OperationsWittmanAirportisresponsiblefor,willtrain,andmaintainrecordsallpersonnelwhohavedrivingprivilegesontheairport,particularlythosewhohaveaccesstorunwaysafetyareas.Topicsinthistrainingincludeairportfamiliarization,signage,pavementmarkings,radiocommunications,andaccesstosafetyareas.Thisincludes,butisnotlimitedto,airportmaintenance/operationsstaff,FAATechnicalOperationsstaff,tenantswhomayassistinaircraftmaintenance/recovery,ARFFandsecuritypersonnel,andEAAemployees/volunteerswhohaveaneedtoaccessoperationalsurfaces.Allsafetyareaswillbemaintainedandcontrolledinaccordancewith14CFRPart139.309.Signage,pavementmarkings,andlightingnecessaryforaircraftoperationswillbemaintainedper14CFRPart139.311andwillfurtherbeinaccordancewiththeSignagePlansubmittedwiththeAirportCertificationManual.AirportRescueandFireFighting(ARFF)RequirementsTomitigatesafetyriskstoaircraftoccupantsaswellaspersonsandpropertyontheground,andtofurthercomplywithapplicablesectionsof14CFRPart139,thefollowingactionswillbetakenduringapplicableaircarrieroperations:•ARFFequipmentisprovidedwithaminimumcapacityof3,000gallonsofwaterforAFFFproductionalongwithfirefighterswhohavereceivedlivefiretrainingandadditionaltrainingasoutlinedin14CFRPart139.319(i)inthepast12months.AdditionalfirefightingapparatusfromtheCityofOshkoshFireDepartmentareonstandbystatusattheairportfirestationorcanrespondtoanyincidentsontheairport.•ARFFequipmentwillbelocatedatpre-determinedpositionsontheairportaminimumof15minutesbeforethearrivalanddepartureoftheseaircraftandwillremainaminimumof15minutesaftertheoperationiscomplete.•ARFFvehiclesfiresuppressionsystemsaretestedannuallypriortoEAAAirVentureOshkoshbythevehiclemanufacture;thisincludesdrychemicalandrefractometertestingofeachapplicablesystem.ARFFequipmentbasedatKOSH:•ARFF114-2000FordF550,RapidInterventionVehicle150gallonsofpre-mixedfoamandwater500lbsPurpleK•ARFF214-•ARFF314-10lbsC021986OshkoshT-1500fire/rescuetruck1585gallonsofwater205gallonsoffoam700lbsofdrychemical10lbsC022009OshkoshStriker1500fire/rescuetruck1500gallonsofwater210gallonsoffoam500lbsPurpleKdrychemical20lbsC02Inadditiontotheabovesafetymitigations,allARFFpersonnelstationedattheairportandthoseassignedtodutyattheairportduringAirVentureundergoextensivetrainingtoproperlyrespondtoemergenciesinvolvingaircarrieraircraft.

# • ARFF personnel

receive

initial

and recurrent
training (minimum

every

12 months)

in the following

areas: • Airport familiarization; • Aircraft familiarization; • Rescue

and frrefighting personnel

safety; • Emergency communication

system

on the airport, including

frre alarms; • Use

of the frre hoses, nozzles,
turrets,

and other appliances
required; • Application

of the types

of extinguishing

agents required

for compliance

with

this part; • Emergency

aircraft evacuation assistance; • Firefighting operations; • Adapting

and using structural

rescue

and frrefighting equipment

for aircraft rescue

and firefighting; • Aircraft

cargo hazards, including hazardous materials/dangerous

goods incidents; • Familiarization

with frrefighters'

duties under

the Airport Emergency

Plan. • ARFF personnel

are trained

in the above subject

areas following

a site specific training curriculum.

The City

of Oshkosh

Fire Department

is responsible

for maintaining

the ARFF training curriculum

and records

of all training

given

to each individual. • Live
Fire Training • All ARFF personnel

that will

be on duty

on the day

of the planned charter flight(s)

shall participate

in

a live-fire

drill prior

to initial performance

of ARFF duties

and participate in live-fire training

at least once every

12 months

at an FAA acceptable
Regional

ARFF training facility. • Basic Emergency

Medical Training • The City

of Oshkosh

Fire Department

is responsible

for providing

training

for, and maintiaining

the records

of all frrefighter

and Emergency

Medical Services

(EMS) personnel.

These personnel

will

be providing
medical services

during

EAA AirV enture. 

# Emergency

Plan The Emergency

Plan outlined

in Part 139.325

is reviewed

by
all plan stakeholders

prior

to the commencement

ofEAA AirVenture

Oshkosh.

This review

is conducted

in conjunction

with

a tabletop exercise

of the EAA

Air Venture Oshkosh emergency

plan.

The stakeholders

of each plan comprise

the same individuals

and agencies. 

# Fueling Operations • Fueling

of
all

14 CFR

Part 139-related

flights

will

be conducted

by Basler Flight Service. • The
fuel supervisor

receives biennial training through

the National

Air Transportation Association

(NAT

A) Safety

I st 

# Supervisor

Online Training

course

for

14 CFR 139.321

(b)(

1) through

(b)(6)

and

139

. 321(e)(l)

. The supervisor

is also

a Wisconsin

certified frrefighter

through the Wisconsin Technical

College System Board.

This individual

further

trains

all other

line personnel

in refueling operations

for

14 CFR
Part

139 operations. • Each employee additionally

receives

live

fire exinguisher

training annually

prior

to the commencement

of EAA

Air Venture Oshkosh

. • Each fueling employee

will also receive

driver training

from airport management

on airport familiarization,

signage, pavement markings,

and communications,

even though

these personnel are restricted

from operating

fueling vehicles

on air operations

areas. 

# Airfield Operations

Safety • Wittman Regional

Airport management

and maintenance/operations

personnel

are

all trained

in airport self-inspection

procedures

and conduct inspections

at least twice daily prior

to ATCTopeningandafterATCTclosing.Additionalinspectionsareconductedasneededduringtheday,asrequestedbyATCToruponreportsbypilotsorpersonnelofrunwaycontaminants.•ArrivalsanddeparturesofaircarrieraircraftwilloperatefromRunway18R-36Lexclusively.•ArrivalsanddeparturesofaircarrieraircraftwillonlybeconductedduringtimeswhentheairportandATCTareoperations(0600localto2000local)•TheRunway18R-36Lsafetyareasof500feetwideand1000feetlongoffthearrival/departureendsoftherunwaywillbeclearofaircraft,personnel,vehicles,and anyobjectnotfixedbyfunctionduringaircarrieroperations.•Runway18R-36LshallbeinspectedbytrainedWittmanAirportmaintenanceandmanagementpersonnelpriortoeachaircarrieroperation.Uptoten(10)airportpersonnelareondutyatanytimeduringaircarrieroperations.Eachemployeehasreceivedtraininginallaspectsof14CFR139.303.•WittmanRegionalAirportentersintoaLetterofAgreement(LOA)withtheFAAATCT,OshkoshFireDepartment,andExperimentalAircraftAssociationannuallytooutlineproceduresforaircraftemergencyresponsesduringEAAAirVentureOshkosh.•WittmanRegionalAirportentersintoaLetterofAgreement(LOA)withFAAATCTandExperimentalAircraftAssociationforcontrolofaircraftmovementandnon-movementareasontheairportduringEAAAirVentureOshkosh.InterestofthePetitionerAsthehostairportforEAAAirVentureOshkosh,WittmanRegionalAirporthasavestedinterestinthecontinuedsuccessoftheevent.AirVentureistheflagshipaviationeventintheUnitedStatesandisoneofthepremieraviationeventsintheworld.With550,000annualattendees,morethan10,000visitingaircraft,andhundredsofparticipatingexhibitors,AirVentureisacornerstoneofAmerica'sgeneralaviationcommunity.ParticipantsatEAAAirVenturerunthegamutofaviationinterests,fromultralightandlightsportaircraft,rotorcraft,amateur-builtaircraft,vintageaircraft,warbirdaircraft,generalaviationproductionaircraft,corporateaircraft,andmilitaryaircrafttospacetravelvehicles.Manyoftheattendeesareactivegeneralaviationpilots;othersarestudentpilots,andothersaresimplyaviationenthusiasts.Regardlessofthelevelofinterest,increasingthemeansoftravelforallinterestedpartiestoattendEAAAirVentureOshkosh-inthiscaseviaunscheduledaircarriercharters-isimportanttothesuccessoftheairport,theEAAorganization,andtheaviationcommunityasawhole.Duetoitsimportancetoboththelocaleconomy (estimated$111millioninregionaleconomicbenefits)andthenationalaviationcommunity,EAAAirVentureanditsweeklongoperationscanonlybenefitfromtheproposed14CFRPart139exemptionrequest.InterestofthePublicOldGloryHonorFlightisanon-profitorganizationthatsendsveteransfromWorldWarII,theKoreanWar,andtheVietnamWartoWashingtonD.C.tovisitthenation'swarmemorials.Specifically,OldGloryHonorflightcaterstoveteransfromthestateofWisconsinwhowishtopersonallyseethemonumentsdedicatedtotheirservice.ByhostingOldGloryHonorflightduringAirVenture,KOSHprovidesthefacilitiesforawell-deservedhomecomingfordozensofveteranseveryyear.BringingthemhometoOshkoshnotonlyservestothankthemfortheirservice,buttoteachAirVentureattendees,whogreetthemupontheirreturnflightyearly,ofthesacrificestheymade.Byfacilitatingcertain,non-scheduledcharterflightstobringattendeestotheworld'slargestfly-inevent,KOSHcancontributetothediversityofitsattendees.DuetothenatureofAirVenture,whichattractsthe

# general public, grassroots
aviators, aviation business leaders,

and international

visitors

alike,

the airport must

be flexible

in its ability

to accommodate

multiple

types

of arrivals. Ensuring Wittman Regional Airport

can accept limited

air carrier operations

during

the week

of AirVenture

will serve

to maintain

the diverse
nature

of the event's attendees. 

# Conclusion As the largest

fly-in event

in the world,

Air Venture attracts

a diverse

set

of aviation operations.

Over

the course

of one week, KOSH

needs

to have

the ability

to accommodate

all aircraft

that attend

the event, from light sport aircraft

to air carriers.
KOSH

has made

the logistical

and operational preparations

to host a wide spectrum

of aircraft during AirVenture,

but regulatory

barriers

exist

to ensuring

the event

can accept

all attendees

without interruption.

KOSH

urges

the FAA

to consider

the above information

and grant

the airport

an exemption

from

14 CFR

Part 139.101

to ensure

the continued

success ofEAA AirV enture. Wittman Regional

Airport 

# ?~/t&~ Airport Director February

10 2016