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GROUND CLUTTER Ralph Hood Certified Speaking Professional; Member, Alabama Aviation Hall of Fame 28 airportbusiness August/September 2014 I t is awesome how much hard work we aviation scribes expend to deliver news to our readers. Last week, for example, I spent literally days studying first hand the busiest airport in the country. Such commitment! The airport was Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh, Wis., and, yes, it was indeed the week of the EAA's AirVenture OSHKOSH 2014, also known as the biggest aviation celebration in the world. That's why it was the busiest airport last week. Oh, the sacrifices we endure! OSH had some 12,000 aircraft, 2,000 portable toilets and exhibitors in the thousands. England's Farnborough International Airshow, for comparison, will be attended by some 100,000 peo- ple. OSH is attended by more than half a million. Everything is run by the EAA and I doubt Disney could run it any better. It is absolutely impossible to see everything at OSH, and you could walk yourself to death trying. No worry, though, there are trams—pulled by John Deere tractors—to take you all over the place after your legs give out. I've been to OSH more than 10 times, speaking for Theater in the Woods and for Women in Aviation, Parks College, and Lancair. I've come away in awe each time. This year I traveled up with retired USAF Lt. Col. Bill Powley and businessman and aviation advocate Fain Bennett. We drove up from East Tennessee—828 miles—in one day, stayed four days, then drove back in one day. I believe it safe to say we will never do that again. I am the oldest of the three, and felt it. I'll probably recover sometime in October or November. We set out to see the show together each morning, but soon split up by accident or on purpose. We reconnected at the Lycoming exhibit, where we could sit in the shade under a huge awning and eat the wonderful ice cream treats provided for free by Lycoming. Thanks, Lycoming. Some exhibitors at OSH are there for goodwill, publicity and to collect names of prospective buyers. Others are there to sell something right now, and if you aren't going to buy get out of the way. All are fun to watch and it's truly awesome how many nonaviation products—T-shirts leading the pack—are sold. OSH is, first, last and foremost, absolutely awesome. It's hard to understand how EAA could put it together each year and get it all done. So, how does the busiest airport handle the traffic? Professionally and totally. Inbound pilots read the rules before- hand, report at designated landmarks, monitor the radio, and say nothing. Controllers say something like "Cessna over Ripon, wiggle your wings. OK, we gotcha. Follow our directions and do not answer." Once in the pattern, you may be told to land long or short so others can land behind you or past you. It's hectic, but it works. Every airport manager should go to OSH, every year, and you can tell your board that I said so. (That won't help, but it'll make me feel good.) Oshkosh, B'gosh! Airport managers should trek to EAA each and every year www.aviationpros.com/10017697