24 Years of Community Building: Cheerful Service on the Flight Line at EAA AirVenture
Every summer, a small airfield in Oshkosh, Wisconsin temporarily transforms into the busiest airport on Earth, and for most years since 2002, I have spent that week giving back on the flight line.
My journey with the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) began 24 years ago when my local Minneapolis EAA Chapter awarded me a scholarship to attend the EAA Advanced Leadership Camp. Long before I could afford to become a pilot myself, volunteering was my way to stay close to aviation and learn the mechanics of complex systems from the ground up. Today, I am proud to be a lifetime EAA member. Hands-On Teamwork in Action
During AirVenture week, Wittman Regional Airport handles over 10,000 aircraft movements a day with nearly 15,000 planes on the airfield. Making an event of this scale succeed requires seamless, behind-the-scenes execution:
North 40 Flight Line Operations: Working in safety vests just 20 to 30 feet from the active runway, marshaling newly landed aircraft, directing taxiing traffic, and keeping a hyper-vigilant eye out for safety hazards.
South Maintenance Fleet Care: Wrenching in the shop to maintain the iconic fleet of 1960s and 1970s Volkswagen Beetles that transport volunteers across the grounds, along with keeping aircraft tugs, generators, airstairs, and utility vehicles running smoothly.
A "Small City" of Volunteers: AirVenture runs entirely on the collective dedication of roughly 6,000 volunteers from across the globe who donate nearly 300,000 hours of their time.
Bringing the Mechanic’s Mindset Home
Whether troubleshooting vintage engines, marshaling aircraft, or managing municipal budgets in Burlington, real leadership isn't about sitting behind a desk, it is about providing cheerful service to our community and doing the unglamorous work required to solve practical problems.
When we roll up our sleeves and work alongside neighbors toward a shared mission, there is no limit to what our hometowns can accomplish.
