A good time was had by all - and old issues sadly remain unresolved

I'm safely back home after my nine glorious days of tram conducting. Attendance - guests and GA aircraft - seemed down from last year? I dunno. But it was still a grand event. By and large airplane people iz good people.

For all the tram conductors it was like 'old home week' having our backs and kidneys pounded by all the same potholes and uneven pavement cracks on all the routes that we have 'enjoyed' for decades. Maybe the grand decision makers at EAA HQ should be given a few tram rides on Blue, Yellow and Red sitting at the conductor positions to share the joy we've been feeling all day long for all these years? Surely they do realize that the tram carts have very limited suspension systems? Thank the gods for Ibuprofen and Acetominophen.

As always the Blue-Yellow tram turnaround terminal operated flawlessly and its sister terminal Red-Yellow remained a pedestrian and tram operations nightmare. A true avoidable accident waiting to happen. There IS plenty of empty land space sitting idle at the Red-Yellow site to directly mirror the existing Blue-Yellow. Safe passenger transfers and quicker simplified tractor/tram movements would be the immediate positive result. This issue was also a major complaint last year that obviously was ignored by the "EAA powers that be". It is NOT unique to EAA for decision makers to never listen to or consult with the people who actually perform the tasks the decision makers are regulating for their valuable input. Not unique but still a PITA.

And another AirVenture has come and gone with NO Porta-Potties at the tram terminals. Tram passengers and of course the volunteers DO suffer as a result.

My legitimate complaints will of course have NO bearing on my volunteering for next year and every year thereafter for as long as my aging body will permit. "Somebody" has to tell my corny dad jokes. I DO luv me some airplanes even though I am not a real-life pilot. Microsoft Flight Sim allows me to feed my life-long passion for aviation.

Thanks for listening.

I would be remiss to not give a HUGE shout-out to Gene, Sandy, Mason, Roy, Jason and all the others who work from dawn to dark every day behind the scenes every year to keep the Tram operations rolling. Their efforts continue to provide a safe and reliable Tram experience to the thousands of AirVenture visitors who enjoy a bit of transportation relief every day. What they are able to achieve every day within the confines of their available resources is highly commendable. By the way - new volunteer drivers and conductors are ALWAYS welcome. YOU could be one next year? Think about it.

Speaking of tram suspension, there is none. But then you should add, scooter rentals to people who have no hearing for diesel engines on their tail and think riding in middle of road is acceptable, kids in carts and gators running errands for vendors weaving in and out of heavy traffic and not looking where they are going (driver license ? I think not), bikes in the "NO BIKE ZONE from ultra lite area to south turn around, and parents with toddlers that they can not keep control of ( I came too close to running over two of them. my heart is still skipping). How about vendors and alleged VIP's driving and parking where they please, impeding traffic flow, security people on scooters with no real power to enforce rules. As for the red /yellow turn zone, it could be enlarged so the ballet could be a little more relaxed. I hate hanging my back end out across the road, and you are right about the blue/yellow turn zone, enlarge and pave it like the other turn around. At least get rid of that swamp on the blue side.

Other wise, I had a great time as always, got to break in a new conductor who I would work with again. Picked it up really quick. Sandy, Gene and Roy did an outstanding job again this year and I wish EAA higher ups would listen to their advice on what needs to be done instead of "advisors" who never get to see what is really going on there and see who really runs Airventure.

And once again I missed you Randy. One of these years. Good reason to come back! ��

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Originally Posted by CHICAGORANDY

And another AirVenture has come and gone with NO Porta-Potties at the tram terminals. Tram passengers and of course the volunteers DO suffer as a result.



Thanks for listening.

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I don't think it was just at the tram stops, it felt like there were less portos all around.

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Originally Posted by mazdaP5

I don't think it was just at the tram stops, it felt like there were less portos all around.

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Indeed. They decreased them all around and kept many of hte ones that were there locked. They also moved them around (I suspect with the idea of promoting better sight lines for the airshow) but it was awful. I can't tell you howmany times I had people approach me in the Vintage Flight Line Operations buildilng asking where the toilets were EVEN AFTER I put up signs saying where they were. You could stand on Wittman road between the Hangar and Vintage Cafes and not be able to see a single toilet except for the one on the side of our building (locked for volunteer use only). I suspect the EAA realized how badly they fucked up because late Saturday, some additional ones were delivered to the covert area on the diagonal road by the Hangar Cafe, but even those took long to get unlocked and filled with blue goo.

They weren't servicing them apparently before the "show start" either which really stank. The EAA has to realize if they are going to collect camping fees in advance of the show start, they really need to provide basic santiation service. It also caused a lot of grumbling from the volunteers who arrive early to work.

Further, there was a massive ADA violation here as they didn't open the few disabled-compliant toilets that were there. I relented and unlocked ours for a woman in a wheelchair.

I made a comment on Warbird information exchange about being on the outside looking in. I haven't attended in years due to work before I retired, and health issues after.
I have been a member since the 70's and attended and camped for many years. I've been trying to talk myself into going but I would need a scooter and that would make me part of the problem since it seems there are more wheeled vehicles than walkers. Most of what bothers me has already been discussed. I cannot for the life of me understand the lack of metro's other than as a cost saving measure by EAA. Maybe the demographics are changing and the 20 somethings or intern's that are running things look at everything that's not a revenue stream can be cut and cut again. And yes I understand that putting on a show like this is a multi million dollar undertaking and every dollar counts. EAA tries to track everything, and I'll give you an example. I'm an occasional docent at the museum and I volunteered during the show about 5 years ago. MY job was to sit by the elevator on the ground floor and use a clicker each time someone went through the doorway next to the elevator. Then enter the number every hour. Perhaps if EAA put that kind of effort into listening to the grassroots members about their concerns things might change.

I like many others use my mobility scooter to tour the grounds on shifts when I'm not tram conducting. Never a negative issue in the exhibit hangars or all around the grounds. Common sense in operating the scoot is key. Don't stop and block the sidewalks, don't ride down the middle of the streets causing traffic jams and all will be fine. Don't let mobility issues keep you from attending, It's all part of the "joy" that is the Golden Years -LOL.

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Originally Posted by CHICAGORANDY

I like many others use my mobility scooter to tour the grounds on shifts when I'm not tram conducting. Never a negative issue in the exhibit hangars or all around the grounds. Common sense in operating the scoot is key. Don't stop and block the sidewalks, don't ride down the middle of the streets causing traffic jams and all will be fine. Don't let mobility issues keep you from attending, It's all part of the "joy" that is the Golden Years -LOL.

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Thanks Randy, Maybe I'll give it a try next year. Who knows maybe I'll try the tram thing:rollseyes:

This was a good Oshkosh. I felt like the crowds were about the same, but I landed on Friday and I camp in Vintage, and I was about 15 rows further back that I was when I went in on Saturday the year before.

I somehow missed your Dad jokes this year. I usually hear them as you go by! I'm an EAA Photographer and I spend a lot of time walking around the grounds, but sometimes a tram can be a lifesaver, so thank you to the whole team!

Like you, I feel a lot of issues are ignored year after year, but I'll keep going until they don't want me anymore!