The Federal Aviation Administration opened arrival reservations July 13 for nonscheduled instrument flight rules traffic heading to EAA AirVenture Oshkosh and participating Wisconsin airports. The reservation program begins affecting arrivals July 16, four days before the event opens at Wittman Regional Airport, so pilots using IFR need to settle their slot and alternate plan now rather than wait for show week.
The requirement applies to named Oshkosh area and Madison area airports, not just Wittman Regional. A reservation does not guarantee parking, and the FAA notice adds daily arrival closures, airshow shutdowns and confirmation deadlines that can invalidate an otherwise careful plan if they are treated as background details.
- Reservations opened: FAA arrival slots became available July 13 at 12:00 PM Central time.
- Arrival window: Slots are required for domestic nonscheduled IFR arrivals from July 16 through July 26.
- Departure window: Wittman Regional IFR departure reservations open July 17 for departures July 20 through July 26.
- Booking horizon: A slot cannot be assigned more than 72 hours before the planned operation.
- Confirmation rule: Reservations made more than 24 hours ahead must be confirmed between 24 and 12 hours before the slot.
- Parking warning: A confirmed IFR slot does not guarantee aircraft parking at Oshkosh.
Who needs an AirVenture arrival reservation
The FAA’s 2026 AirVenture special procedures require arrival reservations for domestic nonscheduled IFR flights into 13 participating airports. The list includes Wittman Regional, Appleton International, Fond du Lac County, Watertown Municipal, Sheboygan County Memorial, Dodge County and New Holstein Municipal in the Oshkosh area.
The Madison area portion includes Middleton Municipal, Reedsburg Municipal, Portage Municipal, Baraboo Wisconsin Dells, Tri County Regional at Lone Rock and Fort Atkinson Municipal. Pilots should match the identifier on the planned flight with the FAA list because filing to a nearby airport does not automatically avoid the program.
The first arrival reservation window runs from 12:00 PM to 8:00 PM Central time July 16. From July 17 through July 26, reservations are required from 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM, with the system using coordinated hourly acceptance rates that differ by airport.
Only Wittman Regional requires an IFR departure reservation under this program. Those reservations open July 17 at 6:00 AM Central for departures from July 20 through July 26, while pilots departing the other listed airports still need to follow local procedures, notices and air traffic instructions.
How the reservation and confirmation sequence works
The FAA uses its online electronic Special Traffic Management Program system for these slots. A pilot registers for the service, selects the participating airport and planned time, and supplies the departure or destination airport, UTC date and time, aircraft call sign and aircraft type.
A preliminary reservation number is issued when the request is accepted. For a reservation made more than 24 hours before the slot, the pilot must return between 24 and 12 hours beforehand to confirm it, or the system cancels the reservation and returns the capacity to the pool.
Reservations made within 24 hours are automatically confirmed. The confirmation number belongs in the remarks section of the flight plan, and the FAA advises filing at least six hours before departure when possible so the reservation and flight plan can be matched cleanly.
The operating window is narrow: an aircraft is expected to arrive at the reserved airport or depart Wittman Regional within 15 minutes before or after the confirmed time. A weather delay can still trigger additional air traffic initiatives, so the slot is a planning requirement rather than a promise of an uninterrupted approach.
Oshkosh closures can override the slot
Wittman Regional closes to arriving aircraft from 8:00 PM to 7:00 AM daily beginning July 16. It also closes during scheduled airshows and other temporary restrictions, and the FAA says arrivals normally resume about 30 minutes after an afternoon show after pilots verify the status through the AirVenture arrival information service.
No Oshkosh arrival reservations are allocated during the daily aerobatic demonstration windows. Reservations remain necessary at the other participating airports during those periods, which can make an alternate airport the cleaner choice when an arrival would otherwise sit close to a scheduled closure.
The EAA flying in guidance directs pilots to the FAA notice, parking status and arrival updates. That organizer guidance matters because the ground condition can close an arrival category or redirect aircraft even when the federal reservation itself remains valid.
FlightAware’s explanation of how thousands of aircraft reach Oshkosh gives independent context for the special flow. The concentrated arrival pattern is why the FAA separates IFR slots from the published visual arrival routes and gives each pilot a specific procedure to study before entering the area.
A confirmed slot does not settle parking
The FAA states plainly that an IFR arrival reservation does not guarantee parking at Wittman Regional. Parking areas can reach saturation, some grass areas have changed for 2026, and arriving aircraft may be asked to leave when no suitable space remains.
Pilots should monitor the current aircraft parking status before committing to the final leg and retain a workable alternate. Appleton, Fond du Lac and Green Bay are among the alternatives named in the notice, with transportation options that may preserve the trip when Oshkosh cannot accept another aircraft.
Aircraft camping adds another ground decision after the slot and parking check. Travelers building a compact camp setup can use Deep Arrival’s small portable coolers guide for gear planning, but aircraft weight, secure stowage and the FAA or EAA operating rules must control what actually travels.
Every aircraft landing at Oshkosh needs a large windshield sign for its intended parking or camping area. The request is not guaranteed, and the pilot must follow marshal instructions after leaving the runway rather than taxi toward the preferred area independently.
| Planned operation | Required next step | Main risk to resolve |
|---|---|---|
| Nonscheduled IFR arrival to a listed airport | Reserve through FAA e-STMP within the 72 hour window | No confirmation number means the IFR plan does not meet the special program |
| IFR departure from Wittman Regional | Reserve after the departure system opens July 17 | Airshow windows and airport closures can block the preferred time |
| Arrival near an Oshkosh closure | Choose another time or plan a listed alternate | A slot does not override an airport or airshow shutdown |
| Reservation made more than 24 hours ahead | Confirm it between 24 and 12 hours before the slot | An unconfirmed reservation is automatically canceled |
| Parking status is limited | Use the current EAA status and keep the alternate practical | A confirmed arrival slot does not reserve ground space |
- Match the airport: Confirm that the destination identifier is one of the 13 airports in the program.
- Protect the slot: Put the confirmation window on the calendar as soon as the preliminary reservation is issued.
- Check closures: Align the planned arrival with daily airport and airshow shutdowns.
- Keep an alternate: Carry enough fuel and a realistic ground plan for a participating alternate airport.
- Verify parking: Check current Oshkosh parking status before the final leg.
When did AirVenture arrival reservations open?
The FAA made arrival reservations available July 13, 2026, at 12:00 PM Central time. The system assigns slots no more than 72 hours before the planned operation.
Does every flight to Oshkosh need an FAA slot?
Not every flight needs a slot. The special reservation program covers domestic nonscheduled IFR arrivals to the listed airports and IFR departures from Wittman Regional during the published windows, while other operations follow the applicable FAA procedures.
Does an arrival slot guarantee parking at Wittman Regional?
A confirmed slot does not guarantee parking. The FAA says EAA parking status can change as areas fill or ground conditions shift.
What happens if a preliminary reservation is not confirmed?
A reservation made more than 24 hours ahead must be confirmed between 24 and 12 hours before the slot. If it is not confirmed by the deadline, it is canceled and returned to the system.
Can a confirmed slot override an airshow closure?
A confirmed slot cannot override a closure. Wittman Regional restrictions and airshow windows still control, so pilots must check current notices and arrival information before entering the area.
