Abby's Ramp Ramble - The Oshkosh Scramble (and Where the Eggs Went)

My initial idea for this Ramp Ramble was to compile the notable Oshkosh stories that I think FBO personnel would be interested in. While there were many neat things that happened at AirVenture this year, my chats with FBOs post-Oshkosh yielded something interesting. This year's pilot flight trends left some typical transient areas in the mud, while others were sitting pretty.If you'd still like to see the AirVenture articles I handpicked for FBOs, I'll be sure to have them linked at the end of this ramble.After the show, I rang several of the FBOs who listed fuel deals on GlobalAir.com's Oshkosh Specials Page to hear about the ramp traffic they saw. It helps determine where the competition is strongest, routes and destinations pilots prefer, and potential diversions that create ripple effects across the country. Just keep in mind that this feedback is based on the FBOs pinned on the map below.Participating FBO fuel deals and specials pinned on GlobalAir.com's Oshkosh Specials MapBoo, Rain.It goes without saying that the weather week-of got off to a bad start. Poor conditions were abundant across the Central and Midwest states, with pop-up storms herding pilots to the AirVenture grounds. Funnel clouds were even reported above Wittman Regional itself.Several FBOs in Wyoming, Nebraska and Iowa drew the short straw from the forecast, with weather diversions leading many pilots to fly North. The tone shifted with many FBOs in the Dakotas - they were pretty satisfied with the numbers they saw this year. That said, FBOs in Southern Nebraska may have been lucky enough to maintain average traffic levels.The Lake Michigan corridor was not spared from weather setbacks, either. While still a popular route for pilots avoiding emergency water landings, many FBOs saw lower numbers year to year. When it's all said and done, while most saw less traffic than expected, several FBOs throughout Northern Indiana, Ohio, and Michigan still felt like traffic levels were average, with a few reporting net increases from last.UPDATE: I've had enough feedback from FBOs who listed fuel deals in Tennessee to say that it seems like many pilots avoided the state altogether. While severe weather was not as prevalent in this area, high heat indexes or Southern storms may have pushed pilots away.Across the board, it seems like very few were unaffected by the weather this year, though most FBOs saw better traffic on the return trip.A .gif of filtered storm reports between July 15th - July 27th via NOAA NWS SPC, compiled by GlobalAir.comPrepping for Next YearJust as it's good practice to in-brief, it is just as important to out-brief Oshkosh traffic and promotions with your team. Review what worked, look at what didn't work and decide what to do differently next year.Weather is unpredictable and will always have a hand in where pilots decide to fly. While we can't always prep for weather, I have a few recommendations I'd encourage FBOs to keep in mind for next year.If you're competitive, be sure to research your nearby competition. If you have an airport 20 miles away that's bleeding fuel, don't cut yourself to keep up - but do manage your expectations. Fuel prices can be a huge draw, but so is word of mouth, character, amenities and quality of service.Base fuel prices will be the most visible to pilots who exclusively use an Electronic Flight Bag. Though each year, more FBOs report fuel discounts to both EAA and GlobalAir.com, leading the active search for fuel discounts to increase in popularity. If you can, try to strike a good balance between your discount and your base price - you need both to be eye-catching enough to pull from both pots.There will always be a degree of unknown to transient traffic like this. Because so many factors are unpredictable, be careful with what additional specials you offer, and always have a plan B in mind. Perishable food can be tricky, especially if large orders go untouched due to unexpected weather diversions. Pre-packaged goodies are handy if leftovers become a reality. Don't be afraid to grill out, but have a plan for both cases - you may even see more traffic than expected if skies keep blue!It's HOT. Any temperature control measure is a welcome amenity, and bottled water is a common handout. I don't care who you are, if you hand me a sweating, ice-cold bottle of water after I've been out all day in 90°F heat, you just became my best friend. Some set up mini misting stations with fan sprayers to help pilots cool down. Of course, nothing beats the nice, cold stream of AC from a pilot's lounge on a hot day.When it comes to the actual deal you post, either lead with something uber eye-catching or lead with your actual discount. Considering 2025 yielded record numbers in FBO fuel deal reporting on GlobalAir.com, pilots will have more FBOs to consider in a given area. Don't bury an eye-catching deal under great amenities. Since GlobalAir.com is a browser site, add keywords that will aid in the recognition of your airport and FBO when finalizing a flight plan.Overall, it sounded like we had a rocky start due to weather. But rain can't stop the AirVenture train - EAA reported record numbers in attendance, with over 10,000 aircraft flying in throughout the week and over 16,000 operations. FBOs who were lucky enough to exist in fair weather lucked out this year, as pilots were ushered into their airspace.At the end of the day, some FBOs offer discounts out of love for AirVenture alone - not all are in it for the competition. Many FBOs offer discounts during this week in honor of arguably the most iconic aviation event in the world. Regardless of where your FBO falls, even if you are out of the way of OSH transients, it's a time to appreciate our roots in aviation.This is such a fun promotion for me because I am as big a nerd about Oshkosh as the next aviation nut. I also find it very interesting to note the patterns between FBOs in different locations and the reasons that explain them. What will next year's traffic patterns hold, and what can you do to prepare?Did any uber-neat aircraft stop in on the way to AirVenture? Thoughts about my thoughts? Let me hear them at [email protected]. (Definitely let me hear about the neat aircraft!!)AirVenture Articles for FBOsAirVenture Cup winner used unleaded avgas substitute during the raceFAA, DOT leadership bring landmark MOSAIC announcement to AirVenture crowdA glimpse into the future of aviation's future at 2025 Electric Aircraft Symposium OshkoshLou Seno reflects on 70 years at AirVentureAviate Enterprises fitting Bonanzas with Stralis Aircraft hydrogen-electric fuel cellsVoltAero and Kawasaki Motors partner for new hybrid engineShrinkage of federal agencies led to smaller presence at AirVenture90 years later and the DC-3 still soarsBonanza Ruddervator Skins can now be replaced after being unavailable since 2021Hartzell gets FAA certification for BETA propellerEpic Aircraft's E1000 AX receives FAA certificationBristell announces certification and other news at AirVenture 2025A first look at the TL Sport Sirius Backcountry at AirVentureAbby's Ramp Ramble is a monthly news and opinion column that serves the FBO industry. Abigail "Abby the Ramp Rat" Sheets maintains the GlobalAir.com Airport Resource Center and serves as the director of ARC sales development. Her background is in aviation maintenance and management. She graduated from Purdue University with a BS in Aeronautical Engineering Technology and an MS in Aviation and Aerospace Management.