Airport Overview
Wittman Regional Airport (KOSH/OSH) is a public-use, towered airport owned by Winnebago County, located about two miles south of downtown Oshkosh, Wisconsin, at 808 feet MSL. Named for famed air racer Steve Wittman, the field is best known worldwide as the home of EAA AirVenture Oshkosh. It offers full business-jet capability the other 51 weeks of the year, with a single FBO and direct ramp access that keeps ground delays low.
Runway Capability
The primary runway, 18/36, provides 8,002 feet of concrete, enough for the full spectrum of business aviation including heavy and ultra-long-range jets under standard conditions. The 6,178-foot asphalt crosswind runway (9/27) handles light and midsize jets and turboprops, and a 3,048-foot turf strip (13/31) serves light piston traffic. The three-runway layout gives broad wind coverage, so crosswind limits rarely constrain operations.
EAA AirVenture
For one week each July, KOSH hosts EAA AirVenture and becomes the world's busiest airport, handling well over 10,000 aircraft movements and at times surpassing Chicago O'Hare and Atlanta. During this period a special FAA AirVenture NOTAM governs arrivals and departures, controllers work color-coded ground markings, and parallel taxiways may be used as landing surfaces. Charter operations during AirVenture require advance planning and slot coordination; outside that window the field is quiet.
Charter Considerations
Basler Flight Service is the only FBO and the single point of contact for fuel, parking, and handling. Booking 7 to 14 days ahead secures better aircraft selection and pricing, and demand spikes sharply around AirVenture week. For routine missions, KOSH offers an efficient, congestion-free alternative to commercial service through the region.
Customs & International
Wittman Regional is not a U.S. airport of entry and offers no on-field Customs and Border Protection. International arrivals should clear customs at nearby Appleton International Airport (KATW), roughly 17 nautical miles north, where CBP is available 24/7. Even during AirVenture, no customs services are provided at Oshkosh.
Safety & Planning
The field's 808-foot elevation keeps density-altitude effects modest, and ILS plus RNAV approaches support lower-minimum IFR arrivals. Winter brings frontal passages and freezing precipitation that can drop ceilings, while summer convective activity peaks in late afternoon, so morning departures generally see smoother conditions. De-icing capability and instrument currency are recommended for year-round reliability.
Regional Context
KOSH anchors east-central Wisconsin's general aviation network along the Fox River Valley and Lake Winnebago. Appleton International (KATW, 17 NM) provides the nearest customs and airline service, with Fond du Lac County (KFLD) and smaller reliever fields close by. The airport's manufacturing-economy hinterland and seasonal tourism, combined with its global AirVenture profile, make it one of the most recognized GA fields in the country.