If a pilot's aircraft experiences mechanical trouble at Oshkosh during AirVenture, who do they call for assistance? The pilot can contact the Emergency Aircraft Repair (EAR) team. The EAR is staffed by members of EAA Chapter 75 Quad Cities (Davenport, Bettendorf Iowa and Rock Island, Moline Illinois). Any EAA member can serve with the EAR, but the member is required to join Chapter 75 (the member does not have to reside in the Quad Cities area). The EAR conducts an extensive mentoring and shadow program, and having all of the EAR members in the same chapter allows the team to better manage their training.
The EAR building, also referred to as the "repair barn," is located on Waupun Road just west of Wittman in the Vintage area near aircraft registration. Although the EAR has been on-site at Oshkosh since 1963, many pilots are not aware of them. Information about the EAR is spread largely by word of mouth or via Flightline Safety personnel once a pilot has a maintenance problem.
The Emergency Aircraft Repair team assists pilots in resolving maintenance issues. For repairs on homebuilt- and experimental-class aircraft, the EAR loans pilots the tools they require to repair their aircraft. The EAR team, many of them experienced aircraft builders, offers guidance and advice on how to complete the repair. EAR members do not perform any repairs--they assist and advise. For simple issues, the afflicted plane can remain in its parking location to complete repairs. For more extensive or time consuming repairs, the EAR team moves the aircraft to its designated repair space adjacent their facility. EAR members can also transport pilots and failed components to local shops where the part can be repaired or a new part acquired. For certified, factory-built aircraft that require a certified A&P mechanic to perform repairs, the EAR assists the pilot in contacting FBOs and appropriate maintenance services on the field and coordinates aircraft movement to the proper facility.
I had the opportunity to speak with Bernie Nitz, a veteran of the Emergency Aircraft Repair team. Bernie has been a part of the EAR for 50 years, serving in a variety of leadership roles. He is currently executing a succession plan to exit EAR leadership and transfer his knowledge and experience to younger members. Similar to other EAR members, Bernie has built his own aircraft. His experimental-class projects include a Cozy Mk IV and a VariEze which he has operated for many years and flown throughout the country. Bernie had an extensive professional career engineering aircraft oxygen systems and currently serves as a FAAST (FAA Safety Team) representative in the Quad Cities area.
Bernie commented that volunteering at Emergency Aircraft Repair is similar to being on a fire department: there may be long periods of sitting around, waiting for something to happen, before operations become very busy. The EAR assists approximately 150-200 pilots/aircraft each AirVenture--this number includes experimental, homebuilt, and certified aircraft. The most common maintenance problems are tires (flats), brakes, batteries, charging systems, and ignitions. To facilitate timely repairs, the EAR tries to anticipate the more common maintenance issues. For example, they maintain a number of mounted tires of the most common sizes to quickly remedy flat tires. To prepare for AirVenture, team members arrive at Oshkosh four days before the convention starts. The EAR starts closing down their operation on the last Sunday of the event.
The Emergency Aircraft Repair Team is not funded by the EAA. The EAR operates solely on donations--mainly donations from pilots they have assisted. Through these generous donations, the EAR maintains an extensive inventory of tools which is available to pilots.