09APR21 | Bankstown to Lake Macquarie

Join one of several VFR routes through the Sydney basin to the spectacular Hawkesbury River, Central Coast and Newcastle.

Please note change of start time with the end of daylight savings.

Simulation Date/Time: Current date set to daylight.

Weather: Real World / Fair weather if real world is unsuitable for VFR operations.
If not using live weather, please be mindful of others who are using live weather and will be taking off and landing into the wind.

Distance: 144 nm

Flight Time: approx 75 mins

Aircraft: Cessna 172 or similar aircraft capable of 110 to 130 kias.

Altitude: Remain in Class G airspace as far as possible. See waypoint notes below.

Flight plan

File as: YSBK WAD NPBR GRRV KRMD WSFR BBG PAA YSMB YWVA YLMQ

GPS flight plan is available for FSX/P3D .pln, MSFS2020 .pln, X-Plane .fms and Little Navmap. This package also includes high resolution charts.

Navigation: Pilots familiar with the area may navigate visually. For those less familiar the accompanying GPS flight plan is the recommended method of navigation.

Communications

Australia uses CTAF (Common Traffic Advisory Frequency) for radio comms at uncontrolled airfields. Now that VATSIM has introduced AFV (Audio For VATSIM) CTAF can now be used across all VATSIM approved pilot clients. Pilots are requested to tune to the published frequency as detailed in the flight details for an event when operating in or around an aerodome to make and monitor CTAF broadcasts. Pilots should also be aware that it is a VATSIM COC (Code of Conduct) requirement that all pilots at uncontrolled airfields should monitor Unicom (Australia 122.80). It is highly recommended that pilots ensure that at least one of their "on board" COM radios (COM 2 being the most likely) is tuned to receive unicom transmissions in addition to transmitting and receiving on the published CTAF frequency. Please Note. All pilots should also be vigilant regarding the receipt of text on both unicom and CTAF. If it is discovered there is a pilot participating that is unable to receive voice transmissions, pilots should arrange to also broadcast via text to ensure those pilots without the benefit of voice is able to receive appropriate broadcasts. VATSIM provides an update guide for getting AFV working on each of the approved pilot clients.

Pilots also should read this post regarding the implications of using VATSIM UNICOM for CTAF. It provides some insight into potential pitfalls for the unwary when monitoring 122.80 in a CTAF environment.

Scenery

Due to the plethora of simulation platforms now being used, scenery is left to the discretion of each pilot. Updated X-Plane 11 scenery for Lake Macquarie is available here.

Flight details

• BANKSTOWN [YSBK] Takeoff
  elev: 34
  rwy: 11L/20R 11C/29C 11R/29L asphalt
  TWR/CTAF: 132.8
  NDB: BK 416
   
• ELIZABETH DRIVE/M7 MOTORWAY overfly not above 2500 ft - H-279° D-7.8 nm from YSBK
   
• ELIZABETH DRIVE/NORTHERN ROAD overfly not above 4500 ft -  H-263° D-7.3 nm or visual along Elizabeth Drive
  This leg will skirt the northern edge of the future Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport.
   
• WARRAGAMBA DAM [WAD] overfly not above 4500 ft - H-246° D-5.2 nm
   
• NEPEAN BRIDGE [NPBR] at 1500 ft - visual along the Nepean River
  Contact Richmond TWR on 135.5 if active for airways clearance on the GA route through Richmond Terminal airspace before proceeding.
  If Richmond TWR is not active, make an advisory call on CTAF 135.5 you are transiting the GA route north from Nepean Bridge to Wisemans Ferry.
  Tune DME to Richmond TACAN (RIC 110.7),
   
• GROSE RIVER [GRRV] overfly at 1500 ft - visual west of the Nepean River
   
• KURMOND [KRMD] overfly at 1500 ft - H-246° D-3.9 nm
  Report position at KURMOND and estimated time for WISEMANS FERRY.
  Remain at 1500 ft and on 135.5 until 11 DME RIC or until instructed by ATC.
   
• WISEMANS FERRY [WSFR] overfly not above 3500 ft - H-044° D-18.2 nm
   
• BROOKLYN BRIDGE [BBG] overfly not above 2500 ft - visual along the Hawkesbury River
   
• PATONGA [PAA] overfly not above 2500 ft - visual along the Hawkesbury River
   
• LION ISLAND overfly not above 4500 ft - visual along the Hawkesbury River
   
• RILEYS ISLAND overfly not above 4500 ft - H-006° D-4.4 nm
   
• GOSFORD GOLF COURSE overfly not above 7500 ft - H-240° D-4.2 nm
   
• SOMERSBY [YSMB] T&G - H-347° D-19.6 nm
  elev: 830
  rwy: 17/35 dirt
  CTAF: 132.1
   
• MARDI DAM overfly not above 7500 ft - H-034° D-6,6 nm
   
• WARNERVALE [YWVA] T&G - H-024° D-3.2 nm
  elev: 25
  rwy: 02/20 asphalt
  CTAF: 132.1
   
• WYEE POINT overfly not above 8500 ft - H-023° D-8.1 nm
   
• ROCKY POINT overfly not above 8500 ft - H-004° D-4.2 nm
   
• RATHMINES overfly not above 8500 ft - H-036° D-3.1 nm
  Rathmines was the site of an RAAF flying boat base during WW2.
  Remain on CTAF 132.1 from RATHMINES until landing.
   
• BOLTON POINT overfly not above 4500 ft - H-001° D-2.3 nm
   
• WARATAH GOLF COURSE overfly not above 3500 ft - H-001° D-4.1 nm
   
• MEREWETHER GOLF COURSE overfly not above 2500 ft - H-082° D-5.3 nm
   
• BROADMEADOW RACE COURSE overfly not above 2500 ft - H-028° D-1 nm
   
• FORT SCRATCHLEY overfly not above 2500 ft - H-072° D-2.5 nm
  This leg overflies the Newcastle CBD. Remain south of the Hunter River.
   
• REDHEAD overfly not above 2500 ft - visual along the coast
   
• LAKE MACQUARIE [YLMQ] Land - visual along the coast
  elev: 5
  rwy: 07/25 asphalt
  CTAF: 132.1

Charts

Due to image size limitations, only low resolution charts are available below. High resolution charts are included in the GPS flight plan package.