28MAY21 | Parkes to Griffith via Newell Highway

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: 143 nm

Est Flight Time: approx 80 mins

Aircraft: Cessna 172 or similar aircraft capable of 110-120 kias.

Altitude: Not above FL125. Suggested altitude 2500 ft.

Flight plan

File as: YPKS YFBS YBST YWWL YARL YGTH

GPS flight plan is available for FSX/P3D .pln, MFS2020 .pln, X-Plane .fms and Little Navmap.

Navigation: Pilots are encouraged to navigate visually along the Newell Highway and Burley Griffin Way. 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. During an event, Pilots are requested to broadcast intentions on the published CTAF. Pilots should also be aware that it is a VATSIM CoC (Code of Conduct) requirement that all pilots at uncontrolled airfields should monitor UNICOM on 122.800. Pilots should ensure that at least one of their radios (COM 2 being the most likely) is tuned to receive UNICOM transmissions in addition to transmitting and receiving on the published CTAF.

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 Griffith is available here.

Flight details

• PARKES [YPKS] Takeoff
  elev: 1069
  rwy: 04/22 11/29 asphalt
  CTAF: 126.7
  VOR/DME: PKS 112.0
  NDB: PKS 242
   
• FORBES [YFBS] T&G - visual along the Newell Highway
  elev: 760
  rwy: 09/27 asphalt (grass runways for gliders only)
  CTAF: 126.7
   
• BILLABONG STATION [YBST] T&G - visual along the Newell Highway
  elev: 681
  rwy: 16/34 gravel
  rwy: 05/23 grass
  CTAF: 126.7
   
• WEST WYALONG [YWWL] T&G - visual along the Newell Highway
  elev: 859
  rwy: 09/27 asphalt
  rwy: 04/22 gravel
  CTAF: 126.7
   
• ARDLETHAN [YARL] T&G - visual along the Newell Highway
  elev: 646
  rwy: 07/25 grass
  CRAF: 126.0
   
• GRIFFITH [YGTH] Land - visual along the Burley Griffin Way
  elev: 439
  rwy: 06/24 asphalt
  rwy: 18/36 sand/clay
  CTAF: 126.55
  NDB: GTH 305

Chart