21JAN22 | Ararat to Portland via Grampians

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: 152 nm excluding Grampians sightseeing

Est Flight Time: Approx 75 min

Aircraft: Any GA aircraft capable of 120-130 kias..

Altitude: Not above 8500 ft. Suggested 3500 ft. 

Flight plan

File as: YARA YSWL YGMP YVVA YHML YXBH YPOD 

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

Navigation: Pilots are encouraged to navigate visually. For those less familiar the 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 is available for Ararat in OzXP and for other airports.

Flight details

• ARARAT [YARA] Takeoff
  elev: 1008
  rwy: 12/30 asphalt
  rwy: 04/22 grass
  CTAF: 126.7
   
• STAWELL [YSWL] T&G - visual along the Western Highway
  elev: 807
  rwy: 11/29 18/36 asphalt [RH circuits RWY 18 and 29]
  CTAF: 119.1
   
• GRAMPIANS [YGMP] T&G - visual along Grampians Road and North Grampians Road
  elev: 764
  rwy: 06/24 grass
  CTAF: 126.7
   
• VICTORIA VALLEY [YVVA] T&G - visual along the Henty Highway and Matthew Track
  elev: 727
  rwy: 08/26 dirt
  rwy: 17/35 grass
  CTAF: 126.7
   
• CAVENDISH overfly - visual along Red Rock Road and the Henty Highway
   
• HAMILTON [YHML] T&G - visual along the Henty Highway and Hensley Park Road
  elev: 803
  rwy: 17/35 asphalt
  rwy: 10/28 gravel
  CTAF: 124.2
  NDB: HML 203
   
• HAMILTON GOLF COURSE overfly - visual along Hensley Park Road
   
• BRANXHOLME TOWNSHIP overfly - visual along the Henty Highway
   
• BRANXHOLME [YBXH] T&G - visual along Careys Ranges Road
  elev: 482
  rwy: 01/19 grass
  CTAF: 126.7
   
• HEYWOOD TOWNSHIP overfly - visual along the Henty Highway
   
• POINT DANGER LIGHTHOUSE overfly - the Henty Highway to Portland Township then along the coast
   
• CAPE NELSON LIGHTOUSE overfly - visual along the coast
   
• PORTLAND [YPOD] Land - visual along the coast until runway visual
  elev: 266
  rwy: 08/26 asphalt
  rwy: 17/35 gravel
  CTAF: 127.95

Chart