03APR22 | Colac to Bendigo

NOTE NEW START TIME DUE TO 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: 129 nm

Est Flight Time: Approx 75 min

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

Altitude: Not above 8500 ft. Suggested 3000 ft. 

Flight plan

File as: YOLA YCRE YBLT YMBU YCAL YBDG

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 here (including Cressy which is not in default X-Plane)..

Flight details

• COLAC [YOLA] Takeoff
  elev: 450
  rwy: 09/27 asphalt
  rwy: 18/36 grass
  CTAF: 126.7
   
• BEEAC overfly - visual along Colac-Ballarat Road
   
• CRESSY [YCRE] T&G - visual along Colac-Ballarat Road
  elev: 420
  rwy: 01/19 15/33 grass
  CTAF: 126.7
  
  Cressy was a WW2 training field, reopened in 2021 as a private aerodrome.
   
• WOADY YALLOCK CAMP GROUND overfly - visual along Colac-Ballarat Road and Rokewood-Skipton Road
   
• SCARSDALE overfly - visual along Pitfield-Scarsdale Road
   
• BALLARAT [YBLT] T&G - visual along the Glenelg Highway
  elev: 1433
  rwy: 05/23 18/36 asphalt
  rwy: 13/31 grass
  CTAF: 127.75
   
• CLUNES overfly - visual along Ballarat-Maryborough Road
   
• TALBOT overly - visual along Ballarat-Maryborough Road
   
• MARYBOROUGH [YMBU] T&G - visual along Ballarat-Maryborough Road
  elev: 964
  rwy: 17/35 asphalt [RH circuit RWY 17]
  rwy: 06/24 gravel [RH circuit RWY 24]
  CTAF: 119.1
   
• CASTLEMAINE [YCAL] T&G - visual along the Pyrenees Highway
  elev: 1433
  rwy: 01/19 10/28 dirt
  CTAF: 126.7
   
• CASTLEMAINE TOWNSHIP overfly - visual along the Midland Highway
   
• HARCOURT overfly - visual along the Midland Highway
   
• RAVENSWOOD INTERCHANGE overfly - visual along the Calder Highway
   
• BENDIGO (YBDG) Land - visual along the Calder Highway
  elev: 710
  rwy: 05/23 17/35 asphalt [RH circuit RWY 05 and 35]
  CTAF: 119.3

Chart