14AUG22 | Charters Towers to Townsville

This flight continues the tour of some historic WW2 aviation sites around Townsville.

Simulation Date/Time: Current date set to daylight.

Weather: Real World / Fair weather if real world is unsuitable for VFR operations.
Please note Rule B13 in the VATSIM Code of Conduct regarding weather.

Distance: 140 nm

Est Flight Time: Approx 75 min

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

Altitude: Remain in Class G airspace outside Townsville Military CTR. See waypoint notes below.

Flight plan

File as: YCHT YDOT TNP YBLP TOOU RGS HVI YPAM ANI ORKS PCA KSPT YBTL

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 scenery is available for Townsville and for other airports.

Flight details

• CHARTERS TOWERS [YCHT] Takeoff
  elev: 955
  rwy: 06/24 asphalt
  rwy: 01/19 gravel
  CTAF: 126.7
  
  Charters Towers was home of the USAAF 3rd Bomb Group (B-25 Mitchell) and RAAF 22 Squadron (A-20 Boston) during WW2.
  
  Tune DME to Townsville VOR/DME (TL 114.1)
  Not above 8500 ft beyond 36 DME TL.
   
• BREDDAN AERODROME overfly - visual along Gregory Development Road.
  
  Breddan is a now abandoned aerodrome and was home to the USAAF 71st and 405th Bomb Squadrons (B-25 Mitchell) and an RAAF repair and maintenance base during WW2. The surviving structures are heritage listed.
   
• DALRYMPLE overfly - visual along Gregory Development Road.
  
  Dalrymple was a school camp used as a military hospital during WW2.
  
  Not above 5500 ft within 36 DME TL.
   
• DOTSWOOD [YDOT] T&G - H-038° D-16 nm
  elev: 966
  rwy: 03/21 dirt
  CTAF: 126.7
  
  Dotswood was home to an RAAF stores depot during WW2.
   
• HERVEY RANGE ROAD overfly - H-330° until reaching the road (approx 7 nm)
  
  Not above 3500 ft within 25 DME TL.
   
• THORNTON GAP [TNP] overfly not above 3500 ft - visual along Hervey Range Road.
  
  Not above 2500 ft within 18 DME TL.
   
• BLUE WATER PARK [YBLP] T&G - H-003° D-10 nm
  elev: 110
  rwy: 02/20 asphalt
  rwy: 02R/20L grass
  CTAF: 126.7
   
• TOOMULLA [TOOU] overfly not above 2500 ft - visual along Bruce Highway
  
  Not above 3500 ft within 25 DME TL.
   
• ROLLINGSTONE [RGS] overfly not above 3500 ft - visual along Bruce Highway
  
  Not above 5500 ft within 36 DME TL.
   
• HAVANNAH ISLAND [HVI] overfly not above 5500 ft- H-028° D-14.8 nm
   
• PALM ISLAND [YPAM] T&G - H-017° D-5.9 nm
  elev: 30
  rwy: 14/32 asphalt
  CTAF: 126.7
  
  Palm Island was a US Naval Air Station (PBY Catalina) during WW2.
  
  Not above 3500 ft within 25 DME TL.
   
• ACHERON ISLAND [ANI] overfly not above 3500 ft - H-159° D-12.8 nm
  
  Not above 2500 ft within 18 DME TL.
  Not above 1500 ft within 11 DME TL.
   
• WHITE ROCK overfly overfly not above 1500 ft - H-120° D-14 nm
   
• ORCHARD ROCKS [ORKS] overfly not above 1500 ft - visual along the coast
  *** Townsville ATC is active, report overhead Orchard Rocks ****
   
• MAGNETIC ISLAND FORT overfly - visual along Radical Bay Road
  
  The fortifications were constructed in 1943.
  
  If ATC is active, do not proceed into Townsville Military CTR (within 7 DME TL) until given circuit instructions.
   
• NELLY BAY overfly not above 1500 ft - visual along Nelly Bay Road
   
• PICNIC BAY [PCA] overfly not above 1500 ft - visual along the coast
   
• KISSING POINT [KSPT] overfly not above 1500 ft - H-209° D-4.3 nm
   
• TOWNSVILLE [YBTL] Land - track as directed by ATC 
  elev: 18
  rwy: 01/19 07/25 asphalt
  TWR/CTAF: 118.3
  VOR/DME: TL 114.1
  NDB: TVL 276
   

Charts