03MAR23 | Essendon to Stawell

Circumnavigation of Australia - Stage 17

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: 130 nm

Est Flight Time: Approx 75 min. Departure times may be staggered to avoid congestion.

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

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

Flight plan

File as: YMEN FGN BLTB SNP ALOA TON YWBE YBSS BMP PYK YBLT YRAG YARA YSWL

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 Bacchus Marsh and Ararat in OzXP and for other airports (this includes moving Raglan to the correct location).

Flight details

• MELBOURNE/ESSENDON [YMEN] Takeoff
  elev: 282
  rwy: 08/26 17/35 asphalt
  TWR: 125.1 (use UNICOM 122.8 if no ATC)
  
  Tune DME to Melbourne VOR/DME (ML 114.1)
  
  Not above 1500 ft within 11 DME ML or as directed 
   
• FLEMINGTON RACECOURSE [FGN] overfly not above 1500 ft or as directed by ATC - H-162° D-3.9 nm or as directed by ATC
   
• BOLTE BRIDGE [BLTB] overfly not above 1500 ft or as directed by ATC - H-138° D-1.9 nm or as directed by ATC
   
• STATION PIER [SNP] overfly not above 1500 ft or as directed by ATC - H-171° D-1.7 nm or as directed by ATC
   
• ALTONA [ALOA] overfly not above 2000 ft - visual along the coast
   
• LAVERTON BOM TOWER [TON] overfly not above 2500 ft - visual along the railway and Sayers Road
   
• WERRIBEE [YWBE] T&G - visual along Sayers Road
  elev: 141
  rwy: 01/19 09/27 grass
  CTAF: 126.7
   
• BACCHUS MARSH [YBSS] T&G - visual along Sayers Road
  elev: 141
  rwy: 01/19 09/27 asphalt
  CTAF: 118.8
  
  Not above 3500 ft within 20 DME ML
   
• BACCHUS MARSH TOWNSHIP [BMP] overfly not above 3500 ft - visual along Geelong-Bacchus Marsh Road
  
  Not above 4500 ft within 30 DME ML
   
• PYKES CREEK RESERVOIR [PYK] overfly not above 4500 ft - visual along the Western Freeway
  
  Not above 8500 ft beyond 30 DME ML
   
• BALLARAT [YBLT] T&G - visual along the Western Freeway
  elev: 1433
  rwy: 05/23 18/36 asphalt
  rwy: 13/31 grass
  CTAF: 127.75
   
• BEAUFORT TOWNSHIP overfly - visual along the Western Highway
   
• RAGLAN [YRAG] T&G - visual along the Western Highway and Raglan Road
  elev: 1207
  rwy: 01/19 grass
  CTAF: 126.7
   
• ARARAT [YARA] T&G - visual along the Western Highway
  elev: 1008
  rwy: 12/30 asphalt
  rwy: 04/22 grass
  CTAF: 126.7
   
• STAWELL [YSWL] Land - visual along the Western Highway
  elev: 1008
  rwy: 11/29 18/36 asphalt [RH circuit RWY 18 and 29]
  CTAF: 119.1

Charts