21JUL23 | Port Hedland to Sandfire

Circumnavigation of Australia - Stage 57

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: 145 nm

Est Flight Time: Approx 75 min

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

Altitude: Not above FL125. Suggested 1500 ft.

Flight plan

File as: YPPD YDGY YPDO YWAL YMDI YSFI

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 here.

Flight details

• PORT HEDLAND [YPPD] Takeoff
  elev: 33
  rwy: 14/32 18/36 asphalt
  CTAF: 119.9
  VOR/DME: PD 114.1
  NDB: PD 260
   
• DE GREY HOMESTEAD [YDGY] T&G - visual along the Great Northern Highway
  elev: 55
  rwy: 14/32 dirt
  CTAF: 126.7
   
• PARDOO STATION [YPDO] T&G - visual along the Great Northern Highway
  elev: 47
  rwy: 11/29 dirt
  CTAF: 126.7
   
• WALLAL DOWNS [YWAL] T&G - visual along the Great Northern Highway or coast
  elev: 30
  rwy: 14/32 dirt
  CTAF: 126.7
   
• MANDORA STATION  [YMDI] T&G - visual along the Great Northern Highway or coast
  elev: 30
  rwy: 11/29 dirt
  CTAF: 126.7
   
• SANDFIRE [YSFI] Land - visual along the Great Northern Highway
  elev: 108
  rwy: 09/27 dirt
  CTAF: 126.7

Charts