26JAN24 | Emerald to Mackay

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: 169 nm

Est Flight Time: approx 75 min

Aircraft: Beechcraft Bonanza, Piper Comanche or similar aircraft capable of 150 kias.

Altitude: Not above 8500 ft outside Mackay CTR.

Flight plan

File as: YEML YOAY YMMU YMAW SRIN HPT YBMK

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.

Flight details

• EMERALD [YEML] Takeoff
  elev: 622
  rwy: 06/24 15/33 asphalt
  CTAF: 126.7
  NDB: EML 324
   
• OAKY CREEK [YOAY] T&G - visual along Lilivale Road
  NOTE: Oaky Creek may be in some navigation databases as YOCC Oak Creek Coal.
  elev: 581
  rwy: 15/33 asphalt
  CTAF: 126.7
   
• MIDDLEMOUNT [YMMU] T&G - visual along Dysart-Middlemount Road
  elev: 547
  rwy: 11/29 asphalt
  CTAF: 126.7
   
• MAY DOWNS [YMAW] T&G - visual along May Downs Road
  elev: 426
  rwy: 13/31 grass
  CTAF: 126.7
  
  Tune DME to Mackay VOR/DME (MK 112.7)
  
  Not above 8500 ft to 22 DME MK.
   
• WANDOO overfly - visual along the Connors River and Marlborough-Sarina Road
  
  Not above 3500 ft within 22 DME MK.
  Not above 2500 ft within 16 DME MK.
   
• SARINA [SRIN] overfly not above 2500 ft - visual along Marlborough-Sarina Road
  *** Inbound reporting point ***
  
  Not above 1000 ft within 11 DME MK or as directed by ATC.
   
• HAY POINT [HPT] overfly not above 1000 ft or as directed by ATC - visual along the railway
  
  If Mackay TWR is active, do not proceed until given circuit instructions.
   
• MACKAY [YMBK] Land - visual along the coast or as directed by ATC
  elev: 19
  rwy: 14/32 asphalt
  CTAF: 124.5
  VOR/DME: MK 112.7
  NDB: MK 308

Charts