28JAN24 | Mackay to Emerald

Note: this event overlaps with Light Up Queensland.

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: 194 nm

Est Flight Time: approx 80 min

Aircraft: Beechcraft Baron, Cirrus SR22 or similar aircraft capable of 160 kias.

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

Flight plan

File as: YBMK WKT ETON LEM YNBO YMRB YCMT YCEL YEML

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. X-Plane 11 scenery is available for Nebo here (Nebo is not in default X-Plane 11 but is in X-Plane 12). 

Flight details

• MACKAY [YMBK] Takeoff
  elev: 19
  rwy: 14/32 asphalt
  CTAF: 124.5
  VOR/DME: MK 112.7
  NDB: MK 308
  
  Tune DME to Mackay VOR/DME.
  
  Not above 1000 ft within 16 DME MK or as directed by ATC.
   
• WALKERSTON [WKT] overfly not above 1000 ft or as directed by ATC - visual along the Peak Downs Highway
  
  Not above 8500 ft beyond 16 DME MK.
   
• ETON [ETON] overfly - visual along the Peak Downs Highway
   
• LAKE EPSOM [LEM] overfly - visual along the Peak Downs Highway
   
• NEBO [YNBO] T&G - visual along the Peak Downs Highway
  elev: 650
  rwy: 01/19 asphalt
  CTAF: 126.7
   
• MORANBAH [YMRB] T&G - visual along the Peak Downs Highway
  elev: 770
  rwy: 16/34 asphalt [RH circuit RWY 34]
  CTAF: 127.5
   
• CLEREMONT [YCMT] T&G - visual along the Peak Downs Highway
  elev: 918
  rwy: 15/33 asphalt
  rwy: 01/19 gravel
  CTAF: 126.7
   
• CAPELLA [YCEL] T&G - visual along the Gregory Highway
  elev: 824
  rwy: 18/36 dirt
  CTAF: 126.7
   
• EMERALD [YEML] Land - visual along the Gregory Highway
  elev: 622
  rwy: 06/24 15/33 asphalt
  CTAF: 126.7
  NDB: EML 324

Charts