21APR24 | Chillagoe to Cairns

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: 114 nm

Est Flight Time: approx 75 min

Aircraft: Cessna 172 or similar aircraft capable of 100 kias.

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

Flight plan

File as: YCGO YSMT YHTN ATH YATH LMGE GOV PFRM EDT EARV KOPP MARQ BRIN REDL CBLT SMIF YKS YBCS

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

• CHILLAGOE [YCGO] Takeoff
  elev: 1123
  rwy: 17/35 asphalt
  CTAF: 126.7
  
  Tune DME to Cairns VOR/DME (CS 113.0)
  
  Not above 8500 ft to 36 DME CS
   
• ALMADEN overfly - visual along the Burke Development Road
   
• SUNNYMOUNT [YSMT] T&G - visual along the Burke Development Road
  elev: 1961
  rwy: 11/29 grass
  CTAF: 126.7
   
• IRVINEBANK overfly - visual along Herberton-Petford Road
   
• HERBERTON [YHTN] T&G - visual along Herberton-Petford Road
  elev: 2715
  rwy: 16/34 grass
  CTAF: 126.7
  
  Not above 6500 ft within 36 DME CS
   
• ATHERTON [ATH] overfly - visual along Atherton-Herberton Road
   
• ATHERTON [YATH] T&G - adjacent VFR waypoint
  elev: 2460
  rwy: 15/33 grass
  CTAF: 126.7
   
• LAKE BARRINE overfly not above 6500 ft - visual along the Gillies Highway
  
  Not above 4500 ft within 22 DME CS
   
• LITTLE MULGRAVE RIVER [LMGE] overfly not above 6500 ft - visual along the Gillies Highway
   
• GORDONVALE [GOV] overfly not above 2500 ft - visual along the Gillies Highway
  *** Inbound reporting point ***
  
  Note: Cairns may be controlled top down by Brisbane Centre.
  
  If ATC is active, follow the Western VFR Corridor until instructed to turn base. Remain west of the Bruce Highway/Cairns Western Arterial Road/Captain Cook Highway.
  
  Not above 2500 ft within 12 DME CS
   
• PALM FARM [PFRM] overfly - visual west of the Bruce Highway
  
  Not above 1000 ft within 7 DME CS or as instructed by ATC.
   
• EDMONTON [EDT] overfly - visual west of the Bruce Highway
  
  If ATC is active, do not proceed until given circuit instructions.
  
  If Runway 33 is in use, expect left base after Edmonton.
   
• EARLVILLE [EARV] overfly - visual west of the Bruce Highway
   
• KOPPEN PARK [KOPP] overfly - visual west of the Cairns Western Arterial Road
   
• MARONI'S QUARRY [MARQ] overfly - visual west of the Cairns Western Arterial Road
   
• BRINSMEAD [BRIN] overfly - visual west of the Cairns Western Arterial Road
   
• REDLYNCH [REDL] overfly - visual west of the Cairns Western Arterial Road
   
• CABLEWAY TERMINAL [CBLT] overfly - visual west of the Cairns Western Arterial Road
  
  If Runway 15 is in use, expect right base after Cableway Terminal. Remain west of the Captain Cook Highway until given instructions to turn base.
   
• SMITHFIELD [SMIF] overfly - visual west of the Captain Cook Highway
   
• YORKEYS KNOB [YKS] overfly - visual towards the coast or as directed by ATC
   
• CAIRNS [YBCS] Land - visual along the coast or as directed by ATC
  elev: 10
  rwy: 15/33 asphalt
  TWR: 124.9
  VOR/DME: CS 113.0
  NDB: CS 364

Charts