[Australia Tour | YCFS - YBBN]

What is Australia Tour?

 

 

Australia Tour is a fortnightly event that aims to tour Australia’s airports and show this country’s beauty. Every fortnight you’ll be starting another leg of the Australia wide flight! The tour will start in Sydney and end in Sydney commencing in January and ending in November! With 23 legs touring every state of the country you’ll experience the many different areas, from the booming south east to the dusty west, there will be something for everyone! Australia Tour is a fortnightly event that occurs every second Saturday from 0900z – 1200z (8pm-11pm AEDT).

 

 

This Week (26/01/2019) 2000 AEDT – 2300 AEDT

 

 

To celebrate Australia Day we’ll be visiting the capital of Queensland: Brisbane. Brisbane Airport (YBBN) is the primary airport serving the Brisbane region and is one the largest airports in Australia, serving over 22.7 million passengers in 2016. Brisbane serves many destinations international and domestic, serving 31 airlines and over 70 destinations both international and domestic, there is definitely something for everyone!

 

 

The Route

YCFS – YBBN 

DCT TUCAB W192 CG

 

Charts

Charts are available here

 

For the Air Traffic Controllers

 

The below positions are required however, If they become full, we welcome you to logon to additional positions.

 

YCFS Airport

 

CFS_TWR - Tower

 

Centres

 

BN-DOS_CTR - Brisbane (Downs)

BN-MDE_CTR - Brisbane (Mudgee)

 

YBBN Airport

 

BN_GND - Ground

BN_TWR - Tower

BN_APP - Approach

Scenery

                              

YCFS, Coffs Harbour Airport - X-Plane 10 | https://forums.x-plane.org/index.php?/files/file/36306-ycfs-coffs-harbour-airport-nsw-australia/ (Freeware)

 

YCFS, Coffs Harbour Airport - FSX/P3D | https://orbxdirect.com/product/ysch (Payware)

 

YCFS, Coffs Harbour Airport - FSX/P3D | http://library.avsim.net/esearch.php?DLID=102870 (Freeware)

 

YBBN, Brisbane Airport - FSX/P3D| https://flyawaysimulation.com/downloads/files/8914/fsx-brisbane-international-airport-ybbn-scenery/ (Freeware)

 

YBBN, Brisbane Airport - FSX/P3D| https://orbxdirect.com/product/ybbn (Payware)

 

YBBN, Brisbane Airport - X-Plane 10/11| https://forums.x-plane.org/index.php?/files/file/48557-brisbane-international-ybbn-2020/ (Freeware)

 

If you are uncertain or unsure how to operate within a procedural tower's airspace as an IFR aircraft, more information can be found here. 

 

If you have any questions or feedback, Please post in the the Event Discussion Forum. We hope to see you there!  

[Spilled Milk Run Monday 26/11/18]

Just now, Blair Shaddock said:

Why isn't it chocolate milk... or FUIC

But It would have to be sponsored by Barista Bros, if you can get that sponsorship that would be great

[[14JAN - 20JAN]] Iron Mic Adelaide]

Welcome to the latest VATPAC Iron Mic attempt featuring Adelaide. Adelaide receives many passenger flights, charters and GA flights everyday from a variety destinations around Australia and many other countries from Oceania, Asia and the Middle East. With such a variety of routes, its perfect for anything so make sure our controllers are working hard!

The following positions will be the primary positions:

 

AD_TWR

AD_APP

ML-TBD_CTR

 

To give us the best chance possible, please logon to the above positions at Adelaide prior to occupying others. Remember, There are no reserved positions so if one of the above positions is available, logon!

What is Iron Mic?

Iron Mic is a weekly competition that VATSIM holds to recognises the positions with the most hours logged on the network over the week. It is broken into 3 categories; TWR, APP and CTR. The position in each category that logs the most online hours over a 7 day period wins the Iron Mic.

Iron Mic runs from 0000z on Monday to 2359z on Sunday (0859 Monday AEDT)

How do we know about our progress?

 

Click on this link (http://fsmine.dhis.org/stats/showstats.cgi) to view all the VATSIM ATC stats for the week.

 

Remember, Our aim is to keep the TWR, APP and CTR positions open as much as possible. Coordinate with other controllers to ensure maximum coverage of the Cairns positions. You can do this on Facebook, Teamspeak or via Forums.

 

VATSIM has set out a few rules regarding Iron Mic which can be viewed here https://forums.vatsim.net/viewtopic.php?f=26&t=11100

 

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask! Good Luck VATPAC!

[Focus Month - South Australia]

 

After some time, Our focus month program will be returning for January!

 

For the month, all scheduled events will be exploring South Australia. This will enable pilots and air traffic controllers to experience South Australia and explore places they haven’t before. With plenty of aerodromes both controlled and uncontrolled and a variety of different environments, you’ll surely find something new!

 

ATC should read up on all of the procedures local to the airport they're controlling at, especially if you are controlling somewhere new! Everything you need to know about airspace can be found in the Airspace section of the VATPAC website https://vatpac.org/operations/documents/  and all other charts and information can be found via the Airservices Australia website, available here.

 

Stay tuned for individual event information through the calendar. If you have any questions, suggestions or feedback, Please direct it to https://vatpac.org/about-us/feedback/

[Adelaide X - P3D v4 update patch]

3 minutes ago, Ben O'Leary said:

I have it mate if you cant find it

 

Thanks but I found it

[suggestion]

1 minute ago, Eoin Motherway said:

Airport specific procedure is airport specific. No need to go creating a separate Sydney vACC 

Exactly

Just now, Tristan Garratt said:

Negative, Mainly split VACCs for training purposes, So there may be a better student mentor ratio. But I also think that we do get enough traffic to split, Even if, they do have visiting agreements.

As someone who isn't part of our training team, I don't believe there is a need to go to the measures for this. I don't believe we're understaffed in ATC Training actually from my perspective it looks okay (best to ask someone who knows about that). How does a higher ratio of mentors to students improve our division. In my opinion, more mentors creates a higher chance for mentors who do not know what they doing or are less qualified. It may work in NA, EU and Asia but it will not work in Australia. Does having 50% of ATC being mentors improve ATC as a whole?

[suggestion]

Just now, Eoin Motherway said:

What's the point? The procedures are identical across the continent. There is no need to separate it at all.

Possibly airport specific procedure. I completely disagree with this proposal, but that's probably what he's hinting at.

[suggestion]

8 minutes ago, Tristan Garratt said:

Hi folks, I have a suggestion/topic to talk about. I was talking about this with some other people, and they thought it interesting.

So, What would everyone think if vatpac, were to split into two/three ARTCC, Just like Australia is now, Excepting the pacific islands. I personally think it would smaller, closer communities, but then theres always the option, to become one big for events!!! I also think it will spread controllers other places other than just BN SY ML. Please let me know what you think,

As someone who will be leaving this division soon, I personally, would stay if it was like this, As I like the smaller ARTCC out at the U.S, This is because training is much easier to organise as theirs a more equalised student to mentor ratio, Plus when theres a whole country event, The whole country gets together. I think this would work for Australia!

(of course I will still be hanging around, Like a bad smell)

This would never happen. Honestly we do not have traffic to split into multiple VACCs, we struggle to get traffic on events other than Major Events and Milk Runs, do you even think that there is a remote possibility of this happening? 

[Australia Tour | A New Regular Event]

Ladies and Gentlemen, the Events team is happy to announce the start of a new regular event - Australia Tour!

 

 

What is Australia Tour?

 

 

Australia Tour is a new fortnightly event that aims to tour Australia’s airports and show this country’s beauty. Every fortnight you’ll be starting another leg of the Australia wide flight! The tour will start in Sydney and end in Sydney commencing in January and ending in November! With 23 legs touring every state of the country you’ll experience the many different areas, from the booming south east to the dusty west, there will be something for everyone! Australia Tour is a fortnightly event that occurs every second Saturday from 0900z – 1200z (8pm-11pm AEDT).

 

 

This Week (12/01/2019) 2000 AEDT – 2300 AEDT

 

 

This week we’ll be starting our tour of the country and we'll be visiting the beautiful Coffs Harbour. Coffs Harbour (YCFS) is a medium sized airport in the north of New South Wales. Coffs serves GA, RPT and Charter flights, having high quality scenery as well, you’ll surely love this airport.

 

 

The Route

YSSY – YCFS (JET)

DCT ENTRA Y245 BANDA J70 CFS

YSSY - YCFS (NONJET)

DCT TESAT V140 WLM W182 NICLA W446 KADSI W196 CFS

 

 

Charts

Charts for both Sydney and Coffs Harbour are available here

Sydney Area Local Instructions are available here

Coffs Harbour Airspace Diagrams are available here

 

For the Air Traffic Controllers

 

The below positions are required however, If they become full, we welcome you to logon to additional positions.

 

YSSY Airport

 

SY_GND - Ground

SY_TWR - Tower

SY_APP - Approach

 

Centres

 

BN-DOS_CTR - Brisbane (Downs)

BN-MDE_CTR - Brisbane (Mudgee)

ML-WOL_CTR - Melbourne (Woolongong) 

 

YCFS Airport

 

CFS_TWR - Tower

 

Scenery

 

YSSY, FlyTampa Kingsford Smith International – P3D/FSX | http://www.flytampa.org/yssy.html (Payware)

YSSY, Kingsford Smith International- FSX | https://flyawaysimulation.com/downloads/files/6684/fsx-kingsford-smith-intl-airport-scenery/ (Freeware)

YSSY, Kingsford Smith International (ISDG) – Xplane 10/11 | https://forums.x-plane.org/index.php?/files/file/20882-yssy-sydney-kingsford-smith-intl-isdg/ (Freeware)

                             

YCFS, Coffs Harbour Airport - X-Plane 10 | https://forums.x-plane.org/index.php?/files/file/36306-ycfs-coffs-harbour-airport-nsw-australia/ (Freeware)

 

YCFS, Coffs Harbour Airport - FSX/P3D | https://orbxdirect.com/product/ysch (Payware)

 

YCFS, Coffs Harbour Airport - FSX/P3D | http://library.avsim.net/esearch.php?DLID=102870 (Freeware)

 

Just as a note if you are running any Simulator based upon Microsoft's Flight Simulator X platform, due to the older navigation database, Coffs most likely will be known as YSCH not YCFS, this is its old ICAO. 

 

If you are uncertain or unsure how to operate within a procedural tower's airspace as an IFR aircraft, more information can be found here. 

 

If you have any questions or feedback, Please post in the the Event Discussion Forum. We hope to see you there!  

[Graphics Card upgrade]

16 hours ago, Nicolas Tessede said:

Ok so basically, a GPU would DEFINITELY be needed? So, which one should I get? 1060, 1070 or something else?

Essentially if you want a good framerate yes. If you are happy with lower framerates (10-20 range) an Integrated GPU is fine but to get beyond that you really need a DGPU. Its not a need as its not required to run the sim, however, it will improve performance substantially. The fact is an IGPU is just a very small DGPU but integrated with the CPU itself. Due to the limited size of the CPU die and size of a decent performing GPU it is impossible to get any substantially performance from IGPUs if you want to find more information about a IGPU (INTEL HD Graphics 4000) vs NVIDIA GTX 1060 you can find a direct comparison here. Now what GPU you want is 100% dependant on two factors, firstly what monitor you're running and secondly how much you're willing to spend. For example, if you're running a 4K monitor (3840 x 2160) and you're willing to spend $1400 AUD then you should get a 1080TI, but this totally dependant on these two factors. Assuming you're running a 1080p monitor (1920 x 1080) then I'd recommend a 1060 or 1070, dependant on how much you're willing to spend. 

EDIT: If you're willing to spend around 590 AUD (that's the RRP so it might be cheaper) a 1070 is a really good card however, a 1060 would not do you bad.

[Graphics Card upgrade]

3 hours ago, Nicolas Tessede said:

@Eoin Motherway @Liesel Downes @Nicholas Gilbert

Hey, so here is an update. I was having a look at my dad's PC at his work and saw that it was an "Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-7700 CPU at 3.6GHz, 4 Core(s), 8 Logical Processors", with a "Intel HD Graphics 630". It has the same RAM (16GB). …  I'm seriously considering swapping PC's... Would FSX run better on that system? And also, do you think it would be possible to take out the C Drive out of each PC and swapping it? That way I wouldn't have to reinstall FSX and all my add-ons etc... Also, if I had to buy a GPU for that system, what GPU would be good?

The 7700 is good, however, a DGPU (Dedicated GPU) would be required to get any sort of decent framerate. Depending on your budget, try and go for a 1060 or 1070. And yes it would be possible to swap the drives if you have enough SATA connections.

 

EDIT: Just to reiterate this point: CPU Graphics or an IGPU (Integrated GPU) are not something you should consider using. Just for your information a 1060 or 1070 is better in every way (other than power saving and size) compared against an IGPU (In this circumstance Intel HD Graphics).

 

[Adelaide X - P3D v4 update patch]

5 minutes ago, Sam Hall said:

I believe the develepor went MIA before a V4 patch was ever released. There is however a small Aus Dev team making Adelaide Scenery for FSX/V3/V4.

Please find a link to a forum thread of their develpment. https://www.fsdeveloper.com/forum/threads/adelaide-ypad.438435/

Sorry kind of ambiguous, more accurately, reworked ground textures do exist that work with P3D v4 but are not from the developer, I had them prior to wiping my system. That's what I'm looking for. 

[Adelaide X - P3D v4 update patch]

Hi Everyone, 

 

I was looking around for the Adelaide X v4 update, however, I couldn't find it. Does anyone have a link to the files/update in question?

 

Thanks, 

[VFR entry lane broadcast Sydney]

4 minutes ago, Tristan Garratt said:

Now, understanding that, would it ever be reasonable to expect vatpac to be able to simulate Sydney centre of terminal?

To make things as realistic as possible

no

[What is your favourite position to control]

Just now, Blair Shaddock said:

Fair last time I heard bailey was making sector files for the ISS and the Moon

but I control the SUN, try and top that!!!!

[What is your favourite position to control]

1 hour ago, Blair Shaddock said:

I really want to control under the water but I guess that is never happening, but somewhere like Darwin is nice

I actually like controlling space craft, I'm above y'all.

[Jeppesen Charts]

3 minutes ago, Tristan Garratt said:

I was trying to specifically find Jeppesen charts

I'm pretty certain that Jeppensen charts are for Real World use, it would more convenient and a lot cheaper to use a service such as Navigraph over jumping through hoops to attempt to get your hands on Jeppensen charts.

[Courtesy and Respect]

38 minutes ago, Greg Barber said:

Ah yes, getting my Tristan's mixed up! lol.

In any case... just general feedback on some pack mentality that's been displayed recently.  If someone is "spamming" the forums, there is no reason for anyone to respond.  If the problem doesn't attract a response it will simply go away.

You gave me a heart attack for a second I thought I had done something wrong... Anyways when was the last time I was actually on VATSIM let alone the VATPAC teamspeak all I poke out of my borough to do is events

[Real Ops Controllers needed.]

Hi All, 

 

I just wanted to thank all of the staff who stepped up and assisted me in filling the roster today, without you guys, we would have been ever more understaffed and that wouldn't have been fun for the pilots or controllers. Thanks to your support it was very enjoyable and I assure you that most pilots enjoyed the experience. 

 

Thanks, 

Tristan Duncombe

[Real Ops Controllers needed.]

8 hours ago, David Zhong said:

Tristan,

When you get a chance, can you send me a list of those who pulled out and their excuses?

I've sent it to you via Google Sheets. 

[Real Ops Controllers needed.]

40 minutes ago, David Zhong said:

Tristan,

When you get a chance, can you send me a list of those who pulled out and their excuses?

I'll do that asap, I won't include those who moved slot availability or pulled out and then turned up as in my opinion, they haven't done anything annoying. Its gonna be a long list 'Got the wrong date'

[Real Ops Controllers needed.]

Hi Guys, 

 

After having another 2 controllers pull out and an already under staffed roster I need controllers can any who is available either email me (t.duncombe(at)vatpac.org) or show up at least 10 minutes prior to slot times and I'll put you on something. 

 

Thanks, 

Tristan

[Real Ops Controllers needed.]

1 hour ago, Callum Strawbridge said:

I may be around. 

If you can, just tell me when you're available (pm me on teamspeak) and I'll give you a position. At this stage you'll probably be on MDE or Flow 

[Real Ops Controllers needed.]

Hi All,

Due to another controller pulling out, there is a need to fill 4 additional slots. 

23 hours ago, Eoin Motherway said:

Whoops, I misspelt your name by mistake! 

I've got my calendar set, and am more than happy to fill in somewhere for Slot 3 if need be  *cough* Sydney Coordinator *cough*

It appears there's two 2 hour slots for SY-DE_APP if you want them. Otherwise, there's a Ground East and MDE slot open. 

Thanks,

Tristan

[Emails listed in CC field in Real ops roster email]

8 hours ago, Callum Strawbridge said:

This needs to be something that isn't 'glared over' in the future. It's a serious breach of privacy. This is the kind of incident which could be reported under the new GDPR regulations. 

I agree. It was a mistake that I will try not to do again. It was late and I was about to release the roster and made this mistake and I'm honestly very sorry for my actions. I fully realized my mistake when receiving the roster personally.