Search the Community

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: 170 nm Est Flight Time: approx 75 mins Aircraft: Any GA aircraft capable of 150 kias. Altitude: Remain in class G airspace as far as possible. See waypoint notes and charts below. Flight plan File as: YBHM YSHR YHAB YCSV YLAK YTPK WKN YBMK GPS flight plan is available for FSX/P3D .pln, MFS2020 .pln, X-Plane .fms and Little Navmap. This package includes high resolution charts. Navigation: Pilots sufficiently familiar with the region may navigate visually. For those less familiar the accompanying 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 11 scenery is available here. UPDATE: New Hamilton Island scenery has been released for X-Plane. Flight details HAMILTON ISLAND [YBHM] Takeoff elev: 15 rwy: 14/32 asphalt TWR: 118.7 CTAF (if TWR not active): 127.85 Not above 1000 ft or as directed by ATC. SHUTE HARBOUR [YSHR] T&G - H-285° D-12 nmelev: 40rwy: 14/32 asphaltCTAF: 127.85 Not above 3500 ft until abeam Double Bay, then not above 4500 ft. HYDEAWAY BAY [YHAB] T&G - H-293° D-20 nm or visual along the coast NOTE: The airfield name was officially changed to "Hydeaway Bay" in November 2020 to match the name of the locality, but may still appear as "Hideaway Bay" in simulator databases. elev: 56 rwy: 15/33 grass CTAF: 135.5 Not above 4500 ft until crossing the Bruce Highway, then not above 8500 ft. COLLINSVILLE [YCSV] T&G - H-220° D-45 nm elev: 591 rwy: 06/24 dirt CTAF: 126.7 LAKESIDE AIRPARK [YLAK] T&G - H-089° D-44 nm elev: 175 rwy: 04/22 asphalt CTAF: 126.7 Not above 4500 ft. Tune DME to Mackay VOR/DME (MK 112.7) Not above 3500 ft within 22 DME MK. Not above 2500 ft within 16 DME MK. Not above 1000 ft within 11 DME MK. TURTLE PARK [YTPK] T&G - H-140° D-37 nm or visual along the coast elev: 120 rwy: 09/27 grass CTAF: 132.05 WALKERSTON [WKN] overfly not above 1000 ft. ** Inbound reporting point ** If Mackay TWR is active, do not proceed until given circuit instructions. MACKAY [YBMK] Land elev: 19 rwy: 14/32 asphalt TWR/CTAF: 124.5 VOR/DME: MK 112.7 NDB: MK 308 Charts Due to image size limitations, only low resolution charts are included below. High resolution charts are included in the GPS flight plan package.

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: 126 nm Est Flight Time: approx 75 mins Aircraft: Any "low and slow" GA aircraft capable of 100 kias. Altitude: Remain in class G airspace as far as possible. See waypoint notes and charts below. Flight plan File as: YBMK SLPT YKSI YBPI GOI YLIN YHYN DCIS YBHM GPS flight plan is available for FSX/P3D .pln, MFS2020 .pln, X-Plane .fms and Little Navmap. This package includes high resolution charts. Navigation: Pilots sufficiently familiar with the region may navigate visually. For those less familiar the accompanying 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 tune the CTAF as stated in the flight details. 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 for Keswick Island (YKSI) is available here. Flight details Note: some islands not listed below have seaplane lanes and helipads. Seaplanes and helicopters may T&G at pilot's discretion. MACKAY [YBMK] Takeoff elev: 19 rwy: 14/32 asphalt TWR/CTAF: 124.5 VOR/DME: MK 112.7 NDB: MK 308 SLADE POINT [SLPT] overfly not above 1000 ft or as directed by ATC - H-010° D-6.8 nm from MK VOR KESWICK ISLAND [YKSI] T&G - H-043° D-14.1 nm elev: 7 rwy: 14/32 asphalt CTAF: 126.7 BRAMPTON ISLAND [YBPI] T&G - H-303° D-10.7 nm elev: 37 rwy: 14/32 asphalt CTAF: 126.7 GOLDSMITH ISLAND [GOI] overfly not above 3500 ft - H-307° D-10.2 nm ** Inbound reporting point** If Hamilton Island TWR (118.7) is active and if above 1000 ft, contact for clearance into the class D airspace and advise intentions for Lindeman Island. Descend as instructed. Confirm with TWR before changing frequency to area CTAF. If Hamilton Island TWR is not active, broadcast intentions for Lindeman Island on CTAF 127.85 overhead Goldsmith Island. LINDEMAN ISLAND [YLIN] T&G - H-328° D-15.1 nm elev: 110 rwy: 14/32 18/36 grass CTAF: 127.85 Not above 1000 ft until abeam Maher Island, or as directed by ATC. Not above 2500 ft until abeam Nicholson Island. EDWARD ISLAND LIGHTHOUSE overfly not above 8500 ft - H-0238° D-14.2 nm DELORAINE ISLAND overfly not above 8500 ft - H-307° D-7.8 nm HOOK ISLAND UNDERWATER OBSERVATORY overfly not above 1500 ft - H-262° D-7.1 nm PINNACLE POINT LIGHTHOUSE overfly not above 3500 ft - H-360° D-5.8 nm HAYMAN ISLAND [YHYN} overfly not above 3500 ft - H-248° D-4.7 nm CTAF: 127.85 DOUBLE CONE ISLAND [DCIS] overly not above 3500 ft - H-262° D-9.5 nm ** Inbound reporting point** If Hamilton Island TWR (118.7) is active, contact for clearance into the class D airspace. Descend as instructed. Do not proceed past South Molle Island until given circuit instructions. If Hamilton Island TWR is not active, broadcast intentions on CTAF 127.85 overhead Double Cone Island. HAMILTON ISLAND [YBHM] Land - H-131° D-20 nm elev: 15 rwy: 14/32 asphalt TWR: 118.7 CTAF (if TWR not active): 127.85 Charts Due to image size limitations, only low resolution charts are included below. High resolution charts are included in the GPS flight plan package.

Event Details Simulation Date/Time : Current date set to daylight. Weather : Real World / Fair weather if real world is unsuitable for VFR operations. Distance : 170 nm Est Flight Time : approx 75 mins Aircraft : Single or twin engine aircraft such as Beechcraft Baron, Mooney Bravo or similar capable of 155 to 185 kias. Communications Australia uses CTAF (Common Traffic Advisory Frequency) for radio comms at uncontrolled airfields. FSCopilot/FSInn VATSIM pilots connecting to the network using FSCOPILOT/FSINN can install an additional file that provides the ability to tune the CTAF frequency and make voice announcements to other pilots on frequency. These files can be obtained via this link. Swift Swift is a recent VATSIM Pilot Client alternative now released to the public as a beta release candidate. This pilot client is a one fits all alternative and will work with FSX, P3D V3/V4 and XPlane in either 32 bit Windows or 64 bit Windows, Mac and Linux. This client, once installed and configured (not for the faint of heart - some guidance can be found in this video tutorial for those with X-Plane on Windows x64), also provides a capability for pilots to designate a private voice channel to allow communication with other pilots in the same voice channel. However, to do this requires a frequency over ride to be set allowing the client to ignore the set frequency instead providing text entry into a text box. Into this box the name of the voice room needs to be entered to enable voice communication. A voice room is typically in the form of "some.server.org/<Airport ICAO>". The server component is ALWAYS "rw1.vatpac.org". So this week's departure would use "rw1.vatpac.org/<Airport ICAO>". For airports without an airport ICAO it is typical to use VATPAC VFR Virtual voice room acccessed using 131.25 in FSINN. The equivalent for SWIFT is "rw1.vatpac.org/virtualvfr". Altitude : Remain clear of Hamilton Island and Mackay Class D airspace without prior clearance from any ACTIVE ATC Flightplan File as : YMRB YWEA YBMK YBPI YLAK AU05 YBHM GPS Flightplan is available for FSX and X-Plane FMS and also provided is the original Plan-G flightplan for those that find this useful all enclosed within a Zip archive. Navigation : Pilots familiar with the area can navigate visually, for those less familiar the accompanying GPS Flightplan is the recommended method of navigating the flight plan. Navigation : Pilots have a choice of alternatives for this flight. There is the obligatory accompanying flight plan for those that embrace the latest technology. For the more adventurous pilots the radial and distances are provided allowing the flight to be navigated using ground based radio and visual navigation techniques. Recommended Scenery ORBX Australia ANTS AUSSIE AIRPORTS OZX 3.5 AU Scenery Flight Details * NOTE Frequency 131.25 - "rw1.vatpac.org/virtualvfr" MORANBAH [YMRB] Takeoff elev : 770 rwy : 16/34ns asphalt CTAF : 127.50 (FSINN 126.70) WANELLA STATION [YWEA] T&G - H-050° D-19 nm (not in FSX) elev : 600 rwy : 07/25 sealed CTAF : 122.80 (FSINN 131.25) MACKAY [YBMK] T&G - H-037° D-62.6 nm elev : 19 rwy : 14/32 asphalt CTAF/TWR : 124.50 VOR/DME : MK MACKAY 112.70 NDB : MK MACKAY 308.0 BRAMPTON ISLAND [YBPI] T&G - H-005° D-22.8 nm (not in FSX) br />elev : 37 rwy : 14/32 sealed CTAF : 126.70 LAKESIDE AIRPARK [YLAK] T&G - H-272° D-37.4 nm (not in FSX) elev : 175 rwy : 04/22 grass CTAF : 126.70 LAGUNA QUAYS 3 [AU05] T&G - H-007° D-6 nm (not in FSX) elev : 38 rwy : 11/29 sealed CTAF : 122.80 (FSINN 131.25) HAMILTON ISLAND [YBHM] Land - H-041° D-21.7 nm elev : 15 rwy : 14ns/32 asphalt CTAF/TWR : 127.85 VOR/DME : HM HAMILTON I 114.40 Chart

Event Details Simulation Date/Time : Current date set to daylight. Weather : Real World / Fair weather if real world is unsuitable for VFR operations. Distance : 175 nm Est Flight Time : approx 75 mins Aircraft : Single or twin engine aircraft such as Beechcraft Baron, Mooney Bravo or similar capable of 155 to 185 kias. Communications Australia uses CTAF (Common Traffic Advisory Frequency) for radio comms at uncontrolled airfields. FSCopilot/FSInn VATSIM pilots connecting to the network using FSCOPILOT/FSINN can install an additional file that provides the ability to tune the CTAF frequency and make voice announcements to other pilots on frequency. These files can be obtained via this link. Swift Swift is a recent VATSIM Pilot Client alternative now released to the public as a beta release candidate. This pilot client is a one fits all alternative and will work with FSX, P3D V3/V4 and XPlane in either 32 bit Windows or 64 bit Windows, Mac and Linux. This client, once installed and configured (not for the faint of heart - some guidance can be found in this video tutorial for those with X-Plane on Windows x64), also provides a capability for pilots to designate a private voice channel to allow communication with other pilots in the same voice channel. However, to do this requires a frequency over ride to be set allowing the client to ignore the set frequency instead providing text entry into a text box. Into this box the name of the voice room needs to be entered to enable voice communication. A voice room is typically in the form of "some.server.org/<Airport ICAO>". The server component is ALWAYS "rw1.vatpac.org". So this week's departure would use "rw1.vatpac.org/<Airport ICAO>". For airports without an airport ICAO it is typical to use VATPAC VFR Virtual voice room acccessed using 131.25 in FSINN. The equivalent for SWIFT is "rw1.vatpac.org/virtualvfr". Altitude : Remain clear of Hamilton Island and Mackay Class D airspace without prior clearance from any ACTIVE ATC Flightplan File as : YBHM YWSY YHAB YBWN YCSV YSUT RDHI YMRB GPS Flightplan is available for FSX and X-Plane FMS and also provided is the original Plan-G flightplan for those that find this useful all enclosed within a Zip archive. Navigation : Pilots familiar with the area can navigate visually, for those less familiar the accompanying GPS Flightplan is the recommended method of navigating the flight plan. Navigation : Pilots have a choice of alternatives for this flight. There is the obligatory accompanying flight plan for those that embrace the latest technology. For the more adventurous pilots the radial and distances are provided allowing the flight to be navigated using ground based radio and visual navigation techniques. Recommended Scenery ORBX Australia ANTS AUSSIE AIRPORTS OZX 3.5 AU Scenery Flight Details * NOTE Frequency 131.25 - "rw1.vatpac.org/virtualvfr" HAMILTON ISLAND [YBHM] Takeoff elev : 15 rwy : 14ns/32 asphalt CTAF/TWR : 127.85 VOR/DME : HM HAMILTON I 114.40 WHITSUNDAY AIRPORT [YWSY] T&G - H-284° D-12 nm elev : 62 rwy : 14/32 sealed CTAF : 131.25 HIDEAWAY BAY [YHAB] T&G - H-292° D-20.4 nm (not in FSX) elev : 36 rwy : 15/33 grass CTAF : 122.80 (FSINN 131.25) BOWEN [YBWN] T&G - H-282° D-13.9 nm elev : 26 rwy : 04/22 sealed rwy : 12/30 gravel CTAF : 126.70 COLLINSVILLE [YCSV] T&G - H-202° D-39.9 nm (not in FSX) elev : 591 rwy : 06/24ns dirt CTAF : 122.80 (FSINN 131.25) SUTTOR CREEK [YSUT] T&G - H-162° D-45.1 nm (not in FSX) elev : 1054 rwy : 09/27 18/36 dirt CTAF : 122.80 (FSINN 131.25) Red Hill [RDHI] Overfly - H-159° D-18.1 nm MORANBAH [YMRB] Land - H-168° D-25.5 nm elev : 770 rwy : 16/34ns asphalt CTAF : 127.50 (FSINN 126.70) Chart

What is Regionals and Twins? Taking the focus off major airports and the big jets, Regionals and Twins celebrates both Australia's vast network of inland and outback hubs and the aircraft that service them. You'll need a prop, turbo-prop or small business jet to get in and out of most of the places visited in a Regionals and Twins event but you'll get to enjoy some spectacular scenery as you cruise along at low levels. Controllers are also taken out of their comfort zone as ATC often sees procedural positions. This week's Details This month we'll be focusing on Hamilton island, Hamilton island is an airport 500nm to the north of Brisbane, its main purpose is to service the Whitsunday Islands, with a 1,764 meter long runway. This airport provides a great approach and good destination- especially for slower aircraft which can admire the beauty of this tourist destination. Suggested Routes YBHM - YBCS DCT HM Q26 BARIA DCT CS DCT YBCS - YBHM SWIFT Z25 ALBUX W112 HM DCT YBHM - YBBN DCT HM B462 MK H12 MAGRA UY495 COCKA Y177 SMOKA QUIE4M YBBN - YBHM TRIKI4 TRIKI DCT SU V134 MK B462 HM DCT For the Air Traffic Controllers ATC positions are not booked for these events we would love to see more of a Milk Run Monday style so jump on and take a position and have fun and control. The positions we would like to have being controlled tonight are: Hamilton Island Tower | HM_TWR | 118.700 Brisbane Centre | BN-TBP_CTR | 120.550 Cairns Approach | CS_APP | 118.400 Cairns Tower | CS_TWR | 124.900 ATC Assistance ATC Assist: https://atc.vatpac.org/ All pilot charts available at - http://www.airservicesaustralia.com/aip/current/dap/AeroProcChartsTOC.htm If you have any questions or feedback, Please post in the Event's Discussion Forum. We hope to see you there!