Welcome to the Australasian summer, where everyone heads to the beach or the barbecue. On VATSIM, we have another summer tradition...
In the first weekend of December pilots from every corner of the globe will descend upon Australia and New Zealand to continue their undaunted quest to Cross the Ditch!
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Event Schedule
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  What's it all about?
For twenty hours this December, the skies over the Tasman Sea between Australia and New Zealand will be filled with aircraft all on a mission to Cross the Ditch.
An example of that typical down-under understatement, this "ditch" is over 1100nm wide. The flight routes all range from three to five hours flight time.
Throughout the event, the Oceania's two divisions will be providing full gate-to-gate ATC coverage, in the Southern Hemisphere's premiere oceanic event.
This is a great opportunity to experience Oceanic flying without the need to commit to an eight-hour flight!
If you're new to Oceanic Flying, our reporting tool makes taking part a breeze along with our tutorial page on Oceanic Procedures
Event Times
This twenty hour event is timed to allow pilots from all over the world to join the fun:
UTC: Saturday 4th December 2021 17:00 - Sunday 5th December 2021 13:00 AEDT: Sunday 5th December 2021 04:00 - Monday 6th December 2021 00:00 NZDT: Sunday 5th December 2021 06:00 - Monday 6th December 2021 02:00  
Waves
This season's event is organised in waves. Each airport will have a three-to-four-and-a-half hour departure window, during which time flights will be able to leave for the next destination. As the window closes, the departure window will open at the next destination.
Given each of the flights is 3 - 4.5hrs in length, the previous wave's flights will be arriving at the same airport as the next wave departs, maximising the amount of traffic at each airport.
NOTE: in order to ensure that you have ATC coverage throughout your flight, you MUST fly the wave route that is active at the time of your departure.
The individual routes are designed to ensure as much opposing traffic enroute as possible.
Each flight passes from one Oceania division to the other, and the result is six mini-flyins over the course of twenty hours!
The Waves for Cross the Ditch 21 - Summer 2021 are:
Wave Flight Departure Window       UTC AEDT NZDT 1 Noumea, New Caledonia (NWWW) to Cairns, Australia (YBCS) 1700-2000 0400-0700 0600-0900 2 Cairns, Australia (YBCS) to Queenstown, New Zealand (NZQN) (B737/A321 and smaller) 2000-2330 0700-1030 0900-1230 2a Christchurch. New Zealand (NZCH) (Wide body aircraft) 2000-2330 0700-1030 0900-1230 3 Queenstown, New Zealand to Avalon, Australia (YMAV) (B737/A321 and smaller) 2330-0400 1030-1500 1230-1700 3a Queenstown, New Zealand to Melbourne, Australia (YMML) (Wide body aircraft) 2330-0400 1030-1500 1230-1700 4 Avalon, Australia (YMAV) to Wellington, New Zealand (NZWN) (B737/A321 and smaller) 0230-0700 1330-1800 1530-2000 4a Melbourne, Australia (YMML) to Wellington, New Zealand (NZWN) (Wide body aircraft) 0230-0700 1330-1800 1530-2000 5 Wellington, New Zealand (NZWN) to Gold Coast, Australia (YBCG 0530-0945 1630-2045 1830-2245
Calling all Pilots and Controllers
Flight plans are available from the Flight Plans section.
Book your flights now from the Flight Bookings page. Bookings made on this site help us plan for the event, and will also show up in vroute.
Controllers wanting to get in on the action can also apply now at the event's ATC Applications page.
Cross the Ditch is brought to you by VATPAC and VATNZ     

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: 118 nm excluding circuits of Mount Connor
Est Flight Time: Approx 75 min.
Aircraft: Cessna 172 or similar aircraft capable of 100-110 kias.
Altitude: Remain in Class G airspace. See waypoint notes below. 
Flight plan

File as: YAYE YCSP YAYE
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
AYERS ROCK/CONNELLAN [YAYE] Takeoff
elev: 1626
rwy: 13/31 asphalt [RH circuit RWY 31]
CTAF: 126.9 [Callsign is "AYERS ROCK RADIO"]
NDB: AYE 233
DME: AYE 117.1

Tune DME to Ayers Rock DME.

Not above 5500 ft within 25 DME AYE
Not above 8500 ft within 35 DME AYE
Not above 11500 ft within 50 DME AYE
  CURTAIN SPRINGS ROADHOUSE overfly - visual along the Lasseter Highway
  MOUNT CONNOR make as many anticlockwise circuits as desired at pilot's discretion, suggested altitude 3500 ft - 12 nm south east of Curtain Springs
  CURTAIN SPRINGS [YCSP] T&G - 12 nm NW of Mount Connor
elev: 1617
rwy: 12/30 dirt
CTAF: 126.7
  Visual along the Lasseter Highway

Not above 11500 ft within 50 DME AYE
Not above 8500 ft within 35 DME AYE
Not above 5500 ft within 25 DME AYE
  AYERS ROCK/CONNELLAN [YAYE] Land
elev: 1626
rwy: 13/31 asphalt [RH circuit RWY 31]
CTAF: 126.9 [Callsign is "AYERS ROCK RADIO"]
NDB: AYE 233
DME: 117.1 Chart

By far our most popular of all the weekly events, on any given Monday you'll find the famous "J-Curve" between Melbourne and Sydney well serviced by both pilots and ATC.
Not to be confused with out Spilled Milk Run Monday events held on the last Monday of every month, pilots can expect ATC services as you fly between Melbourne and Sydney, or any destination in between (Canberra, Albury etc).
Traffic Levels usually begin to pick up around 0800z and peak between 0900-1030z. 
 
Routes:
We recommend the following routes between Melbourne, Canberra and Sydney.
YMML-YSSY: ML DOSEL Y59 RIVET TESAT
YMML-YSCB: ML DOSEL Y59 ARRAN POLLI CB
YSSY-YMML: TESAT WOL H65 RAZZI Q29 ML
YSSY-YSCB: TESAT WOL H65 RAZZI CB
YSCB-YMML: CB TANTA Q29 LIZZI ML
YSCB-YSSY:  CB TANTA W423 CULIN Y59 RIVET TESAT
 
 
Controllers:
Controllers who wish to reserve a position to control during this event are encouraged to apply via https://events.vatpac.org/. After the controller roster is released on Saturday evening, no controllers will be added to the roster. Positions that do not have a nominated controller (i.e. no controller assigned on the position) will remain free for all controllers available on the day to control.
*Non-Standard positions* will be available for opening depending on traffic levels. They may only be opened once all of the rostered positions are filled. Please see a member of the Board of Directors, or a C3 rated controller to be granted permission to open a non-standard position. Please review the controller NOTAM here for detailed information about which Non-Standard Positions are automatically authorized.
Login Identifier:
Radio Callsign:
Frequency:
SY_DEL
Sydney Delivery
133.800
SY_GND
Sydney Ground
126.500
SY_TWR
Sydney Tower
120.500
SY_APP
Sydney Approach
124.400
SY-D_APP*
Sydney Director
126.100
SY_DEP*
Sydney Departures
123.000
      ML_DEL
Melbourne Delivery
127.200
ML_GND
Melbourne Ground
121.700
ML_TWR
Melbourne Tower
120.500
ML_APP
Melbourne Approach
132.000
ML_DEP*
Melbourne Departures
118.900
      CB_GND
Canberra Ground
121.700
CB_TWR
Canberra Tower
118.700
CB_APP
Canberra Approach
124.500
      ML-BIK_CTR
Melbourne Centre
129.800
ML-ELW_CTR
Melbourne Centre
123.750
ML-SNO_CTR*
Melbourne Centre
124.000
 
Scenery:
YMML - Melbourne International Airport:
Payware - ORBX (FSX/P3D)
Freeware - AVSIM (FSX/P3D)
Freeware - ISDG (xPlane)
YSCB - Canberra Airport:
Payware - ORBX (FSX/P3D)
Freeware - FlyAwaySimulations (FSX/P3D)
Freeware - tdg (xPlane)
YSSY - Sydney International Airport:
Payware - FlyTampa v2 (FSX/P3D)
Freeware - AVSIM (FSX/P3D)
Freeware - ISDG (xPlane)

This Weeks Flight on 8th December 2021 is a flight around the Spanish Baeleric Islands of Majorca and Minorca. The flight departs Ses Salines (LESF) located on the southern section of the island of Majorca and will basically circumnavigate the island anti clockwise albeit with a discretionary additional leg to the smaller island of Minorca to the east with a few T&G's on route. The flight will arrive at the well known capital of Palma, Majorca.
Flight suggested by Dan McKee YMA555
Scenery Suggested: Due to the plethora of flight sim programs now in use scenery is left to the discretion of each pilot.
Aircraft Suggested: Capable of 150 kias
Comms: Unicom 122.80 unless instructed by ATC
Flight Details Majorca Minorca
Weather: Real time weather, fair weather if conditions are not suitable.
Flight Plan:(LESF-LEPA)< Just click on this link for Flight Plan for GPS

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: 138 nm
Est Flight Time: Approx 75 min.
Aircraft: Cessna 172 or similar aircraft capable of 110-120 kias.
Altitude: Remain in Class G airspace. See waypoint notes below. 
Flight plan

File as: YMPC TON ALOA SNP PTOM CERB CARR YTYA YSLE YBRS YCES BPN VTG YRTH WBER YMPC
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. Updated X-Plane 11 scenery is available here.
 
Flight details
POINT COOK [YMPC] Takeoff
elev: 14
rwy: 04/22 17/35 asphalt [RH circuit RWY 04 and 35]
rwy: 08/26 grass [RH circuit RWY 08]
CTAF: 126.2

Tune to 135.7 for the Melbourne Coastal VFR route. In the real world this is Melbourne Radar. This frequency is not used by VATPAC in the Melbourne area so for the purposes of this flight can be used as a CTAF.

Maintain 1500 ft eastbound from Laverton to Point Ormond. Keep landing and taxi lights on.
  LAVERTON BOM TOWER [TON] overfly at 1500 ft - H-350° D-4.6 nm

Make an advisory broadcast in the form "Melbourne Coastal traffic, [aircraft type] [callsign] overhead Laverton, eastbound at 1500 ft, Melbourne Coastal".
  KOORINGAL GOLF COURSE overfly at 1500 ft - H-105° D-2.7 nm
  ALTONA [ALOA] overfly at 1500 ft - visual along the coast
  STATION PIER [SNP] overfly at 1500 ft - visual along the coast
  POINT ORMOND [PTOM] overfly at 1500 ft - visual along the coast

Make an advisory broadcast in the form "Melbourne Coastal traffic, [aircraft type] [callsign] abeam Point Ormond, southbound at 1500 ft, Melbourne Coastal".

Maintain 1500 ft southbound from Point Ormond to Carrum. Keep landing and taxi lights on.
  CERBERUS [CERB] overfly at 1500 ft - visual along the coast
  CARRUM [CARR] overfly at 1500 ft - visual along the coast the track direct from Ricketts Point. Remain outside Moorabbin CTR.

Make an advisory broadcast in the form "Melbourne Coastal traffic, [aircraft type] [callsign] abeam Carrum, southbound at 1500 ft, Melbourne Coastal".

Landing and taxi lights may be turned off.

Tune to Tyabb CTAF when ready.
  SCHNAPPER POINT overfly not above 8500 ft - visual along the coast
  CIVIC RESERVE overfly not above 8500 ft - visual along Mornington-Tyabb Road
  TYABB [YTYA] T&G - visual along Mornington-Tyabb Road
elev: 88
rwy: 17/35 asphalt [RH circuit RWY 35]
rwy: 08/26 grass [RH circuit RWY 08]
CTAF: 128.0
  BALNARRING RACECOURSE overfly not above 8500 ft - visual along Frankston-Flinders Road
  DROMANA RESERVOIR overfly not above 8500 ft - visual along Bittern-Dromana Road
  SAFETY BEACH GOLF COURSE overfly not above 8500 ft - H-322° D-1.6 nm
  ST LEONARDS [YSLE] T&G - H-290° D-17.2 nm
elev: 53
rwy: 01/19 11/29 grass
CTAF: 126.7

Remain below 1500 ft out of Avalon Class E airspace.
  BELLARINE BASIN overfly not above 1500 ft - H-234° D-7.2 nm
  BARWON HEADS [YBRS] T&G - H-235° D-6.3 nm
elev: 50
rwy: 18/36 asphalt
rwy: 09/27 grass
CTAF: 119.0
  MOUNT DUNEED overfly not above 1500 ft - visual along Mount Duneed Road
  CEMENT WORKS overfly not above 8500 ft - visual along Mount Duneed Road and Pettevel Road
  CERES [YCES] T&G - H-357° D-4.3 nm
elev: 110
rwy: 18/36 grass
CTAF: 119.0
  BARWON PRISON [BPN] overfly not above 4500 ft - H-023° D-10.6 nm
  VEHICLE TESTING GROUND [VTG] overfly not above 1500 ft - H-028° D-6.8 nm
  LITTLE RIVER/ROTHWELL [YRTH] T&G - H-078° D-1.3 nm
elev: 305
rwy: 05/23 grass
CTAF: 126.7
  WERRIBEE RACECOURSE [WBER] overfly not above 1500 ft -  H-096° D-9.4 nm
  POINT COOK [YMPC] Land - H-099° D-5.6 nm
elev: 14
rwy: 18/36 asphalt [RH circuit RWY 04 and 35]
rwy: 08/26 grass [RH circuit RWY 08]
CTAF: 126.2 Charts