I've drawn the straw for organizing this month's SNO events and first up it's mountains, aircraft, and winter weather: a heady mix that always spells fun and hilarity!
Specifically, this Sunday night's activities are centred on two airports conveniently located right next to a ready supply of flight-abbreviating rock: Nelson and Queenstown. To make things more interesting for all concerned we're tossing in a stop-over at Christchurch absolutely free.
Pick any of these three airports - NZNS, NZQN, or even NZCH - and spend the evening flying to the others.
These routes suit a variety of aircraft: real-world Air NZ typically flies the ATR72, Dash 8, and the trusty 737, but feel free to come along in whatever you think you'll be able to land in one piece.
Total time for the three airport circuit should be somewhere in the vicinity of 1.5 - 2.5 hours, but there's no hurry with ATC coverage for more than twice that length: so take your time, enjoy the scenery, sample a hold or two!
- Departure Time: Sunday 10th August 2008 1900 NZST
- Flight Time: approx 1.5 - 2.5 hrs round trip
- Flight Plan Route:
NZNS/NZQN: NS H438 SH
NZNS/NZCH: (NZCH1) NS H438 ALADA V492 YW H309 CH
NZQN/NZNS: SH H438 NS
NZQN/NZCH: (QNCH1) SH H291 CH
NZCH/NZNS: (CHNS2) CH V175 GLENN Y777 ARNAD H110 NS
NZCH/NZQN: (CHQN1) CH H476 ANOLA GULOV H291 SH
Click on the image below to view the preferred routings in the airspace map:
- Airport Details: Nelson Airport
(Note warning on NZNS approach charts: "Mountainous terrain east, south and west"!)
Likely arrival r/w 02: VOR/DME RWY 02
Likely arrival r/w 20: VOR/DME ALFA
Likely departure r/w 02: 02 YANKEE
Likely departure r/w 20: 20 X-RAY - Airport Details: Queenstown Airport
(Note warning on NZQN approach charts: "Aerodrome surrounded by Mountainous Terrain"!)
Likely arrival r/w 05: VOR/DME CHARLIE or RNAV RWY 05 ZULU
Likely arrival r/w 23: VOR/DME ALFA or RNAV RWY 23 ZULU
Likely departures r/w 05: BRIDGE FOUR (BRG4), KELVIN THREE (KLN3), RNAV CARDRONA ONE
Likely departures r/w 23: CROWN FOUR (CRN4), RNAV BOWEN TWO
Note: Due to the visual components in all the non-RNAV procedures, it is strongly recommended that unless you are using only RNAV procedures you have the time in FS set to daylight while flying in and out of NZQN. - Airport Details: Christchurch Airport
(Less interesting: flat as a pancake)
Likely arrival r/w 02: IGEGA2A (from NZNS), GUPUT2A (from NZQN)
Likely arrival r/w 20: IGEGA2B (from NZNS), GUPUT2B (from NZQN)
Likely arrival r/w 29: IGEGA2C (from NZNS), GUPUT2C (from NZQN)
Likely departure r/w 02: WOODEND ONE ALFA (OD1A)
Likely departure r/w 11: WOODEND THREE BRAVO (OD3B)
Likely departure r/w 20: BURNHAM ONE (BU1)
Likely departure r/w 29: EYREWELL TWO (YW2) - Priority ATC Positions:
NZNS_TWR - Nelson Tower
NZQN_TWR - Queenstown Tower
NZCH-S_CTR/NZCH-N_CTR/NZCH-W_CTR - Enroute Control
NZCH_TWR - Christchurch Tower
Note: If you're providing ATC on the night, please give priority to these positions. They are not an exclusive list, but they are the ones that will see the most action this Sunday.
To reserve a particular ATC position, please post a message to that effect (including the times you expect to be online) in this thread. If possible, also book your position using vroute - large numbers of bookings in vroute attract additional traffic. - Late-comers/Shorter Alternative: Late-comers or people looking for a shorter flight should consider flying only one or two of the legs. The goal is to concentrate as much traffic as possible above the Southern Alps.
- Charts/Airspace Info: Available by clicking on the airport links above, or from the VATNZ Airspace Reference site.
- Note: Christchurch is the only airport this week that has an ILS - next week there will be none! - so for tips on how to avoid getting too close to the rocky majesty that is the Southern Alps, be sure to check out this excellent Non Precision Approach tutorial from VATNZ member and real-world Air NZ flight crew, Steve Hall.
If you have any questions please feel free to email me, or reply to this thread.
Nick
