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Port Vila, Vanuatu

Port Vila (icao: NVVV; iata: VLI) is the primary airport for the island nation of Vanuatu. Located in the nation's capital, on the island of Éfaté, it is a key piece of transport infrastructure, with air travel often proving the only means of swift travel between Vanuatu's 83 islands.

It has one runway - 11/29. Due to high ground to the west of the airport, the approach to runway 11 is offset by roughly 30° and requires a hand-flown turn to final 0.75nm from the runway threshold.

Pilots - especially of aircraft larger than an A320/B737 - should review and/or practice the manouvure beforehand, or request the (straight-in) runway 29 approach from ATC.

There are no runway-end taxiways and the terminal is located roughly halfway along the runway, so all departures and long-running arrivals will require a back-track.

Note: terminal space is limited in the default FS scenery. Pilots should ensure they have FS set to ignore damage from contact with other aircraft as the confined space increases the chances of other pilots connecting to the network in your location. Pilots wishing to spectate after their arrival should request taxi to parking on the grass area to the east or west of the passenger apron.

Tropical Cyclone Pam

In March 2015, Vanuatu was savaged by the Category 5 Tropical Cyclone Pam. While the current devastation in the region is not visible in Flight Sim, we are proud to include Port Vila in this event to stand in support of those whose lives continue to be affected by this disaster.

Pam set a new record for highest sustained winds for a Southern Hemisphere Tropical Cyclone, and it is estimated that it will take several years to repair the damage to Vanuatu's buildings and infrastructure. While of course, absolutely optional, we would encourage anyone who can spare a few dollars to donate to one of the charitable organisations collecting donations to assist with the recovery efforts, such as:

• UNICEF New Zealand
• New Zealand Red Cross

Arrivals

NVVV does not have an ILS approach. Most airliners will fly the RNAV or GPS approaches, but the airport also offers a variety of VOR/LOC/DME-, VOR-, and NDB-based procedures. Pilots should indicate their preference as to approach to controllers, and expect vectors to the appropriate initial approach fix after ELSAX. As mentioned above, runway 29 is a straight-in approach and can be used in preference to runway 11 by request.

Because of the likelihood of backtracks on the runway for arrivals and departures, pilots should anticipate being asked to join a hold at ELSAX or at the holding point depicted on the relevant approach chart.

Departures

Flights departing Port Vila for New Zealand can expect to be assigned one of the following departures depending on the active runway.

• Port Vila Runway 11: EMTEN ONE BIGSY TRANSITION (EMTEN1.BIGSY) RNAV Departure, or the Non-RNAV VOR Departure or SOUTH Departure
• Port Vila Runway 29: MELE ONE ENZED TRANSITION (MELE1.ENZED) RNAV Departure, or the Non-RNAV 29 SOUTH (29SOUTH) Departure