Cross the Ditch 26

Cross the Ditch 26

Auckland Waves

June brings winter to the Southern Hemisphere, and everyone wants to get away.

Aucklanders are drawn to the excitement of the capital cities on Australia's eastern seaboard.

Australians in turn descend upon Auckland enroute to the North Island's ski fields, and to sample the unique culture and natural beauty of New Zealand's largest city.

On VATSIM this June, it's all happening in Auckland, with Cross the Ditch 26: Auckland Waves.

What's it all about?

For eighteen hours this June, 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 two and a half to three and a half hours flight time.

Throughout the event, Oceania's two divisions – VATNZ and VATPAC – 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.

Event Times

This eighteen hour event is timed to allow pilots from all over the world to join the fun:

Waves

This season's event is organised in waves. Each airport will have a two-and-a-half-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 3.5 - 4hrs 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 26: Auckland Waves are:

Wave Flight Departure Window
UTC AEST NZST
1 Auckland, New Zealand (NZAA) to
Brisbane, Australia (YBBN)
1800-2030 0400-0630 0600-0830
2 Brisbane, Australia (YBBN) to
Auckland, New Zealand (NZAA)
2030-0030 0630-1030 0830-1230
3 Auckland, New Zealand (NZAA) to
Melbourne, Australia (YMML)
2330-0400 0930-1400 1130-1600
4 Melbourne, Australia (YMML) to
Auckland, New Zealand (NZAA)
0330-0730 1330-1730 1530-1930
5 Auckland, New Zealand (NZAA) to
Sydney, Australia (YSSY)
0530-0830 1530-1830 1730-2030
Cross the Ditch 26: Auckland Waves Route Map

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 VATNZ - VATSIM New Zealand VATPAC - VATSIM Australia/Pacific