Cross the Ditch - Autumn 2010
Following on from the huge success of last year's event, VATNZ and VATPAC are excited to announce Cross the Ditch - Autumn 2010.
From the cosmopolitan energy of Sydney and Melbourne, to stately Christchurch and the spectacular mountain scenery of Queenstown, this autumn's event has it all.
For sixteen hours this May, 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 - each between a pair of cities on opposite sides of the Tasman - range from two and a half to four hours flight time.
Throughout the event, the Oceania region's two divisions will providing full gate-to-gate ATC coverage, making this the Southern Hemisphere's premiere oceanic event.
New City - Queenstown
New Zealand's tourism capital and autumn playground, Queenstown makes its Cross the Ditch debut. Surrounded by mountains so stunning they are literally named Remarkable, Queenstown is home to some of the most challenging approaches in the region. (That's the airport in the banner image!)
Be sure to check out our Queenstown Guide where we'll be posting advice and tips on how to fly Queenstown like a pro.
Because of the confined airspace and restricted apron area at the airport, a slot system has been instituted for all flights in and out. If you're up for the challenge of this southern gem, you must book your flight ahead of time to secure a slot.
Event Times
The event runs for sixteen hours, to allow pilots from all over the world to find a time to join the fun:
- UTC: Friday 28th May 2010 20:00 - Saturday 29th May 2010 12:00
- AEST: Saturday 29th May 2010 06:00 - Saturday 29th May 2010 22:00
- NZST: Saturday 29th May 2010 08:00 - Sunday 30th May 2010 00:00
City Pairs
The cities for Cross the Ditch - Autumn 2010 are:
- Australia: Melbourne and Sydney
- New Zealand: Christchurch and Queenstown
The event will consist of eight routes, from each city to either of the cities in the other country.
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.
