Cross the Ditch 14
Summer 2017
VATNZ and VATPAC are proud to present a celebration of the Australasian VATSIM community.
The Southern Summer is on its way...
And once again it's time to Cross the Ditch!
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 two to three and a half hours flight time.
Throughout the event, the Oceania region'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.
Event Times
This twenty hour event is timed to allow pilots from all over the world to join the fun:
- UTC: Saturday 9th December 2017 17:00 - Sunday 10th December 2017 13:00
- AEDT: Sunday 10th December 2017 04:00 - Monday 11th December 2017 00:00
- NZDT: Sunday 10th December 2017 06:00 - Monday 11th December 2017 02:00
Waves
This season's event is organised in waves. Each airport will have a three-to-four 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 2.5 - 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 14 - Summer 2017 are:
| Wave | Flight | Departure Window | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UTC | AEDT | NZDT | ||
| 1 | Wellington (NZWN) to Brisbane (YBBN) | 1700-1930 | 0400-0630 | 0600-0830 |
| 2 | Brisbane (YBBN) to Dunedin (NZDN) (B753/A320 and smaller) |
1930-2330 | 0630-1030 | 0830-1230 |
| 2a | Brisbane (YBBN) to Christchurch (NZCH) (Wide-body aircraft only) |
1930-2330 | 0630-1030 | 0830-1230 |
| 3 | Dunedin (NZDN) to Sydney (YSSY) (B753/A320 and smaller) |
2300-0300 | 1000-1400 | 1200-1600 |
| 3a | Christchurch (NZCH) to Sydney (YSSY) (Wide-body aircraft only) |
2300-0300 | 1000-1400 | 1200-1600 |
| 4 | Sydney (YSSY) to Auckland (NZAA) | 0300-0630 | 1400-1730 | 1600-1930 |
| 5 | Auckland (NZAA) to Melbourne (YMML) | 0530-0900 | 1630-2000 | 1830-2200 |
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.
