Airports: YSSY,YMML,YBBN Date/Time: August 7, 2026, 5pm PT - 9pm PT Date/Time (Zulu): August 8, 2026, 0000z - 0400z

Event Details

VATUSA in partnership with VATPAC invites you to Friday Night Ops: Downunder! Join us as we light up the skies between Sydney, Melbourne & Brisbane on Friday the 8th of August (Saturday morning Downunder)

Friday Night Ops is a weekly event run by VATUSA; normally visiting places all around the United States. This time around, Friday Night Ops are coming to the land down under. Fly anywhere between Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane from 0000z to 0400z (1000-1400 AEST).

Flight Planning

In Australia, flight plans are filed in the ICAO format. SIDs & STARs are not included in the filed flight plan. This will be provided by ATC on contact with clearance delivery (for departures) and with the Centre controller prior to top of descent.

Pre-Departure Clearances (PDCs) are used in Australia. Pilots are required to readback PDCs to the delivery controller. However, when reading back the PDC you do not need to read back everything. Just the SQUAWK, DEPARTURE PROCEDURE, RUNWAY and BAY.

The following video outlines the procedures when flying in Australian Airspace: https://youtu.be/tzoIAAGp7Rc

VATPAC recommends the following routes between Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane:

**YSSY – YMML: **  DCT WOL H65 LEECE Q29 BOOIN DCT

YMML – YSSY:  DCT DOSEL Y59 RIVET DCT

**YSSY – YBBN:  ** DCT OLSEM Y193 BANDA H252 BN DCT

**YBBN – YSSY:  ** DCT BN H91 IGDAM H652 TESAT DCT

**YMML – YBBN: **  DCT ML H66 LAGOB H252 BN DCT

**YBBN – YMML: **  DCT BN H91 SANEG Q35 DORSU H119 ML DCT

Pilots are still welcome to fly other routes, however you must make sure your flight plan is compliant with FlightPlanning Requirements. You can use our Pilot Assist Tools 'Route Finder' function to find current valid routings.

Aerodrome and Departure/Approach charts are available for free within Australia which can be found (https://vatpac.org/membership-hub/tools/charts).

Scenery YSSY - Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport: Payware - FlyTampa v2 (FSX/P3D) Payware – FlyTampa (MSFS) Payware - FlyTampa (X-Plane) Freeware - AVSIM (FSX/P3D) Freeware - Gateway (X-Plane 11/12)

YMML - Melbourne Airport: Payware – Orbx (MSFS) Freeware – Flightsim.to (MSFS) Payware – Orbx (FSX/P3D) Freeware – Flyaway (FSX/P3D) Freeware - Gateway (XPlane)

YBBN - Brisbane Airport: Payware - ORBX (P3D v4.5+) Payware - ORBX (MSFS) Payware - ORBX (X-Plane 11) Freeware - Ray Smith (P3D/FSX) Freeware - CDG (X-Plane)