Have you made a VATSIM account, but feel intimidated every time you try to speak on the frequency? For this edition, we will be flying in New Zealand. Pick either Dunedin (NZDN) or Queenstown (NZQN), and fly to or from Wellington (NZWN). The choice is yours!
At busy airports or events, it can be a little tricky to learn and get used to the pace.
To help overcome that, VATSIM created the First Wings events, dedicated to helping pilots get used to the phraseology, the procedures, and what is expected of them.
For this edition, we will be flying in New Zealand. Fly between the airports of Wellington (NZWN), Queenstown (NZQN) and Dunedin (NZDN) departing any airport between 0600 to 0800 UTC. Both before and during the event, experienced and patient controllers and pilots will be on the VATSIM Discord to help answer any questions you have.
You may join the discord through https://community.vatsim.net/. If you do not use Discord, VATSIM Supervisors will be on hand during the events and can at any time be reached via a .wallop.
These events will, from now on, be held on a regular basis, with one edition occurring on the second weekend of each month. To allow everyone to participate, regardless of their timezone, the location of the event rotates every month, passing through all corners of the World.
Event NOTAMS:
Routings:
- Southbound
- NZWN -> NZQN: SABDA Y622 MESIX H159 CH Y266 ELRUV
- NZWN -> NZDN: SABDA Y622 MESIX Y676 IDARA Y814 MIPAK
- Northbound
- NZQN -> NZWN: TIMJO Y153 DOPKI Y533 GRETA Y393 WARDS
- NZDN -> NZWN: BIDEL Y477 LADIS Y727 WARDS
Notes about the airports:
- Dunedin:
- This is a procedural tower, meaning you will be handed over to the tower controller passing 13,000 ft and cannot receive radar vectors as they don't have radar. Fly the procedure as closely as possible and refer to the charts.
- There is an ILS for both runways here.
- You will need to backtrack to vacate the runway.
- Wellington:
- It is one of the windiest airports in New Zealand; plan on experiencing 20 kt winds with gusts up to 30 kt.
- There is an ILS for both runways here.
- Queenstown:
- Of the airports featured in this First Wings, this is the most challenging approach. One of the most scenic approaches in the country, it is not as straightforward as many expect.
- There is NO ILS INTO QUEENSTOWN, and due to the terrain, ATC will not provide vectors below 10,000 ft.
- There are two approaches: the RNP Y and RNP Z; the Y is for aircraft such as the 737 and A320, and the Z is for smaller aircraft.
- Here are a few tips for these approaches:
- They are curving approaches; you should be flying over every waypoint.
- For Runway 23: be fully configured by LARAV
- For Runway 05: be fully configured by OMUBOConfigure early (Gear down, Landing Flaps):
- Do not be afraid to go around if you need to. You will be told to fly the published missed approach procedure and then given instructions to re-start the approach.
- You will need to backtrack to vacate the runway.
The charts for the airports can be found at the bottom of this page
For more information on flying in NZ, check out our pilot guide here.