Spilled Milk Run Monday

VATNZ is pleased to be hosting VATPAC as they bring Spilled Milk Run Monday Trans-Tasman!

Fly between Melbourne (YMML) and Christchurch (NZCH) with full expectations of ATC Services throughout your flight!

The event will run from 0530z till 0930z. Traffic Levels usually begin to pick up between 0700z and peak between 0800z-0900z

Oceanic Airspace

Normal ATC throughout New Zealand relies on radar to determine where an aircraft is in the air. Over the ocean, however, there is no radar. This non-radar airspace is controlled by oceanic ATC.

All Oceanic Controlled Airspace in New Zealand is controlled from Auckland, so New Zealand's oceanic ATC is called "Auckland Radio".

One of the significant differences between radar and Oceanic flying is the need for position reports. 

Position reports are how ATC can determine where you are. Position reports contain estimates for waypoints, speeds, altitudes and any other information. Because there is no radar over the ocean, ATC relies on time-based separation and reports from the pilots. ATC has no way of determining where you are unless you specifically tell them.

The standard format is:

• Current/Previous waypoint name and the time at which you crossed that point.
• Current flight level.
• Mach number if assigned by ATC.
• Your next waypoint and estimate for that point.
• The waypoint after that.

For example: "Qantas 123 is position PLUGA at time 0523, flight level 380, estimating VELKU at 0750, SASRO next."

So read up on your position reporting and to assist you with position reports, feel free to use the Oceanic Reporting Tool.

You can also find more info on our Oceanic FAQs page

Routing

ATC