Simulator Flight Diary
the travels of "Simantha" our Virgin Blue Virtual Boeing 737-800 aircraft.

ATC Panic Stations - VATPAC event 27/05/07 - Launceston to Melbourne

This is a monthly event on VATPAC. One airport is selected for arrivals (Melbourne in this case) and the idea is to conduct your flight to touch down at the destination right on the time of 0830 local. With 50+ pilots all trying to do the same thing it is not as easy as it sounds. ATC uses many tactics to manage traffic flow - including speed restrictions, track deviations and the dreaded holding patterns ... so you never know quite what you'll get!

On the ground at gate 4 in Launceston (YMLT)
Lining up on runway 32L. Two other aircraft are at the holding point behind us. Capt. N D'Alessandro FO Neil Brown
Climbing up to 31,000 feet We were first in a line of traffic coming from Launceston and Hobart.
On short-final approach into runway 27 at Melbourne. ATC managed to sneak us in to the flow coming from everywhere else after we cunningly requested a non-duty runway for landing.
Landed and taxiing off runway 27. We touched down at 0826 .. so very close to the goal, but we came second in the comp ... someone else touched down right on 0830.

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