[DEC 5 17:00Z - DEC 6 13:00Z] Major Event: Cross the Ditch 19 - New Slots Added, WX Forecast Updated

[Nick Johnston]

 

Cross the Ditch 19: Summer 2020

It's been a long long year, but on VATSIM there are some things you can still count on.

In the first weekend of December pilots from every corner of the globe will descend upon Australia and New Zealand to continue their undaunted quest to Cross the Ditch!

 

Check out the official Cross the Ditch website

Apply to provide ATC

Book your Flights now!

View the Event Schedule

Check out the Virtual Airline Leaderboard

Grab the recommended add-on scenery for each of the event airports

 

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 three to three-and-a-half hours flight time.

Throughout the event, the Oceania region's two divisions – VATNZ and VATPAC – will be providing full 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 5th December 2020 17:00 - Sunday 6th December 2020 13:00
• AEDT: Sunday 6th December 2020 04:00 - Monday 7th December 2020 00:00
• NZDT: Sunday 6th December 2020 06:00 - Monday 7th December 2020 02:00

Four airports, fully staffed

For this season's event, VATNZ and VATPAC are both staffing two airports from 6am to midnight local time. Pilots simply pick one of the airports and then fly to either of the two airports in the other division.

The result is eight routes simultaneously crossing the Tasman, with ATC coverage for all of them. This event will be Conga-line free!

It isn't possible to complete all eight routes in the one day, but shrewd pilots should be able to complete the Four Airport Challenge by operating a valid Cross the Ditch flight through all four airports during the event.

The Four Airports for Cross the Ditch 19 - Summer 2020 are:

• VATNZ - New Zealand
  • Queenstown (NZQN)
  • Wellington (NZWN)
• VATPAC - Australia
  • Gold Coast (YBCG)
  • Melbourne (YMML)

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.

Edited November 29, 2020 at 02:14 PM by Nick Johnston

[Deon Mathews]

Published on the #VATSIMEVENTS calendar and myVATSIM.

https://www.vatsim.net/events/cross-ditch-19

NOTE: Event Coordinators and marketing representatives should post events through the myVATSIM portal (https://my.vatsim.net). If you haven't gotten permissions yet, contact your vACC/FIR Director.

[Nick Johnston]

 

Cross the Ditch 19 is only two weeks away!

 

• Check out the official Cross the Ditch website
• Apply to provide ATC
• Book your Flights now!
• View the Event Schedule
• Check out the Virtual Airline Leaderboard
• Grab the recommended add-on scenery for each of the event airports

 

Pilots:

Bookings are running well ahead of where they were this time last year, so it looks like we're on track for another record turn-out. Move quickly to book your flights and make sure you get slots that suit your plans. Your bookings help us better allocate ATC and as a reminder, they also ensure that you'll receive all of the briefing material for your intended flights in the days before the event.

 

ATC:

The initial cut of ATC Roster will be getting drawn up this week so please be sure to apply to provide ATC as soon as you can. We try to cater to everyone's preferences as best we can, but all else being equal, the early applicants will get first preference.

 

 

Mark your calendars, book your flights, and join us as we celebrate the end of the longest year by taking to the skies to CROSS THE DITCH!

[Nick Johnston]

 

Cross the Ditch 19 is next weekend!

 

• Check out the official Cross the Ditch website
• Apply to provide ATC
• Book your Flights now!
• View the Event Schedule
• Check out the Virtual Airline Leaderboard
• Grab the recommended add-on scenery for each of the event airports

 

Long range weather forecast:

Cross the Ditch has a proud history of serving up exciting flying conditions, and the seven day forecast suggests this year could be no exception. A large low pressure system is forecast to dominate the Tasman Sea, crossing over southern New Zealand in the final hours of the event. bringing very strong northerlies to both Queenstown and Wellington during the afternoon and evening. By comparison, the forecast for Australia is much calmer, with light winds and relatively clear skies. Some rain is possible around Melbourne in the morning, and on the Gold Coast later in the evening.

We'll update these forecasts throughout the week, especially as the timing of the arrival of the low becomes clearer.

 

 

Pilots: New slots available now!

In response to demand we've added a limited number of additional slots at most airports. These have already started to be snaffled up, so move quickly to book your flights and make sure you get slots that suit your plans. Your bookings help us better allocate ATC and as a reminder, they also ensure that you'll receive all of the briefing material for your intended flights in the days before the event.

 

ATC:

There are still a few opportunities left on the ATC Roster so if you're interested and haven't done so already be sure to apply to provide ATC as soon as possible.

 

 

Book your flights, grab your slots, and pack your raincoat to join us as for the nineteenth time we CROSS THE DITCH!

[Nick Johnston]

 

Cross the Ditch 19 is this weekend!

 

• Check out the official Cross the Ditch website
• Apply to provide ATC
• Book your Flights now!
• View the Event Schedule
• Check out the Virtual Airline Leaderboard
• Grab the recommended add-on scenery for each of the event airports

 

Updated weather forecast:

Three days out from Cross the Ditch and the weather forecast is beginning to firm up. The low that featured so prominently in the ten day forecast is now expected to be shallower and slower moving than originally thought. As a result the gale force winds and heavy rains that were threatening Wellington in the second half of the event are now not likely to arrive until Monday. These last hours of the event could still see significant rainfall in Queenstown. In Australia, the forecast continues to show relatively light winds with few or no showers.

We will include a more detailed weather forecast for each airport in the pilot briefing mails when they are sent out approximately 24 hours before the event.

 

Pilots:

Pilots should book your flights now to ensure you get the landing/departure slots you're after.

All pilots who have booked flights by Saturday 0200z will receive the Pilot Briefing mail providing routing and weather information for your specific flights.

 

ATC Roster Out Now

The CTD19 ATC Roster has been sent out. Thanks to everyone who applied - this is another great controller turn out.

If you applied to provide ATC and haven't received a link to the roster, please contact Eric via the Contact page on the Cross the Ditch website asap.

 

Not long now: less than three days until we CROSS THE DITCH!