Flying to Melbourne
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Join Date: Jul 2004
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Flying to Melbourne
Hi All
I'm in the midst of planning my first flight to Melbourne from Sydney.
Just wanted to get your opinions on which airport is more friendly for the visiting pilot - Essendon or Moorabin? I'm looking for things like car hire facilities, ease of getting into and out of the airport, ease of getting a taxi etc etc Unfortunately both airport websites aren't too useful for that kind of stuff.
Also, are there typically any issues getting clearance into Essendon? Or is that a complete nonevent?
Appreciate if any of you Melbournites can help me out...thanks.
I'm flying down in an Archer.
Thanks.
ST777
I'm in the midst of planning my first flight to Melbourne from Sydney.
Just wanted to get your opinions on which airport is more friendly for the visiting pilot - Essendon or Moorabin? I'm looking for things like car hire facilities, ease of getting into and out of the airport, ease of getting a taxi etc etc Unfortunately both airport websites aren't too useful for that kind of stuff.
Also, are there typically any issues getting clearance into Essendon? Or is that a complete nonevent?
Appreciate if any of you Melbournites can help me out...thanks.
I'm flying down in an Archer.
Thanks.
ST777
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Melbourne, China
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If you're flying VFR, then this guide is quite helpful for Moorrabbin GAAP and Essendon class C procedures.
http://casa.gov.au/pilots/melb.htm
Getting an airways clearance into Essendon shouldn't be a problem either but know where your tracking points are. This airservices guide is quite helpful in this regard.
http://www.airservices.gov.au/pilotc...nd/default.asp
Essendon is a lot closer to the city than Moorrabbin.. probably about 10 minutes down the freeway if there's not much traffic.
As for getting into and out of the apron area at Essendon, I'll PM you info on this.
BTW, I didn't know Essendon Airport has a website. Can you post the URL?
Cheers
http://casa.gov.au/pilots/melb.htm
Getting an airways clearance into Essendon shouldn't be a problem either but know where your tracking points are. This airservices guide is quite helpful in this regard.
http://www.airservices.gov.au/pilotc...nd/default.asp
Essendon is a lot closer to the city than Moorrabbin.. probably about 10 minutes down the freeway if there's not much traffic.
As for getting into and out of the apron area at Essendon, I'll PM you info on this.
BTW, I didn't know Essendon Airport has a website. Can you post the URL?
Cheers
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Melbourne
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G'day
Mate, that can be a fantastic flight down. I've spent more than a few hours between Melbourne and Sydney in a lightie, and if you've got a good day to do it, then the scenery along the way is fantastic!
(Take a camera)
I'm assuming you're going Day VFR, so (without telling you how to suck eggs) plan a contingency day(s) if the weather is crap in Melbourne (e.g last week). Pay particular attention to the forecast at Kilmore Gap (Area 30 Critical Location).
Both Essendon and Moorabbin have pros and cons, and come out about even. What will make the difference is where you're going to be staying in Melbourne. That is, if you're staying in the CBD or in the North, North East or West, go to EN. Otherwise, go to MB.
Both airports have free car parking. I suggest you contact each for casual aircraft parking fees and locations.
You can arrange rental cars at EN (don't know about MB). I'd suggest you ring your car rental company for details.
About the same for ease of getting to (Melbourne is an easier city to drive around than Sydney). About the same ease to get a cab.
EN has more expensive landing fees, but is less flying time from the north. EN requires an airways clearance, but getting a clearance is a "non-event" as you say. Call early, and have the VTC ready. If you get a clearance via a VFR point, mention to the tower that you are unfamiliar with melbourne and they will help out.
MB has cheaper landing fees, and normal GAAP rules apply. If you're coming from the north, Academy can be very difficult to spot (or it may just be me
). It is a yellow/brown brick building with a large bell tower. It's on a hill. (It used to be a monastery, but it now is part of VICPOL academy).
DIVOSH route suggestion: If the weather is good and you're going to MB, plan ELW-MB there and MB-SGSV-Kilmore gap return. ELW-MB gives you a great view of the whole city, as well as a stunning view of the Cathedral ranges on the way in. You'll need a clearance for that, however. If you go down the Eastern VFR route, you wont need a clearance until you get to academy, though it's not a bad idea to broadcast that you're going down the VFR route.
Once in Melbourne, a scenic flight (CBD orbit) is worthwhile also. Can be done from either MB or EN.
Hope this helps.
DIVOSH!
(Take a camera)
I'm assuming you're going Day VFR, so (without telling you how to suck eggs) plan a contingency day(s) if the weather is crap in Melbourne (e.g last week). Pay particular attention to the forecast at Kilmore Gap (Area 30 Critical Location).
Both Essendon and Moorabbin have pros and cons, and come out about even. What will make the difference is where you're going to be staying in Melbourne. That is, if you're staying in the CBD or in the North, North East or West, go to EN. Otherwise, go to MB.
Both airports have free car parking. I suggest you contact each for casual aircraft parking fees and locations.
You can arrange rental cars at EN (don't know about MB). I'd suggest you ring your car rental company for details.
About the same for ease of getting to (Melbourne is an easier city to drive around than Sydney). About the same ease to get a cab.
EN has more expensive landing fees, but is less flying time from the north. EN requires an airways clearance, but getting a clearance is a "non-event" as you say. Call early, and have the VTC ready. If you get a clearance via a VFR point, mention to the tower that you are unfamiliar with melbourne and they will help out.
MB has cheaper landing fees, and normal GAAP rules apply. If you're coming from the north, Academy can be very difficult to spot (or it may just be me
). It is a yellow/brown brick building with a large bell tower. It's on a hill. (It used to be a monastery, but it now is part of VICPOL academy).DIVOSH route suggestion: If the weather is good and you're going to MB, plan ELW-MB there and MB-SGSV-Kilmore gap return. ELW-MB gives you a great view of the whole city, as well as a stunning view of the Cathedral ranges on the way in. You'll need a clearance for that, however. If you go down the Eastern VFR route, you wont need a clearance until you get to academy, though it's not a bad idea to broadcast that you're going down the VFR route.
Once in Melbourne, a scenic flight (CBD orbit) is worthwhile also. Can be done from either MB or EN.
Hope this helps.
DIVOSH!
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Whichever one you plan to go to, you can organise taxis quite easily; Silver Top will pick you up, 131 008 is their #.
If your staying in the CBD, there is also the option of a tram from EN (a longer walk, a bus and a train from MB). I dont know any specific details of either sorry.
Moorabbin or Essendon, its really up to you. The only concern you might have is finding the inbound reporting points for either place- an option is to get an airways clearance with vectors to an inbound reporting point.
The Vis Flight Guide on the Casa site (linked in a previous post) from memory has photos of the points; print them out and hand them to your passengers and ask them to look for it too!
MB is cheaper for landing and presumably parking.
EN is probably easier to find your way taxying for parking, however both ground services will help you if you "request detailed taxi instructions". Be very careful with taxying across an active without a clearance at MB due to parallel rwy ops (during twr hrs).
ML Radar (135.70) will help you out with finding inbound reporting points. They do get quite busy and might put you on the backburner, but make sure you contact them if need be and tell them that your unfamilliar with the area and request a vector to whichever reporting point; they will almost certainly always help you out.
DiVosh has already put some great info up.
Ask away if theres anything else
If your staying in the CBD, there is also the option of a tram from EN (a longer walk, a bus and a train from MB). I dont know any specific details of either sorry.
Moorabbin or Essendon, its really up to you. The only concern you might have is finding the inbound reporting points for either place- an option is to get an airways clearance with vectors to an inbound reporting point.
The Vis Flight Guide on the Casa site (linked in a previous post) from memory has photos of the points; print them out and hand them to your passengers and ask them to look for it too!
MB is cheaper for landing and presumably parking.
EN is probably easier to find your way taxying for parking, however both ground services will help you if you "request detailed taxi instructions". Be very careful with taxying across an active without a clearance at MB due to parallel rwy ops (during twr hrs).
ML Radar (135.70) will help you out with finding inbound reporting points. They do get quite busy and might put you on the backburner, but make sure you contact them if need be and tell them that your unfamilliar with the area and request a vector to whichever reporting point; they will almost certainly always help you out.
DiVosh has already put some great info up.
Ask away if theres anything else
