Flight log

PPL Navigation Flight 3: YSCN - YTBH

Date: September 6, 2025

Route: YSCN – KADOM – YBTH – YOBE – YOAS – YSCN

Aircraft: Cessna 172S Skyhawk SP

Duration: 2.1 hours VDO

For this navigation exercise, I prepared two possible routes depending on the weather on the day. The first option was to track south towards Goulburn. The second option, which I eventually flew, was westbound to Bathurst.

The Bathurst plan was designed as a direct leg from Camden (YSCN) to YBTH, cruising at 8,500 feet to clear the Blue Mountains, and returning via Oberon (YOBE), Jenolan Caves (YOAS), The Oaks, and then back to Camden. I calculated minimum safe altitudes for each segment: 5,500 feet over the ranges, and 2,500 feet near The Oaks to ensure circuit traffic separation.

Fuel planning included all reserves, and I noted the final reserve separately to ensure it was consistently accounted for. I also reviewed Bathurst aerodrome details from ERSA, noting its two runways, commercial terminal, backtracking requirements, and gliding activity within 10 NM.

On the day, cloud conditions required deviations from the direct track. Instead of flying the planned straight line, I made course adjustments to remain clear of low-level cloud layers, navigating visually using prominent landmarks.

table of contents

Weather

Flight Segments

Quick Reference

Weather

The forecast leading up to the flight indicated southerly winds, which aligned closely with conditions on the day. At altitude, the winds were steady and within my preflight calculations.

Visibility was generally good, but scattered cloud layers over the mountains required diversions. I navigated between cloud gaps rather than penetrating or overflying them. This added some additional mileage but did not compromise the flight plan.

At Bathurst, winds favoured runway 17. There were some clouds in the area but conditions remained suitable for both arrival and departure. The return leg involved more scattered cloud, which influenced headings, but visibility and navigation remained straightforward.

Important Notice
Student Pilot Disclaimer

I am a student pilot currently training toward my Private Pilot Licence (PPL) under the supervision of certified flight instructors.

The content on this page is a personal debrief of my flight training experience. It reflects my thoughts, impressions, and learning process—but it does contain errors and misunderstandings, as part of that journey.

This is not flight instruction, and it must not be relied upon for learning how to fly, making operational decisions, or preparing for a flight.

Any procedures, radio calls, planning techniques, or in-flight decisions described here may be incorrect, incomplete, or unsafe. They are shared in the spirit of open learning—not as examples to follow.

If you’re a pilot or student pilot, you must conduct your own flight planning using current, original, and official sources such as:

• Valid aeronautical charts
• Current weather and NOTAM briefings
• The CASA Manual of Standards (MOS)
• The Aeronautical Information Publication (AIP)
• Guidance from a qualified flight instructor

Never rely on online videos, blogs, or third-party content as a substitute for proper training or planning.

Flight Segments

Departure (YSCN)

We departed Camden on runway 06. Takeoff from Camden was normal, climbing initially to 2,500 feet before setting course westbound.

Cruise

Enroute navigation was straightforward due to the clear visual references. Katoomba township and the nearby dam were highly visible, as were power lines, wind farms, and rivers. Small towns and lakes also served as reliable waypoints. I confirmed position estimates using the paper chart, measuring approximate distances with thumb-length checks (10 NM per thumb on that scale).

The route was kept outside Sydney controlled airspace, so no clearances were required. At Bathurst, I operated within CTAF procedures, making standard calls during taxi, runway entry, and backtracking.

Arrival into Bathurst

The approach to Bathurst was straightforward. Using local landmarks to establish spacing, I joined and landed on runway 17. The landing was smooth, and I taxied via the long two-way taxiway to the parking area. This introduced new procedures, including backtracking along runway 17 after coordinating CTAF calls to maintain situational awareness of other traffic.

Return Leg

After a short break at Bathurst, I departed via the same taxiway and runway combination, backtracking on runway 17 before departure. Initially, my course did not align with Oberon as planned, so I made a heading correction to overfly the town. Again, cloud influenced track selection, but navigation remained clear using visual references such as rivers, a dam, and townships.

Approaching Camden, I obtained the AWIS slightly later than ideal. Descent planning required me to adjust promptly to ensure I crossed The Oaks at 2,500 feet. I made the inbound call and joined the circuit for a stable approach and successful landing at Camden.

Special Interest Segments

This flight included several new experiences:

1
First time operating into Bathurst aerodrome, including runway backtracking and managing two-way taxiways.
2
Navigation across the Blue Mountains with practical cloud avoidance.
3
Use of prominent landmarks, wind farms, and lakes for visual fixes.
4
Applying altitude calculations to safely manage mountainous terrain.

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Reflections and Learnings

This flight marked a significant step in building confidence with cross-country navigation. Despite the month-long break beforehand, I felt comfortable managing both planning and in-flight adjustments.

What went well:

Navigation by visual reference and map proved reliable and accurate.
Landings at both Bathurst and Camden were stable and well-judged.
Communication at an unfamiliar aerodrome was clear and effective.

Areas to improve:

Obtain destination weather and AWIS information earlier to support smoother descent planning.
Maintain closer adherence to the planned outbound track to reduce course corrections later.

Quick Reference

Item	Details
Aircraft	Cessna 172S
Departure	YSCN (Camden) – Class D
Arrival/Overflown Aerodromes	YBTH (Bathurst), YOBE (Oberon), YOAS (Jenolan Caves), YSCN (Camden)
Waypoints	Blue Mountains, Katoomba township, dam and river systems, wind farms, Bathurst aerodrome elevation (2,435 ft), long two-way taxiway, runway backtracking procedures
Route Highlights	Blue Mountains, Katoomba township, dam and river systems, wind farms, Bathurst aerodrome elevation (2,435 ft), long two-way taxiway, runway backtracking procedures
Notable Firsts	- First landing at Bathurst, - first experience with backtracking two runways, - first time managing extended taxi operations at a regional aerodrome, cloud deviation in mountainous terrain