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Local Procedures at Melbourne (YMML).

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Sunbury Corridor

Day VFR Helicopters may request clearance via the Sunbury Corridor. It is defined as the corridor 1nm either side of a track from SWT - PWLC - 16/27 Intersection at YMML. Boundary coordination must be completed to ML TCU for clearances in this airspace Due to the close proximity of the airspace to the arrival and departure paths at YMML, controllers should be aware of surrounding traffic before issuing a clearance to helicopters. If necessary, consider issuing a clearance limit for separation or instruct helicopters to report sighting and to maintain own separation with other aircraft. Alternatively, tower controllers can simulate visual separation provided no risk of collision exists and both aircraft remain in sight of the controller at all times. Remember to pass traffic information to both aircraft.
  • Boundary coordination

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Pushback Disconnect Points

In the real world, YMML utilises Towbar Disconnect Points (TDPs) to allow predictable pushback paths from various bays. On VATSIM, this is difficult to simulate, given the limited access to pushback maps and the additional plugins required to facilitate a pushback in this way. In the real world, disconnect points are rarely assigned by the SMC controller, as each bay has a standard disconnect point. As such, disconnect points should only be assigned where there is benefit to traffic flow on the apron, after confirming that both the pilot & controller are competent in their use, or on pilot request.
  • Towbar Disconnect Points (TDPs)

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Departure Queueing

Where excessive queueing is taking place at the holding points, minimise its effect on the surrounding taxiways by strategically positioning outbound aircraft to keep the main arterial taxiways clear. Particular attention should be paid to departures for runways 27 and 34. Taxiway E may be used to keep runway 27 departures clear of the inbound path to the northern aprons. Taxiway V may be used to keep runway 34 departures (via the J intersection) clear of Taxiway A, allowing aircraft to transit to all aprons or taxi for a full length departure. Source: VATPAC Melbourne SOP, CC BY 4.0. Adapted for the simulator from the snapshot retrieved 2026-09-29; source updated 2026-09-22. Licence.
Last modified on October 30, 2026