Wales is well known for its rugged and beautiful landscape, fabulous food and rich history - in particular castles! This jaunt is an excuse to explore the country of Wales navigating by castle. What could be a better start to the new year?

You have been asked by the University of Cardiff to support an aerial archaeology project. The plan is to survey 20 castles across Wales searching for previously unknown archaeological sites around them. You will fly a team of two archaeologists weighing 80 Kgs and carrying 23Kg of baggage and photograph every castle.

Start at EGBJ Gloucestershire and finish at EGCK Caernarfon

Plan a flight between Gloucestershire Airport (EGBJ) and Caernarfon (EGCK) taking in all the castles in the table below. Enroute, the team need you to plan landings at each of the following airports so that data cards can be swapped out and notes handed over:

• EGFH - Swansea
• EGFA - West Wales Aberporth
• EGFD - Llandbehr
• EGNR - Hawarden

These tables contain details of the castles to be surveyed.

You can survey them in any order, but the numbered order offers the most efficient routing.

You may use any aircraft (including helicopters) classified as GA (within the EASA "light" category), see club rules for details.

Before starting, check the weather. In accordance with VATSIM rules the wind direction should be the same as real-world. This event is strictly VFR, so all other aspects of the weather should be adjusted to avoid the disappointment of being rained or fogged in.

Remember to ANC (Aviate, Navigate, Communicate.) This event should be fun for all, both pilots and controllers. Bear in mind that other (non CIX VFR CLUB) traffic may also use the same airspace/airfields but everyone has equal priority (VFR).

Should your enjoyment become impaired due to "unsportsmanlike" ATC, let someone know so that senior club members can pass on your concerns.

Similarly, If you get something wrong, such as entering controlled airspace without authority, learn from the experience and follow instructions - even if requested to 'Disconnect'.

However, if you have a problem, ask ATC for help, a lot easier than flying on regardless causing confusion and mayhem! And don't forget your first call for help is other club members, that is how we all learnt to do it.

Some areas may have ATC; however, Unicom should keep you out of trouble

Take care not to let our TeamSpeak Chat cut across ATC. Stop any conversation immediately the R/T comes alive, and then continue if "he wasn't talking to us". This is difficult because when talking on TeamSpeak you cannot hear the R/T. So be aware that ATC might be trying to contact a member. If anyone hears R/T which appears to be ignored and it is a club member being called, on TS, say "ATC is calling XXXX/one of us". Then everyone stop talking until ATC calls again and makes contact. Remember that if ATC tells you "stand bye" It means "Wait, don't call me, I will come back to you as soon as I can." - Busy with a more urgent problem.

Half a star for departing EGBJ Gloucestershire and half a star for landing at EGCK Caernarfon during January 2026.

Castles Guide here: PDF

Club airfield information sheets can be found here

Event Idea: Colin Parker
Event planning: Colin Parker
Briefing: Colin Parker