Flight Simulator Flights at YCBP Coober Pedy Airport

Coober Pedy Airport lies just southwest of the opal-mining town of the same name in outback South Australia, serving as the town's link to Adelaide and the wider region. It is a modest but well-marked outback aerodrome with sealed and gravel runways, useful for VFR pilots transiting the remote interior of South Australia.

Overview

Coober Pedy Airport serves the opal mining town of Coober Pedy in the remote outback of South Australia, and is located southwest of the township. It is operated by the District Council of Coober Pedy and handles scheduled passenger services as well as general aviation traffic. For a simulator pilot, it offers a striking contrast between a sealed main runway and a gravel secondary strip set amid the arid, opal-scarred landscape that surrounds the town.

Airspace & Location

The airfield sits in the remote Far North region of South Australia, southwest of the Coober Pedy township, in an area of largely uncontrolled airspace typical of the Australian outback. Air traffic services in the vicinity are provided remotely, with Melbourne Centre handling flight information for the area.

Runways

Coober Pedy has two physical runways. The main runway, 04/22, is 4,680 feet long with a hard (sealed) surface and is lit. The secondary runway, 14/32, is 3,141 feet long with a gravel surface and is also lit.

Radio & Navigation

Traffic at Coober Pedy operates on the CTAF frequency of 126.7 MHz. Flight service and area information is available on 120.7 MHz through Melbourne Centre. There is no ILS at the field.

History

The airfield serves the opal mining town of Coober Pedy, which grew up around the region's opal fields in outback South Australia. Beyond its ongoing role supporting the town's air links, the airfield gained an unusual measure of popular recognition when it was recreated, under the name Redstone Airport, in the 2016 racing video game Forza Horizon 3 for Xbox One, where it became a popular venue for in-game drag racing.

The Airfield Today

Coober Pedy Airport continues to serve as the aerial gateway to the town, supporting scheduled passenger flights to Adelaide as well as general aviation movements. The field's mix of a lit sealed runway and a lit gravel runway allows it to accommodate a range of aircraft types operating into this remote part of South Australia.