Departure
99%
vs 95% ▲ 3
MY FS FLIGHTS
MY FS FLIGHTS
Avalon Airport (YMAV) is a major international and cargo airport near Lara in Victoria, roughly 15 km from Geelong and about 45 minutes from central Melbourne. Home to a single long runway capable of handling wide-body freighters and airliners, it also serves as the venue for the biennial Australian International Airshow, making it a distinctive destination for visiting simulator pilots.
Avalon Airport lies at Lara in the City of Greater Geelong, Victoria, and operates as Melbourne's second international airport. Originally built for military aircraft production, it has evolved into a hub for low-cost passenger services, air cargo, and Victoria's premier air show. For a simulator pilot, Avalon offers the chance to fly into a long, ILS-equipped runway shared by Jetstar airliners, freight operators, and, biennially, a huge gathering of display aircraft.
Avalon sits close to Melbourne, roughly 45 minutes from the city's CBD by road and about 15 km from Geelong. The field is served by Melbourne Radar and its own tower and unicom frequencies, reflecting its status as a controlled international aerodrome integrated with the greater Melbourne air traffic environment.
Avalon has a single physical runway, 18/36, 9,982 feet long with a hard surface. It is lit for night operations and equipped with an ILS on runway 18, making it suitable for a wide range of aircraft types including heavy freighters.
Pilots can expect ATIS on 116.1 MHz, with the common traffic advisory/tower frequency at 120.1 MHz. A flight service frequency is available on 135.7 MHz, Melbourne Radar also operates on 120.1 MHz, and a unicom service is provided on 129.3 MHz. Runway 18 is served by an ILS.
The land on which Avalon Airport now stands was originally a sheep and cattle farm and homestead established by James Austin, an immigrant from Glastonbury, England, who named it Avalon after the mythical isle associated with Arthurian legend. The Commonwealth Government purchased 1,754 hectares at Avalon in 1952 for £110, the land having been considered poor farmland due to volcanic rock, and the airport opened in 1953 to support production of military aircraft. The English Electric Canberra light bomber was built there from the outset. Qantas established a training base at the site in 1959, and in 1961 the Government Aircraft Factories combined with the Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation to build and service 110 Mirage fighters. In 1970, Jindivik target aircraft production transferred to Avalon from Fishermans Bend, alongside production of Nomad and Hornet military jets and servicing of other aircraft types. Avalon has also hosted the Australian International Airshow since 1992.
Avalon has operated for more than 70 years and today functions 24 hours a day, supporting both domestic and international cargo movements with capacity for aircraft as large as the Boeing 747 and Antonov freighters. Jetstar has operated low-cost domestic flights from Avalon since 2004, and FlyPelican introduced services to Canberra in October 2025. The airport continues to host the Australian International Airshow every two years, with the next event scheduled for 2027; pilots planning to visit around that time should allow for significantly busier traffic and road access.