Flight Simulator Flights at YMEN Melbourne Essendon Airport

Melbourne Essendon Airport (YMEN), also known as Essendon Fields, lies close to the Victorian capital and offers a sim pilot a compact, well-equipped general aviation field with an ILS-equipped main runway. Once Melbourne's principal airport, it retains a busy general aviation character today, with full tower, approach and ATIS services on the frequencies below.

Overview

Essendon Fields sits a short distance northwest of central Melbourne and today functions as a small general aviation airport. It is of particular interest to the sim pilot both for its history as Melbourne's original major airport and for the fact that it remains a fully serviced field with instrument approach capability, tower control and a layout of two sealed runways suited to a range of light and business aircraft.

Airspace & Location

The airfield is located at Essendon Fields in the State of Victoria, Australia, close to the city of Melbourne. It is served by tower, ground and approach/departure frequencies, indicating that the field sits within controlled airspace with its own control zone.

Runways

Essendon has two sealed, lit runways. Runway 08/26 is the longer of the pair at 6,298 feet, hard-surfaced and lit, with an ILS serving runway 26. Runway 17/35 is 4,938 feet, also hard-surfaced and lit. Field elevation is 249 feet.

Radio & Navigation

Radio services include Tower on 125.1 MHz, Ground on 121.9 MHz, ATIS on 119.8 MHz, Approach on 132 MHz and Departure on 118.9 MHz. An ILS is available for runway 26.

History

Essendon Fields opened in the 1920s and went on to serve as Melbourne's major airport until 1970, when Melbourne Tullamarine Airport (YMML) was built and took over as the city's principal passenger hub.

The Airfield Today

Essendon now operates as a small general aviation airport, having handed its major airline traffic role to Tullamarine decades ago.