Every Airport Challenge – Victoria

[EDIT – APRIL 2024] This challenge was originally intended to be completed in 2021 however it was derailed for a few reasons, not least of which were the tough COVID lockdowns in Victoria but also some of my own failings. However I’ve left the article in its original form referencing 2021, and I very much intend on completing this challenge at some point in the future.

Because we’re all having to stay closer to home right now I’ve been missing travelling in my aircraft. I was starting to run out of ideas of places to go that weren’t in another country (or even just in another state) and was getting a little down about only being able to go to the same local airports over and over again.

It was my wife’s idea to be fair. She was the one who suggested I had everything I need in my own backyard to get me out and exploring again, something to do on those days when I have some spare time and want to go see new places.

So thanks to her, I’ve set myself the goal of being able to say I’ve landed at every airport in my home state of Victoria before the end of 2021.

For the purposes of this challenge an ‘airport’ is considered a certified aerodrome by CASA. So I won’t be taking into account private landing strips or uncertified airports. That would make the list too long, and some of them I may not be able to get my aircraft into anyway. So I’m just counting those airports open to General Aviation aircraft with a CASA certification.

Keep an eye on this page to see updates through the year, you can use the interactive map below to see where I’ve been and where I still need to head to.

I’d love to hear any tips or advice you may have on this challenge as well – use the comments field below.

The Rules (or What determines a ‘Landing’)

1. I must land the aircraft myself
2. I must come to a complete stop and taxi off the runway onto the apron
3. A missed approach or a touch and go does not count as a landing

Current status (updated: 26th Feb 2021)

I have currently landed at 23 out of 43 airports = 53%

Map of Victorian Airports I’ve landed at

Zoom in and out and click on airports on this interactive map. Green are ones I’ve visited so far, red are ones I still need to land at.

List of Victorian Airports – Table

Name	ICAO	Type	Landed
Ararat Airport	YARA	Public
Avalon Airport	YMAV	Public
Bairnsdale Airport	YBNS	Public	✓
Ballarat Airport	YBLT	Public	✓
Benalla Airport	YBLA	Public
Bendigo Airport	YBDG	Public	✓
Birchip Airport	YBIR	Public
Corryong Airport	YCRG	Public
Donald Airport	YDOD	Public
Echuca Airport	YECH	Public	✓
Essendon Airport	YMEN	Public	✓
Hamilton Airport	YHML	Public	✓
Hopetoun Airport	YHPN	Public	✓
Horsham Airport	YHSM	Public	✓
Kerang Airport	YKER	Public
Kyneton Airport	YKTN	Private	✓
Latrobe Valley Airport	YLTV	Public	✓
Leongatha Airport	YLEG	Public
Mallacoota Airport	YMCO	Public	✓
Mangalore Airport	YMNG	Public	✓
Melbourne Airport	YMML	Public	✓
Mildura Airport	YMIA	Public	✓
Moorabbin Airport	YMMB	Public	✓
Mount Hotham Airport	YHOT	Private	✓
Nhill Airport	YNHL	Public
Orbost Airport	YORB	Public
Portland Airport	YPOD	Public	✓
RAAF Base East Sale	YMES	Military
RAAF Williams	YMPC	Military
Robinvale Airport	YROI	Public
Saint Arnaud Airport	YSTA	Public
Shepparton Airport	YSHT	Public	✓
Stawell Airport	YSWL	Public
Swan Hill Airport	YSWH	Public	✓
Tooradin Airfield	YTDN	Private	✓
Tyabb Airport	YTYA	Private	✓
Wangaratta Airport	YWGT	Public	✓
Warracknabeal Airport	YWKB	Public
Warrnambool Airport	YWBL	Public	✓
West Sale Airport	YWSL	Public
Wycheproof Airport	YWYF	Public	✓
Yarram Airport	YYRM	Public
Yarrawonga Airport	YYWG	Public