Stage 5: Moray Firth Coast & Highland Gateway

Stage 05

Longside Airfield (EG29) to Inverness Airport (EGPE)

Moray Firth Coastline & Highland Gateway

Distance
78.5 NM
Est. Time (ETE)
00h 47m
Target Alt
2,500–3,500 ft
Touch & Gos
0 (Full Stop)

Route Map & Radio Navaids Visual


ADN VOR/DME (114.30): Outbound radial reference along Aberdeenshire coast
INS VOR/DME (109.20): Inbound tracking reference direct to Inverness
LOSSIEMOUTH RADAR (119.350): MATZ & ATZ transit coordination

Navigation & Waypoint Breakdown

Ident Type Track (°M) Nav Aid / Radial Alt Leg Total ETE Landmarks & Notes
EG29 Departure — ADN 114.30 R-020 180 ft 0.0 NM 0.0 NM 00:00 Depart Longside; climb north towards coastal turning point.
RATTRAY Coastal VRP 022° ADN 114.30 R-018 2,500 ft 7.5 NM 7.5 NM 00:04 Rattray Head Lighthouse; turn west into the Moray Firth.
TROUPHD Coastal VRP 288° ADN 114.30 R-338 3,000 ft 18.0 NM 25.5 NM 00:15 Track past Fraserburgh to Troup Head; scenic sea cliffs.
SPEYBAY Reporting Pt 255° INS 109.20 R-072 2,500 ft 22.0 NM 47.5 NM 00:28 Banff Bay & Cullen; contact Lossiemouth Zone for MATZ transit.
NAIRN Inbound VRP 262° INS 109.20 R-065 2,000 ft 15.0 NM 62.5 NM 00:37 Coast-track past Burghead; set up for Inverness CTR entry.
EGPE Arrival 245° INS 109.20 R-055 31 ft 16.0 NM 78.5 NM 00:47 Cross Culbin Sands; join Inverness circuit for full-stop landing.

Stage Highlights & Scenic Landmarks

Coastal VRP

Rattray Head Lighthouse

Historic isolated granite tower built on a dangerous rock reef. Marks the easternmost headland and major turning point into the Moray Firth.

Scenic Landmark

Troup Head Sea Cliffs

Scotland’s only mainland gannet colony. Features sheer vertical cliff faces plunging into the ocean along Aberdeenshire’s northern coastline.

Airspace Zone

RAF Lossiemouth Coastline

Major RAF operational Typhoon base. A coastal transit requires active clearance through the Lossiemouth MATZ and ATZ corridors.

Destination Arrival

Inverness Airport (EGPE)

The commercial hub and main aviation gateway to the Scottish Highlands, situated inside Class D controlled airspace right on the coastal shore.

Radio Navigation & ATC Frequencies

  • Aberdeen VOR/DME (ADN): 114.30 MHz
  • Inverness VOR/DME (INS): 109.20 MHz
  • Lossiemouth Zone/Radar: 119.350 MHz
  • Inverness Approach/Radar: 122.605 MHz
  • Inverness Tower: 118.405 MHz

Local Cautions & Airspace Procedures

  • Military Fast Jets: High-speed RAF Typhoon traffic active around Lossiemouth MATZ. Maintain sharp visual lookout and radio contact.
  • Class D CTR Inbound: Two-way radio clearance required prior to entering Inverness CTR. Nairn is a key visual inbound join point.
  • Coastal Weather & Sea Fog: Moray Firth coastline is susceptible to sudden sea fog (haar) rolling inland off the North Sea.

Download MSFS Flight Plan (.PLN)

Copy the XML snippet below and save it as UK_Coastal_Stage_05.pln to load directly into Microsoft Flight Simulator:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<SimBase.Document>
    <FlightPlan.FlightPlan>
        <Title>EG29 to EGPE Stage 5 UK Coastal Circumnavigation</Title>
        <FPType>VFR</FPType>
        <RouteType>Direct</RouteType>
        <CruisingAlt>3000</CruisingAlt>
        <DepartureID>EG29</DepartureID>
        <DepartureLLA>N57° 30' 15.00",W1° 53' 05.00",+000180.00</DepartureLLA>
        <DestinationID>EGPE</DestinationID>
        <DestinationLLA>N57° 32' 24.00",W4° 03' 00.00",+000031.00</DestinationLLA>
        <ATCWaypoint id="EG29">
            <ATCWaypointType>Airport</ATCWaypointType>
            <WorldPosition>N57° 30' 15.00",W1° 53' 05.00",+000180.00</WorldPosition>
            <ICAO><ICAORegion>EG</ICAORegion><ICAOIdent>EG29</ICAOIdent></ICAO>
        </ATCWaypoint>
        <ATCWaypoint id="RATTRAY">
            <ATCWaypointType>User</ATCWaypointType>
            <WorldPosition>N57° 36' 36.00",W1° 49' 00.00",+002500.00</WorldPosition>
        </ATCWaypoint>
        <ATCWaypoint id="TROUPHD">
            <ATCWaypointType>User</ATCWaypointType>
            <WorldPosition>N57° 41' 30.00",W2° 19' 30.00",+003000.00</WorldPosition>
        </ATCWaypoint>
        <ATCWaypoint id="SPEYBAY">
            <ATCWaypointType>User</ATCWaypointType>
            <WorldPosition>N57° 40' 20.00",W3° 05' 10.00",+002500.00</WorldPosition>
        </ATCWaypoint>
        <ATCWaypoint id="NAIRN">
            <ATCWaypointType>User</ATCWaypointType>
            <WorldPosition>N57° 35' 00.00",W3° 52' 00.00",+002000.00</WorldPosition>
        </ATCWaypoint>
        <ATCWaypoint id="EGPE">
            <ATCWaypointType>Airport</ATCWaypointType>
            <WorldPosition>N57° 32' 24.00",W4° 03' 00.00",+000031.00</WorldPosition>
            <ICAO><ICAORegion>EG</ICAORegion><ICAOIdent>EGPE</ICAOIdent></ICAO>
        </ATCWaypoint>
    </FlightPlan.FlightPlan>
</SimBase.Document>
Scroll to Top