FLYING WITH THE BIG JETS at Sydney Airport

Approach and landing at Sydney International Airport in a Cirrus SR22. What's it like landing a small plane at a big airport? Hear Air Traffic Control (ATC) calls, watch multiple-camera angles, and see me land at Sydney Airport, then take-off and fly an orbit around Sydney Harbour Bridge.
Aircraft on the ground at Sydney Airport include Qantas Boeing 747, Airbus A330 and A380, Qantaslink Dash 8 Q400, Jetstar A320 and more. Hear me talking to Sydney Approach, Sydney Tower, and Ground, and watch as I land my aircraft at Sydney International Airport (YSSY).
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VERY IMPORTANT: I am a private pilot and am NOT qualified to give flying instruction. This video, like all videos on this channel, has been significantly edited from the original source footage and is provided for entertainment purposes only. Many radio calls and procedures have been omitted. If you have any questions about anything you see or hear, please speak to a Certified Flying Instructor first.

[@charlesjjones]

Gday Stef, love your work mate, it’s very cool to see the ‘flip side of the coin’! As one of the Approach controllers at Sydney it was kinda cool to see your intensity for the descent and subsequent vectors for final! Also reassuring that despite your size you were properly briefed and prepared for your arrival into complex airspace. Pre-pandemic the norm was 900-1000 moves a day and now unfortunately it’s 130ish, the complexity of Sydney’s airspace was entirely derived from its high volume, in the current environment there is nothing complex at all about our work. For what it’s worth you definitely earned a socially distant crisp high five for your professionalism. We cant do it right now of course but if you’re interested in having a look inside the Tower and the TCU (Terminal Control Unit... where we do Approach and Departures) shoot me a message and we can work something out!

[@thomaszapantis9429]

Hey Charles, What would your advice be to a student pilot who's trying to familiarize himself with radio calls. Some times I just go completely blank when ATC is talking to me :(

[@NDCDA62]

Well that's really nice of you Charles !! Aviators sticking together. Hope you get back up and running soon.

[@A1RTV]

@@thomaszapantis9429 hey mate, i am currently completing my PPL at Moorabbin Airport (YMMB). I can recommend practicing and further familiarising yourself with the lingo by contacting ATC on a flight simulator such as X Plane or Microsoft Flight Simulator. I have been playing those games since i was a little kid and my instructor was very impressed that i could structure my communications with ATC correctly on my first attempt.

[@charlesjjones]

Thomas Zapantis Thomas Zapantis apologies for the delay in responding. My first piece of advice is to get into the books, in particular AIP Gen 3.4 that’s the phraseology section. Towards the back the section it has all the correct ATC and pilots phrases and responses for most situations. It’s set out from engine start, taxi, take off etc to landing. You don’t need to know every phrase but it’s a good place to start, after reading it a few times in context of some scenarios you’re familiar with they’ll quickly make sense. Another if you have access to one is a radio scanner, flight radar (the phone app) or watch live traffic from somewhere appropriate. Pick an aircraft, anticipate its next move (takeoff, taxi, touch and go etc) and simulate the radio call and the expected response. We used to do this all time in the sim on ATC course. Finally A1RTVs suggestion is also great one! There’s enough real people with genuine experience that’ll help.

[@StefanDrury]

Hey Charles, sorry I didn't see this comment until now. Thanks for the message and the offer. Can you put your details into the form at the bottom of the page here: www.stef747.com/faqs-contact-stef/ and I'll get in touch. I'd love to take a look around the Tower / TCU at Sydney, I'm sure the viewers would be interested in that too. Thank you.

[@alexkoch8716]

Did one of the Q400 pilots say hey stef? That’s so cool

[@LunarLithos]

yeah he did

[@user-xf6fj4vr1l]

Imagine getting recognised by commercial airliners at Sydney International Airport. That would be so awesome!

[@onelpeiris]

Time Stamp: 10:35 You're Welcome 👍

[@davefrommelbourne1237]

Absolutely Awesome! Love the QLink acknowledgement and the footage at 12:12 👍

[@jordanryan673]

When are you flying to Brisbane !!

[@imjustsomeguy72]

9:46 That shot of all the A320s lined up on the runway is so sad.

[@philipmead3575]

Who else loves seeing a notification that a new video has been uploaded? When I see the notification, I go make myself a coffee turn on the TV and put on the video as I consume my coffee before I start my workday. I must admit I also watch/ re-watch some of the videos as I am working.

[@shafimnain400]

That’s good but I am interested in what you do.

[@GiuseppeBasile]

What an awesome experience Stefan. Editing in this one was also fantastic.

[@StefanDrury]

Thanks Guiseppe, trying to keep it fresh and be as creative as possible to keep the videos interesting. Thanks for watching, I appreciate the feedback.

[@lucasorford]

When your Mum tells you to go outside so you say to her i’ll fly to Sydney and back

[@msaviation478]

Lucas Playz hahahaha

[@Dixon_1974]

Oddly specific

[@georgehall945]

Oddly random

[@jimlaw8199]

Randomly specific

[@teddynebel]

Love the intro reminded me off old spy films with the split screens

[@electric-ginx8376]

So true!

[@antoinehanekom4689]

Milkshake's Angels...

[@StefanDrury]

@@antoinehanekom4689 *starts designing 'Milkshake's Angels' logo...*

[@jessicahao3185]

Wait.... the dash8 said ‘hi stef’?!? That’s soooo cooll! (10:35)

[@kithiraa6348]

What a great experience! I flew in on Saturday and got to taxi around and the kind ground controller got us to taxi all the way around to TWY H where the 747 was parked. Once in a lifetime experience to see that 747 in a Qantas livery for probably the last time.

[@StefanDrury]

Yes good point, that’s a sight we won’t see at Australian airports much longer. Glad you had a great trip too, and I agree the controllers were excellent.

[@RevPhillip]

Loved this Stefan. I used to fly in and out of Sydney as a private pilot back in the early eighties. I kept 747s waiting while I trundled in flying a Warrior or Archer. Sydney Harbour scenics are still the best of my memories. I was able to get clearances to fly around Sydney Tower (CentrePoint) in those days and wave to the people on the observation deck. I can't imagine doing that now. My first commercial flying job was flying a reporter around Sydney Harbour on the Bicentennial Day (1988) to report on the tall ships. It was a glorious day flying round and round the harbour with airships, helicopters, light aircraft and heavy aircraft just 500' apart vertically.

[@MattNav]

This video left me grinning from ear to ear. Awesome job stefan ! Obviously it's sad about the circumstances. Seeing you flying into SYD and over the harbour was really fun.

[@StefanDrury]

Yeah I agree, it’s not under great circumstances. But to keep the airport moving and help the industry whilst it’s quiet I was glad to go visit.

[@mateovalencia2984]

You are the best aviation KZbinr. You are always very passionate and your videos are of extremely high quality!

[@StefanDrury]

That means a lot, thanks Mateo. There are some great content creators out there, I'm glad you enjoy my work.

[@ftxaviation]

Qantas 747 in the background, amazing.

[@lepermessiyah5823]

really love how humble you are at the end, and how good it is to see someone genuinely enjoying their passion. this if what flying is about

[@lachmaclean2383]

Waaaay back in the 80s when I was learning, I did a Navex that included orbits over North Head and the harbour with a landing on 16R. That was in a Grumman AA5 and I felt very insignificant being up there with all the heavies. Even with an intersection departure, I could have taken off twice in the distance available!!!! As I don't fly anymore, it's great to get back in the seat with you-virtually.

[@jcr150658]

Ah memories. Fly up from Wollongong, coastal, down to 500ft, Victor 1, up to Manly with a request for a Harbour Scenic. Below the cliff tops at South Head. Orbit Manly, receive clearance for a Scenic, east of the bridge, north of the opera house, watch & listen to the heavies departing SYD, magic!!

[@lukeholmes7511]

Great little take off film sequence. Keep up the good work!

[@StefanDrury]

I enjoyed making that one. Thanks Luke 👍

[@stephenthompson5260]

Well that brings back memories. I did my training at Bankstown in 1982. After one trip to the north, on the way back my instructor asked if we could land at Sydney. Approaching 19 (now 19R) tower told us to keep our speed up and take the first high speed taxiway left, as we were being followed by a (from memory) 747 with it's flaps hanging out. We were pedaling as fast as possible and they were riding the brakes downhill. We taxied round to the GA parking. When we left, we departed 07 from what is now D, don't need much runway in a little Cessna, right turn then direct Bankstown. Couldn't do that now (except during this shutdown).

[@phillipmiles4351]

This made me happy.. Did my training at YSBK in 2005, have done a few Victor 1 scenic flights over the years, but have newer landed a GA aircraft at YSSY. Great video mate.

[@a9503128]

I’m so privileged to live in this beautiful city, welcome to Sydney

[@maxwalchli5093]

Oh thank you that was wonderful I do hope that after your operation you come back to us fighting fit for more flying we love you kind regards Christine and Max xx

[@mworld]

The little Cirrus probably rotates before the large double lines end 😂

[@raidazz1]

Aussie ATC are some of the best in the world! Great video

[@navg7284]

13:18min Totally agree! Safe flying Stefan.

[@Peacewind152]

Coolest moment in my flight training so far was when we were holding short of the runway and we heard a Boeing 737-MAX call from behind us. My CFI snapped pictures as I taxied out. I kinda hope I gave the pilots of the big bird some nostalgia as I executed a wobble af took off in my itty bitty Cessna 152. Dealing with 737s at my airport is common as it's a regional hub in Canada, but that experience was just bloody cool.

[@JDtheBushwalker]

Stefan, don't apologise for being giddy, I was giddy just watching it! Thanks for the content mate, great as always. I reliase that this is an old one, but I'm trying to do a full lap (or should I say circuit) of your content because I love it so much

[@jamiemartin2932]

Wow Stef, that was incredible. Your acknowledgement of the absolute privilege to see the world from the skies is truly refreshing. A fantastic reminder to aviators across the world to take a moment to truly appreciate the gift of flight. A huge thanks for this video Stef. Amazing!!

[@StefanDrury]

Thanks Jamie. I honestly think we’re incredibly lucky to be in a position to fly like this, so thanks for saying that. Glad you enjoyed the video.

[@christianmerolli5327]

9:48 Closed section of runway for a320 storage. Wow. :(

[@7figuretraveller]

Got to be one of the top fly byes you can do Awesome

[@barkly1992]

Did a flight into SYD when a student under instruction and later as a PPL before they charged. Lined up and was about #6 behind a range of domestic and international jets. VFR 18 October 1979 CB-SY-BK-CB PA28-161 YVK. Again 24 December and 29 December and Nov 11 and 12 1980. One of the advantages of learning to fly in a Primary Control Zone.

[@snowbearer]

As far as my own experiences have been thus far, people flying smaller planes tend to have this irrational fear of flying into the TMA of a larger commercial airport. Sure, the landing fees are a deterrent in of themselves, but the ATC is (usually) super accommodating and helpful, as that is their job. I was lucky enough to have started my training right next to a busy international airport, which meant that we got used to communicating with their ATC on almost every single flight, getting used to listening the busier frequencies and getting efficient on our own comms, but even without that experience, it's nothing to be afraid of. So I'd really recommend taking Stefans example here and going for it! Call ahead (as you should whenever flying to a new airport) and study the local practices from AIS. It's a great experience under your belt and a nice confidence booster.

[@ndankers8450]

Omg atc voice make me miss flying in australia

[@suddenshotty]

Sydney has to be my favourite place to fly out from, its really nice just looking over the harbour area and seeing everything below.

[@karlso7314]

Very sad to see all those aircraft waiting for the borders to reopen. Hopefully it's soon. Thank you for the videos. I love flying and find it to be an emotional experience myself. It's great to see that this is an industry full of passionate people and I believe Australia has the best air industry in the world. 💖👍

[@lukelouw6610]

Great video mate! Now you MUST FLY TO YBBN (Brisbane Int), especially since the new runway has finished its construction and will open very soon!

[@markentwistle2158]

Stunning. Incredible.

[@guillaumefo]

4:35 Milkshake is seated and belt on, things about to get serious

[@jennymark7403]

Well sefan, what a great flight, amazing views and doing something others only wish for well done.

[@jtrouche]

He did it!!

[@kiwidave72]

You picked a great day

[@craigwillis3372]

Knew you could this !! FANTASTIC FLIGHT mate and well done as always !! Hope Milkshake enjoyed it !! Best line " Echo Yankee Zulu cleared to land "" Magnificent !! So sad mate as I Melbourne to see such little activity at Sydney ( Mascot ) Airport..awful !! I should have used its correct title Kingsford Smith Airport !! No wake turbulence after United ?? Like you Stef I lived in Sydney but for a fair proportion of my life before moving to Melbourne and the Harbour never ceases to amaze me and on a day like you had for flying...brilliant !!

[@KieranMellorFilms]

I randomly came across your video, very cool to watch! But even cooler because I can see my street in the video! I never hear this kind of aircraft flying over my house and remember hearing one fly over recently - it must have been you!

[@hardknuckle8143]

I started flying in the early 80s down the south coast of NSW. One day we decided to go into Mascot - when you could - we flew up the light aircraft corridor and just past Wollongong we had to climb to get up into controlled airspace - we were in a Piper Warrior. Once cleared for we headed for Mascot trundling along at our 100kts - air traffic asked if we could make 140kts as there was a 747 behind us - emmm no. Anyway landed and taxied around to take back off - taxing around behind a 747 with another behind was a bit concerning. Taking off after the 747 was also a worry but air traffic had all in hand and didn't even feel any wake onn takeoff - arh the good old days and no landing fees.

[@arokh72]

Only found your channel today mate. Great to see an Aussie aviation KZbinr, and flying an aircraft that's achievable for many a pilot. As for me, I'm sadly too fat (about 135kg) and too poor (on DSP) for the aviation world. At least I can live vicariously through videos like yours, and MSFS.

[@marcel-koks]

Felt the same first time i landed on Schiphol airport out of my homebase at Rotterdam, when i was still living in The Netherlands. They made an epic song about this sort of experience; what a feeling.

[@paullindwall8591]

Stef you can fly to Sydney at any time during normal ops just go during the curfew

[@DaveHines1]

Nice one Stef , it’s sad that so many planes are on the ground , but every cloud ........ Enjoy !

[@duncanwalker]

What a great video and flight. Thankyou so much.

[@charliepapa3850]

Holy sh*t the edits on that take-off are amazing!

[@MrFakeMaker101]

My mate showed me this video and I instantly loved it, going to spend the rest of the night watching these videos! Also I work for qantas at the international terminal and haven’t been to work in months so this is extra special!

[@sideslipsteve]

Very very cool Stefan, looks like you had a great time 👍

[@michaelsharkey3894]

This is nuts, great viewing! Can't believe you did that!

[@StefanDrury]

Fun hey? A great experience which I'm very lucky to have enjoyed. Thanks for watching Michael.

[@Georgewrigley]

Just an awesome video/flight. Great adventures buddy, enjoy your channel. Thanks for sharing! Stay safe and fly safe. :)

[@HenrysAviation]

wait a minute... was the plane i saw... you!?

[@momssidedish]

Wonderful good...

[@PhotographyEnthusiast]

Truly awesome. I used to fly about 20 years ago but your adventures have inspired me to take up flying again now that I have just retired. Just need to wait for the world to get going again. Keep the vids coming.

[@ianmooney213]

Gotta say, when you do it, you do it well. Full ground tour plus exit over the city and loop the harbour. Love your work!

[@StefanDrury]

Well if you’re going to do it, do it with style! Thanks Ian.

[@f-16guy30]

Stef, excellent videography and that moment at 12:30 is postcard beautiful!

[@StefanDrury]

It's a beautiful harbour, that was a really special moment to fly EYZ over it for the first time. Thanks as always mate.

[@leonbogman5074]

That must have been a amazing experiance! This was also a awesome video to watch, Thanks a lot!:)

[@StefanDrury]

It was, one I’ll remember for a long time. Thanks Leon.

[@lou2737]

Great vid stef once again. Very entertaining!

[@CalebKam]

As someone that used to fly in Class C/International airport for training, I really took flying with big jets for granted. Remembered that time I had to get out of the way for AirAsiaX A330 to take off while I'm in the circuits.

[@bernadettelanders7306]

That was so cool, the views were stunning. I hate flying lol, terrified lol. Flown a few times interstate from Melbourne. I prefer watching your vids from my couch 😁👍

[@Tarantosaurus69]

At 6:18, you will see a car park right in dead centre of frame. I enjoy travelling there on a weekend, listening to the rumbles of all planes coming into land. Quite relaxing, and only a 45-50min drive. (I live near Bankstown Airport)

[@msaviation478]

Great video Stef, as always. Thank you so much for sharing this incredible experience of landing at Sydney International. Look forwards for the next video. Keep up the great work, and stay safe! 👍🤗

[@faisalsultan892]

You're awesome. After all these years flying makes you smile and giddy like a kid in a candy store. (Much like me).

[@oliver8293]

Damn microsoft flight sim 2020 looks great

[@aarondcruz7620]

Goosebumps all through mate! Well done

[@StefanDrury]

Thanks for riding along Aaron.

[@AidansAviationAdventures]

Nice work Stef , great video , when I landed at JFK in the cirrus , I was arriving behind an A350 , and as I taxied back for departure a 777 took off , wow the size of those planes when your down low on the taxiway is unreal .. Nice to see Sydney from the air .. Last weekend I finally went Real IFR in the cirrus , I did a GPS approach and broke out at 700ft .. tried a new camera angle too on my flight , check it out if you have time .. Well done , safe skies ..

[@andrewprice4569]

If the border opens, you should come up to Brisbane next month when the new runway opens. You could be one of the first planes to land on it!

[@countersteer101]

Love the intro to this video. James bond style (;

[@jamescugley1734]

what a buzz gr8 job

[@davevallance]

Instant subscribe 45 seconds in. So good.

[@alanmelb]

Wow! The words 'Cleared To Land' were so clean and understandable. I saw a post where a pilot was arguing with San Francisco tower over speech clarity. The ATC repeatedly said 'CLITTERLAR' instead of 'Cleared To Land'. Some viewers excused ATC claiming that abbreviated dialogue is required at busy airports. What? All the more reason to be precise with flight instructions. And don't get me started on some East Coast Airports. Their speech is so muffled you would think they had a mouthful of donuts. By the way Stefan, excellent vid.

[@andycoles4588]

Wow!! Awesome. Thanks for sharing, reminded me of flying over Sydney Harbour in 2005 . I flew from Bankstown Airport with an instructor as I didnt have the time to sit some tests to allow me to fly on my own as I had a UK CAA licence. Like you said ATC were fantastic and allowed me to do a few orbits of the Harbour. My eyes were out on stalks with other traffic but it was an amazing experience. Love Australia and the people there, it felt like home. Thanks again for sharing your amazing experience. 👍 Can't wait to visit again.

[@benjaminfox7105]

Great video mate. Really made me smile! The weather looked delightful as well! Glad you get to experience your boyhood dreams! Go For it!

[@sir-jj3552]

Can’t say that Stef has waisted his time on this rock. Inspirational in so many ways, you just keep plugging away at it. Good on you!😎

[@StefanDrury]

Life is short, and this planet is beautiful. I’m lucky to be able to explore it in this way. Thanks for saying that Jim.

[@loremaable]

My last time in Sidney was 20 years ago, there must have been great changes ever since .

[@oi_lawson]

Yeah, one of the changes was the name....

[@kingstonwhite8935]

I really love your video's and share what it's like to be a private pilot

[@sashahess6786]

Congrats on 69k subs!

[@JodelFlyer]

Another great adventure Stef. Thanks for taking us along with you. Nice shout out as well as you taxied past. Excellent 🙂 👍 🇬🇧

[@cobraxspeed]

Watching you Taxi around reminds me of "The Langoliers"

[@rikspector]

Stefan, I couldn't help smiling all the time you were in the air and on the ground in Sydney, great prep for your around the world tour, when it arrives.👍 Cheers, Rik Spector

[@StefanDrury]

Cheers Rik, yeah good call, this was a good practise flight for larger international airports for sure.

[@tariqismrgrumpy]

+1 for the great editing and music for this one.

[@StefanDrury]

Thanks for watching, I had fun making this one so I appreciate that.

[@tamtam19454]

You did it!!!!

[@milk-it]

I don't know how I missed this video, Stef. It's gorgeous! I saw a video a while back with a C172 flying into LAX before COVID - what a lot of chatter and organised chaos that approach had compared to this!

[@ericdejesus6942]

Thumbs up is not enough! Fantastic!!

[@StefanDrury]

Ha thanks, I’m happy you enjoyed it, cheers Eric.

[@tamworthtrainnut285]

11:23 That giant train station underneath the nose of the plane on the right side is Central station which is the largest train station in Australia

[@denverhester351]

Ive just watched your Melbourne vid and the costs cid and now this one.I'm new to your channel but wow amazing content what an awesome experience to fly into those beautiful international airports and see everything it is truly a once in a life time experience.You've got a new subscriber in me.Stay safe.

[@StefanDrury]

Hey Denver, thanks for subscribing and welcome to the channel. Yeah it was a really special opportunity to fly into those airports, but as I said in the videos I'm keen to fly in there as a passenger on a commercial flight very soon. Plus I miss filming travel vlogs! Thanks for the support.

[@dayvideo64]

Loved the flyover of Sydney Harbour!

[@marsgal42]

You have every right to be excited. It *is* amazing. I was all set to do a flight out of Bankstown last time I was there but the weather had other ideas. :-( The sight picture on short final looked very familiar. My home airport (CYKA) has a huge runway with PAPIs that are configured for 737s and Q400s. If you fly the PAPI in a little putt putt like mine you'll land long. Since there are only two exits off the runway you usually want to land long anyway. :-)

[@StefanDrury]

Yeah it felt like I was really high over the threshold flying the PAPIs down, but I followed them knowing the turnoff was way down the runway as you said. Thanks for sharing that experience Laura, and glad you enjoyed it.

[@LocknarFalcon]

"... what an absolute privilege" I'm sure you deserve it. Thank you for sharing with us these minutes of freedom.

[@vibekestronstad7859]

You are so lucky !!!

[@timcanoeing]

I have never seen the harbour so calm and void of water traffic. That was incredible! In an eerie kind of way :/

[@ian7463]

Absolutely amazing!!! So lucky with weather in Sydney and Melbourne

[@MIC_K143]

Originally from Syd now living in Seattle what an absolute honor to fly what seems like a toy plane to the big boys at the biggest Bravo airport in Australia and taxi around like a Hollywood A star is nothing less then humbling. Keep up the great videos SD.. I always look forward to seeing home in your flying machine. Would love to see you fly here in that EYZ and we could show you our neck of the woods

[@ackingsford58]

Brilliant!!!!

[@stephenfraser2521]

Just unbelievable I could feel and experience this whole flight with you 30 yrs out of YMRY but never into Sydney. Did a touch and go YBBN week back same very emotional to see all the parked aircraft and agree never thought I would see this situation.

[@StefanDrury]

Wow Brisbane would be a great experience. Did you land on the new runway?

[@stephenfraser2521]

No old one aircraft parked all over the taxiways as far as you could see. Just a quick touch and off to YBCG 👍😁

[@cquinn8442]

just great Stefan, thank you for the ride along into YSSY. You just keep our spirits and aviation dreams alive. Keep it up mate, happy flying.

[@billnicholson2470]

Very very cool Stefan. Thanks for taking us along for the ride!

[@duncancallow]

thanks for sharing that; what an awesome experience. And I have to agree, Aussie ATC are so accommodating and helfpul.