Hey all,Quick question. When you are flying VFR and you contact ATC to land and are given instructions about pattern entry. When they say to "fly straight in" does that mean to immediately set yourself up on final? Also, if they tell you to enter the pattern such as "make right downwind," do you enter the pattern and continue to circle until told to land or are you expected to immediately make your base leg and final approach? I know these are probably newbie questions, but I am really trying to increase my knowledge about flight procedures. Any help would be great. Thanks.

Tower, not ATC will give you instructions on landing. For a typical flight at a towered airport you would first check the ATIS for weather and runway info as well as any additional information pertinent to your flight into the airport. Once you have the ATIS you contact the tower and give them your location and intention as well as the confirmation that you have "ATIS Alpha" for example. Tower will then respond with needed information. Whether to enter on base, downwind or direct depending on traffic. They will also ask you to report on final or base at some measured distance out. If entering on downwind you will be asked to report when entering the downwind. Once you have entered and reported your position tower will give clearance to land if it's clear. You would then respond to let tower know you received the clearance.In MSFS2002 you bring up the radio text window and type in the corresponding tower frequency and MSFS offers several options as to your location reporting. You then enter your appropriate number for current location with intentions to land. Your que to communication in MSFS is to leave the text window open. When the text changes read your options carefully. You might be given clearance to land or told you are number 3 to land for runway 18. Once you respond that you have received the clearance "IF" you follow the correct procedures tower will not contact you again until you have landed. Then you will be asked to exit the runway as soon as possible and contact ground.As for your direct question "if told to fly straight in", line up on the active runway and make your approach. Watch the text window and listen for tower to respond if anything has been missed. If told to "enter on downwind", do just that and watch the text window for tower to clear you for landing. Listen/read carefully the instructions tower gives you. Again, you may be told you are number 3 to land. Look for other ac and report you have them in sight when tower asks. Then if you land in the proper sequence tower won't talk to you again until you land. Hope this helps :)Happy simming !

Thanks a lot for the help. Just what I was looking for.