VATSIM, totally free and highly realistic .... at least when there are controllers online in the area you are flying in

I was a Radar Contact user from the beginning, but I tried PFE because I fly a lot in Europe and I liked the variety of voices and accents you get with PFE. Procedurally, PFE does a good job most of the time. A lot is dependent on your flight plan. PFE now handles AI. In a perfect world, I'd like to see a combo of RC and PFE.

I use a fair amount of AI traffic with the stock ATC. During approach I'll be given a heading and altitude to follow, but then ATC will be giving out commands to numerous other aircraft in rapid order; and it's difficult to time my reply without butting in (I get that squeal sound). Is there a way for me to avoid this, short of reducing my AI traffic? Is this accurate to real world ATC, having to wait til everybody goes quiet for me to respond? Thanks for any suggestions.

I use a fair amount of AI traffic with the stock ATC. During approach I'll be given a heading and altitude to follow, but then ATC will be giving out commands to numerous other aircraft in rapid order; and it's difficult to time my reply without butting in (I get that squeal sound). Is there a way for me to avoid this, short of reducing my AI traffic? Is this accurate to real world ATC, having to wait til everybody goes quiet for me to respond? Thanks for any suggestions.

That's in fact accurate to real world! Frequency congestion is a problem in busy areas. However, what ATC can't do in the sim is prioritize traffic in these cases and ask everyone else to wait if your reply is really important, like acknowledging a landing clearance on short final. That is default ATC

I have used VoxATC for some years now with every flight VFR/IFR and enjoy it a lot.The procedures, voice response, taxi guidance, SID/STAR etc. makes it a very good option.

But if you are flying and you seriously do that long of a checklist after I clear you for takeoff - it will be "cancel takeoff clearance, call me back when you're actually ready for departure." LOL

You should of course have finished your before take-off checks by the point of the hold. In PFE it automatically tells you to contact tower as you approach the holding point. Best/correct practice is of course for the crew to change frequency from ground to tower as they reach the holding point. This at least gives you a little time to complete your checks. Bear in mind though that at a busy airport ATC want to launch you as quickly as possible so make sure your before TO checks are done before you are given TO clearance.As far as PFE v RC is concerned the voices are considerably better than RC and the the latest version 2.14 addresses many previous niggles. It takes a bit of getting used to in setting it up but well worth it. As it stands it's the nearest to a real voice/setting you can get.vololiberista