Although I have been using RC4 for some while there still seems a lot to learn. I am having a puzzle with making landings at Uncontrolled Airports, and unusually I can't find the solution in the manual.I seem to get routed by ATC towards the nearest runway (regardless of wind), and then handed off to use local traffic comms, and am instructed to cancel the IFR flight plan either in the air or on the ground, and that radar services are terminated. At this point there seem to be no options available for announcing arrival to other traffic - RC seems to have finished with me altogether.I can't claim knowledge of real world operations but FS2004's ATC system would at this point allow you to start singing variations of Mike Oldfield's "Five Miles Out" to anybody listening and of course later announce yourself clear of the runway. I can't get at any similar options in RC.Doubtless I'm missing the obvious, could somebody guide me? Pages 64/65 of the manual touch on the subject but don't seem to go into detail.Thanks in advance,John

Although I have been using RC4 for some while there still seems a lot to learn. I am having a puzzle with making landings at Uncontrolled Airports, and unusually I can't find the solution in the manual.I seem to get routed by ATC towards the nearest runway (regardless of wind), and then handed off to use local traffic comms, and am instructed to cancel the IFR flight plan either in the air or on the ground, and that radar services are terminated. At this point there seem to be no options available for announcing arrival to other traffic - RC seems to have finished with me altogether.I can't claim knowledge of real world operations but FS2004's ATC system would at this point allow you to start singing variations of Mike Oldfield's "Five Miles Out" to anybody listening and of course later announce yourself clear of the runway. I can't get at any similar options in RC.Doubtless I'm missing the obvious, could somebody guide me? Pages 64/65 of the manual touch on the subject but don't seem to go into detail.Thanks in advance,John

Since the current version of RC has no provisions for VFR comms (hopefully Version 5 will), here's what I do when I cancel IFR (which happens frequently when I fly to a non-towered airport and the wx at the airport is VMC). After RC shuts down, I bring up the stock FSX ATC. Assuming I'm in range, I tune in the CTAF for the airport, announce my intentions for a full-stop landing on a specific rwy. As I approach the field, I look for other tfc, and then perform a standard downwind, base, final approach to my runway of choice This is pretty much the way it's done in the real world.

Since the current version of RC has no provisions for VFR comms (hopefully Version 5 will), here's what I do when I cancel IFR (which happens frequently when I fly to a non-towered airport and the wx at the airport is VMC). After RC shuts down, I bring up the stock FSX ATC. Assuming I'm in range, I tune in the CTAF for the airport, announce my intentions for a full-stop landing on a specific rwy. As I approach the field, I look for other tfc, and then perform a standard downwind, base, final approach to my runway of choice This is pretty much the way it's done in the real world.

Thanks, Bob, that's very helpful. I thought I had read somewhere that RC4 dealt with arrivals at uncontrolled airports but perhaps I dreamt that! Anyway, nice to know that what I can't find isn't actually there . . .I'm on FS2004, by the way, and RC seems to act differently there - it doesn't shut down but tells me I can cancel my IFR in the air or on the ground but doesn't seem to give me any option to do so.Best wishes,John

At an uncontrolled airport you will get cleared to conduct a filed approach, no vectors, but you will be lined up in a general direction. It is up to the pilot to in IFR conditions get to the IAF and then conduct an appropriate pattern. In VFR it is similar. In IFR if an approach to a runway exists you may get that as the assigned runway and then be expected to conduct a circle-to-land which the pilot performs visually from a breakout point from the original approach. This is still an instrument approach and under rules state the pilot must maintain visual contact with the landing runway throughout the pattern. Center provides initial monitoring but usually radar limitations prevent full approach services.In RC4 there are no CTAF provisions for pilots to announce their intentions and positions in the pattern.

At an uncontrolled airport you will get cleared to conduct a filed approach, no vectors, but you will be lined up in a general direction. It is up to the pilot to in IFR conditions get to the IAF and then conduct an appropriate pattern. In VFR it is similar. In IFR if an approach to a runway exists you may get that as the assigned runway and then be expected to conduct a circle-to-land which the pilot performs visually from a breakout point from the original approach. This is still an instrument approach and under rules state the pilot must maintain visual contact with the landing runway throughout the pattern. Center provides initial monitoring but usually radar limitations prevent full approach services.In RC4 there are no CTAF provisions for pilots to announce their intentions and positions in the pattern.

Thanks very much. I thought maybe I was doing something wrong - a great relief I wasn't for a change!John

At an uncontrolled airport you will get cleared to conduct a filed approach, no vectors, but you will be lined up in a general direction. It is up to the pilot to in IFR conditions get to the IAF and then conduct an appropriate pattern. In VFR it is similar. In IFR if an approach to a runway exists you may get that as the assigned runway and then be expected to conduct a circle-to-land which the pilot performs visually from a breakout point from the original approach. This is still an instrument approach and under rules state the pilot must maintain visual contact with the landing runway throughout the pattern. Center provides initial monitoring but usually radar limitations prevent full approach services.In RC4 there are no CTAF provisions for pilots to announce their intentions and positions in the pattern.

That is all correct and RC4 does allow you to fly all the way to the destination airport (towered or non-towered) under an IFR scenario and ATC will clear you for the approach. Real world procedure also. But if the wx changes to VMC (along the flight route or at the destination airport), GA instrument-rated pilots will often, at some point, cancel IFR and land under a VFR scenario. Which means that when your intent is to land at a non-towered field, you change to the local advisory frequency when able, look for other traffic, and fly the pattern. That's when I will cancel IFR with RC and utilize FSX ATC since you can, then, simulate a conventional VFR landing at a non-towered field.