What is the proper response to this if you can't actually see the traffic? I usually just end up answering traffic in sight, or they cancel my IFR. Is there a better way?Thanks,sg

I think that FS ATC will cancel your IFR if you do not respond. Isn't there an option something like "Traffic not in sight"? In the real world, the response is something like "looking for traffic", if it can't be seen; then advising "traffic in sight" when you do see it. However, if circumstances change the need to see the traffic, "traffic no factor" is what you hear.Bruce.

In FS9 you must respond to the ATC. You can either say,"Traffic in site or not in site." If you do not respond at all they will cancel your flight plan. In the real world I would respond with either "Traffic in sight" or "Looking for traffic...followed with Traffic in sight or not in sight." Sometime you might be IMC and not be able to see anyone. For this you will have to respond,"Traffic not in sight." Unless you want to lie to ATC. They would rather you be very honest.

Here's a solution: Get a TCAS. Then traffic is always in sight. ;-) Adam

Yeah just choose "Traffic Not in Site". They won't reprimand you or anything :(.Like once they were "Eagle 325 traffic is Mooney at 4 miles 6 o'clock 7000 report them in site."Like I'm really going to turn my plane around to check my six :(. Obviously, "Traffic Not in Site".Don't worry too much if you don't see them, worry more when they say "Traffic ALERT!" cause then it really means they are close by and you should make all the effort to spot them.Just make sure to always respond to ATC when under IFR.

Yup, in the sim, I think it keeps prompting you to report it in sight until you do. I'm not in front of it right now, but I think that won't go away until you report it in sight. In FS, lie to them, just to get the option to clear. If you're online and flying real time ATC, be honest and keep looking until you do see it or until you hear, as the others in the thread pointed out, "traffic no fator."In the old days we would say, "No joy" when we didn't see the traffic. Heard that the other day on the air, guy sounded a lot older than me!!

But answering traffic not in sight doesn't change the list of possible things to say to ATC, it just stays the same until you respond traffic in siight or ATC resolves the conflict. So just to be sure I have it right, if I respond "traffic not in sight" my IFR will stay open even if I never respond "traffic in sight"? Further, as long as I respond "traffic in sight" eventually, ATC will tell me traffic is not a factor?Thanks! Learn something every day from you all.sg

Well FS ATC will keep the window opened with the options ready in case you do se the traffic at a later time you can report it. Sometimes though the traffic will be traveling in the opposite direction at an angle imposible for you to see and you will never be able to report it.ATC wont cancel you IFR if your honest and tell Traffic not insight, they will keep giving you instructions, and the options to report traffic will go away soon.Botom line:1. Try and look for the traffic whenever possible and be honest with your response.2. Let's hope for a solution for the not so flexible requirement from ATC requiring us to report traffic in sight if the traffic is for example at 6... I guess in 2006. (though I think it is not so hard to accomplish by them)

FS won't ever say, "Traffic no factor", like we hear in the real world. In FS your IFR flight plan should stay open when you say "not in sight" but the option in the ATC window will still have the option to say "in sight" until you're on ground frequency. The option never goes away until you say "in sight". So I say, lie to the thing.

If you really want to go a little further toward "real as it gets", turn off all labels. That really makes it more difficult to spot traffic, unless the aircraft is really close, within a mile or two.Sherm

>But answering traffic not in sight doesn't change the list of>possible things to say to ATC, it just stays the same until>you respond traffic in siight or ATC resolves the conflict. >So just to be sure I have it right, if I respond "traffic not>in sight" my IFR will stay open even if I never respond>"traffic in sight"? Further, as long as I respond "traffic in>sight" eventually, ATC will tell me traffic is not a factor?>>Thanks! Learn something every day from you all.>sgYes it's true the options will not change if you respond "Traffic Not in Sight." They will remain the same just in case you do happen to spot the traffic, but ATC will NOT cancel your IFR.You will notice that the options change again whenever you are told to switch over to another controler or when you are near the approach procedure.Again, turn off the labels, keep it real. Don't be afraid to be honest and say you don't see the traffic. If the traffic keeps getting closer and closer, ATC will issue a "TRAFFIC ALERT!". This is when you should make all the effort to spot it.You'll always notice that half the time you won't be able to see those little Cessna's out there, it's funny though that the AI always sees you even if you are in clouds and you are at their six. :(Haha! It's funny how they can always see you no matter what but you can barely ever spot them.The only time IFR will be cancled will be if you do not reply to ATC, you land on the wrong airport or runway, or you don't follow the ATC's instructions for awhile. Like if they say turn heading 360 and you keep going 090 and keep going and going...they will cancel you. But if you keep aknowledging ATC they won't cancel. Remember ATC in FS is set up so that there really isn't a wrong answer.Just think of it as one of those "you choose which way to go" stories.

There's something not 'quite' right though with F" ATC....I've had IFR flights for NO apparent reason; I've followed their instructions to the letter, but they've cancelled....it's happened a few times on approach to Charles de Gual (Paris). Perhaps it's a glitch and they've not given an instruction, so I couldn't obey it, I don't know, it is annoying though!!

I had lots of IFR flights cancelled in FS2002 but not one cancellation since I went to FS9. R-