Lately I have been having a problem when making an IFR approach. I receive instructions on approach to TNCM to reduce altitude and turn to a new heading about 20 miles out. I try to respond but the on screen text stops displaying the choices and no matter what I do I cannot respond to instructions. ATC Cancels my IFR Flight Plan and I have to make a go around and file a new ILS flight plan which then vectors me back the way I came which is no good. I then have to do a visual approach without ATC instructions. The flight was from Punta Cana Int. MDPC to Princess Juliana TNCM and was only about an hour flight. I do have a lot of add ons including Fly Tampa St. Maarten which is the destination to land but this was with flying the stock 737. This seems to happen on longer flights. Is this something that can be solved or just live with it? fisheye

Usually switching the active freq to passive should do the trick. As soon as you get the option to tune in the correct frequency again, you can switch back, and then it's possible to go on as usual.

 

Flo

I've had a few instances where I could not get the response screen to work properly. Sometimes tapping the keyboard key for the radio comms will wake up FSX and get the comms working again.

Flo, I appreciate the response but am not sure what you mean by switching from the active to the passive frequency. What is the passive frequency and what do you mean by when I get the option to tune to the correct frequency again. ATC is waiting for a response to their instructions and will cancel the IFR flight plan if I don't answer withing a short time.

I guess he's refering to the frequency transfer button on the com radio. I wouldn't really know, as I ditched the built in ATC years ago in favor of real humans as ATC (vatsim.net). I highly recommend everybody else to do the same. There's no comparison

 

I guess he's refering to the frequency transfer button on the com radio.

 

That's what I meant.

When you transfer the active frequency to the passive side and then open the ATC window, there should be only the option to tune in the correct frequency again (I don't know what FSX actually calls it, because I use the German version). Then you can siply press the "1" key to select this option, or transfer the standby frequency (which should still be the correct one) back to active, and you should get the normal reply options back.

 

Regards,

Flo

At TNCM you can't get on the runway at each end which can present a problem to FSX ATC/Ai. But there are multiple routes in and out of the parking areas so it's not all bad and should cope with light Ai traffic. I would first try without Ai Aircraft, and then have a go with stock airport if it's still a problem. Problems for ATC on the ground cause problems in the air.