So there I am crusing along at FL330 in my PMDG 737 about 1 hour into a flight when ATC gives me the usual "traffic alert, 1 o'clock, 4 miles, Airbus 319", I look over to my right just in time to see a Delta 319 slam into the side of my plane. Talk about having a bad day. I use Ultimate Traffic and really like it. However, the real down side is how FS9 handles my plane vis-a-vis the AI traffic. I've had several close calls on final where the AI plane will overtake and zoom over the top of me. The ATC in FS really needs some work: it knows where I am and it knows where the AI are, but doesn't have a clue about keeping the two at a reasonable separation. I understand the AI are following canned flight plans, but I would think some sort of IF..THEN statement could be used to insure a reasonable buffer space around the player's aircraft and the AI. I'm on dial-up so don't even suggest VATSIM :-)

The only thing to really do is to turn off aircraft collisions in the realism menu. Otherwise there is always that chance that your plane gets taken out by the AI.

There are some really nice TCAS gauges (I think it stands for, Traffic Collision Avoidance System) available as freeware. Search the AVSIM library to find one, install it into the panel of your airplane, and then you can see them coming from 40 Nm away and get out of their way. It may not be ideal but its way better than losing a planeful of virtual passengers. R-

Hello All,Yep, sounds like the answer to your problem is a good TCAS gauge that works well with your 737 and Ultimate Traffic. And then listen to it and do as it says. In real life, when it says 'CLIMB-CLIMB' you don't argue, or look, you just climb and perhaps have your #2 do the looking.Sort of like when ATC (in real life) comes on your set and says "MAKE AN IMMEDIATE TURN TO 270 . . ." and there is a tad of urgency in his voice you don't ask why, you just do it and have faith that he see's more of the big picture than you do.Back to your problem, again a good TCAS system would probably solve your problems, . . . unless of course, it was going off 'all the time'.BestClayhttp://www.dreamfleet2000.com/gfx/images/F...ers/Dopke01.jpgClayton T. Dopke (Clay)Major, USAF (retired)"Drac"

If he has the PMDG 737-800/900, then it already comes with TCAS :)

Yup, TCAS works. I installed it in POSKY 757, and my first flight(!) it went off TWICE during the climb to cruise altitude ("CLIMB-CLIMB")... I seem to remember they happened within 2 minutes of each other. It has not gone off since, but I can routinely spot AI traffic before ATC alerts me.(Edited for spelling)

Yep, get the PMDG 800/900 package and you'll have that wonderful TCAS II that Lee Hetherington developed, with aural alerts to climb, maintain vertical speed, or whatever you need to do to avoid getting hit. Not just climb messages. He actually made it work so that the TCAS recognizes the planes trajectory to your flight path and then tells you how to avoid them! Plus the 800/900 has a bunch of different features that the 600/700 alone doesn't have. ;)Either way, you can still get the TCAS from the library and use it.The ATC really does need work in the sim. I wish they'd fix the AI behavior and ATC. I can live with everything else. The problem with ATC's traffic alerts is that they only work for slow planes. Jets move too fast for it to keep up and warn you ahead of time.

The PMDG TCAS II is the most advanced realistically modelled EVER for FS so certainly it's not that! Maybe he is not sure on on how use it or has not updated to the 800-900 package? Best Wishes,[h4]Randy J. Smith[/h4]http://www.rawbw.com/~bdoolin/shinault/southparkcartmad.gif[h3]I WANT MY 747![/h3]Caution! Not a real pilot, but do play one on TV ;-)

With UT I have to turn my traffic down to 80% or less because FS couldn't handle that much traffic. Too much go-around's.

Well you should of listened to the tcas and descend to ascend accordingly

As a few other people have stated, the TCAS in the 737 works great. No mid-airs since I turned it on.

Sorry, I don't have the 800-900 PMDG. Maybe Rob can cut me a deal ;-) I have ocasionally used the TCAS that comes with UT, I'll probably have to turn it on more and rely on it rather than the FS ATC. I would hope for only one enhancement for FS10: properly working ATC in handling AI traffic. UT is such a great add-on and actually surpasses what FS can handle. Until then, I'll use the TCAS, and keep adjusting that traffic slider depending on the size of the airports I'm dealing with. Mike

You are right a revamp of ATC will come handy for the next version.I fly both the big irons and the small planes, never had a close call, the reason:In the big Irons I use the TCAS (PMDG) and cast for the ammount of planes that are landing with me so If there is still chance I try and request for alternate rwy, slow down or approach faster etc. (doing a parallel approach with an 747 is a lot of fun)In the small ones, I try as much as I can to avoid the big international airports where chances of being overtaken are greater.But the most important part is planning ahead: UT has a nice feature, the time tables and a flight board, I use it whenever I suspect there will be airline traffic on the airport I am flying to, so I try to use an "available slot" in the landings, of course you have to plan for your flight time, and any possible delay on the take off and the effect of winds etc... but that make things more fun anyway.Every Intl Airport I visisted has at least a couple of 45 min lapses with no landings, so shoot to arrive within that marging, 99% of the time I get there just in time.try it is fun.

When flying into or out of very busy airports you just can't run UT at 100% - 50% at most probably less at O'Hare. Otherwise most of the incoming AI just do continous go arounds quite apart from the collision risk. As others have remarked something for FS2006 (or FS2007 which I think is more likely).Bruce