ATC in FSX

[Guest SparrowHawk7]

I've been using FS9 and Ultimate Traffic for a number of years now. I've never been pleased with the ATC ... I'm always vectored straight in, never a hold and aircraft are usually almost piggy backed in so much of the time that most are ordered to go around. While on the ground I'm rather often routed so that I'm face to face with another aircraft going the other direction so we both sit there ... forever. While FS9 at one time was probably "as real as it gets" it leaves a lot to be desired in this particular area. A friend of mine was an approach/departure controller at KSTL, KSLC, KDEN and KJAX throughout his career and eventually rose to crew chief ... he could hardly stop laughing when he listened to what passes for ATC in FS9.Before I spend the money to upgrade to FSX, I'm curious as to whether the ATC is improved ... at least a little.Thanks for your input,Ken

[Reset XPDR 1,271]

In FSX, the ATC text now shows up in pretty colours depending on who is doing the talking ... and that's about it on the improvement front.As you can see in the FS11 wish list thread, many are wishing for better ATC with the next FS release.Gary

[Guest SparrowHawk7]

Thanks Gary. Then it won't be worth my while to upgrade at this point. I'll wait and see what the next edition brings in another 2-3 years.Thanks for the reply.Ken

[slashed2 53]

Have you looked into Radar Contact? It simulates holds and delayed vectors among many other things but does have a few drawbacks such as the lack taxi monitoring (no holds while taxing) or guidance, the voices are a not as good as the FS production and no VFR support.Despite the negatives it is leaps and bounds above the default for IFR flight plans.

[Geofa 108]

There is also voxatc which not only does lots of good stuff like that but also has voice recognition...http://mywebpages.comcast.net/geofa/pages/rxp-pilot.jpgForum Moderatorhttp://geofageofa.spaces.live.com/

[JSkorna 137]

Hi,Improved? Yes, but not as much as some would want.Jimhttp://www.hifisim.com/banners/hifi-community-sigbanner.jpghttp://www.hifisim.com/

[Guest n99wb]

"I've been using FS9 and Ultimate Traffic for a number of years now."Please, stay with FS9. It will be a win win situation.You'll fly FS9; I'll fly FSX. It can't get any better than that.

[Guest SparrowHawk7]

Thank you all. I remember using Radar Contact a long time ago when it first came out ... taking a peek at their website - looks like a good option since it works with Ultimate Traffic. I generally fly the PMDG 737NG. The ATC in FS9 will allow me to fly SID but there is not way to fly a STAR without canceling the IFR plan - and with a full traffic pattern at any major airport I would have to fly through other planes, literally. RC says it will allow SIDs and holds so it sounds like the best option out there for me.I haven't yet heard enough improvements in FSX to make it worth the upgrade.Thanks again,Ken

[jmig 100]

>Thank you all. I remember using Radar Contact a long time ago>when it first came out ... taking a peek at their website ->looks like a good option since it works with Ultimate Traffic.>I generally fly the PMDG 737NG. The ATC in FS9 will allow me>to fly SID but there is not way to fly a STAR without>canceling the IFR plan - and with a full traffic pattern at>any major airport I would have to fly through other planes,>literally. RC says it will allow SIDs and holds so it sounds>like the best option out there for me.>>I haven't yet heard enough improvements in FSX to make it>worth the upgrade.>>Thanks again,>KenFor the type of flying you are doing, I would agree with your decision to stick with FS9. FSX biggest advantage is with VFR flying. The scenery improvements are best utilized and appreciated in while going rather low and slow.

[jvile 1]

KenYou like many others that posted here need to learn how ATC works in FS9 before attemping to use it to its fullest in FSX.You overload FS9 with AI Traffic and then think that ATC should give you some sort of special handling. The more AI traffic you add the more you need to study how ATC works.The ATC system is only as good as you ask it to be. FS9/FSX uses a very complex set of instructions if you ask for them. It is clear that you have never ask for a Transitions to the IAF for a runway. You don't seem to know that there are many many holding patterns in the ATC system that is honored and allow you to space yourself into the sequence of arrivals. You continue to add many AI Planes to your airport but don't use enhanced airports that open all the runways at one time for both departures and arrivals.You lack the knowledge on how to program a STAR into your FP and then request from ATC the correct Transition to final (of your choice) off the STAR. You bring a ATC Controller into the FS9 world but never show them what the full potential of ATC is and so all the laughing is not on MS but your limitations.There is no 3rd party program that does it any better then FS if you learn the ATC system but, 3rd party ATC may add some additional features that appear to enhance FS9/FSX ATC.Some of what FS doesAllows you to fly STAR's which AI planes can also doChoose the correct Transition Stop using the Novice Hand Holding ATC techniqueAsk for another runway for your arrivalFly one of many Approach holding patterns to sequence your arrivalUse Airports that open all runways at once.Use Airports where ATC directs smaller type planes to shorter runwaysUse Airports that are 3rd party designed for all the AI TrafficTell ATC your intentions and not what they (ATC) will do if you don't understand the systemAsk "how do I" rather then tell us what you think is correct and your friend will stop laughing.Stop listening to those that are as uninformed as you are.Read the docs that came with FS9/FSX to get a better understanding of ATCUse the GPS Receiver to understand all types of Approaches and Approach Holding patternsUse the GPS Receiver as a learning tool and teach youself how to fly the complex approaches Learn to read approach plates which are also in the FS9/FSX database of approachesMy post is not meant to be rude but only explain there is a lot more to ATC then what most Novice Sim Flyers understand. If you fly as a Novice then expect ATC to use Novice rules.

[Guest SparrowHawk7]

Thanks for your input Jim. I'm basing my knowledge of what ATC ought to be primarily on two of my close friends. One, as I mentioned but you apparently ignored, was an air traffic controller for 35 years at such airports at KSTL, KSLC, KDEN and KJAX. By the end of his career a few years ago he was crew chief and ran the towers. Another close friend has over 35,000 hours - from flying Hueys in Nam to a number of years flying for American and United. These are the people you term "uninformed" and "novice". If you have more experience with aviation than either of them, then I welcome your input. If not, I will use their combined 70+ years of experience to determine how correct FS9's ATC is handled. You say your post is not intended to be rude but that is exactly how I took it as you clearly used a superior attitude and tone. I have no idea what experience you may have and I will give you the benefit of the doubt with that based on what I suspect your age to be. Therefore I would ask you what credentials you might bring to the table concerning real life air traffic control beyond those of my friends.Ken

[JSkorna 137]

Ken,If you expect FS ATC to mirror real life ATC, it may not. If you want to know if there has been improvement from FS04 to FSX, yes there has been. If you want a more improved ATC system, then you will need to use something like Radar Contact.If your ATC friends already informed you, then you had the information you needed.Jimhttp://www.hifisim.com/banners/hifi-community-sigbanner.jpghttp://www.hifisim.com/

[n4gix 4,947]

>Thanks for your input Jim. >>I'm basing my knowledge of what ATC ought to be primarily on>two of my close friends. One, as I mentioned but you>apparently ignored, was an air traffic controller for 35 years>at such airports at KSTL, KSLC, KDEN and KJAX. By the end of>his career a few years ago he was crew chief and ran the>towers. Another close friend has over 35,000 hours - from>flying Hueys in Nam to a number of years flying for American>and United. These are the people you term "uninformed" and>"novice". If you have more experience with aviation than>either of them, then I welcome your input. If not, I will use>their combined 70+ years of experience to determine how>correct FS9's ATC is handled. Ken, you need to read Jim's post more carefully. In fact, reread it several times...Jim's reference to "novices" was with regards to other FLIGHTSIM NOVICES, not your two real life friends, one of whom you state is a retired controller.I understood that clearly on my first reading of his post.To paraphrase what Jim actually wrote, as opposed to how you parsed his sentences:You demonstrated your novice understanding of FS ATC to your real life friends, so of course they went away laughing!Moreover, Jim's "real life experience" isn't an issue. What IS an issue is that quite possibly Jim is the most knowledgable person on the planet with regards to FS's ATC system. I'll even posit that he has a more comprehensive understanding of the "FS ATC System" than anyone at ACES, and they are the ones who wrote the program! :)The major points Jim has made are simply these:1. FS ATC is quite capable of doing many - if not all - of the "real life things" you have claimed it cannot.2. Don't expect to learn much from "fellow novices." After all, "ignorance only begets ignorance, never wisdom." If you want to learn about a subject, ask those who're recognized as knowledgable in an area of interest.All of us are capable of learning! I've made it a habit for fifty+ years to learn at least "one new thing" each day... :-beerchug

[Guest SparrowHawk7]

Thank you for your reply, Bill. I have never claimed that I was any sort of expert at FS. Perhaps I did misinterpret Jim's post - I acknowledged that I wasn't aware of his background. I apologize, Jim, if I misunderstood your post and jumped to an incorrect conclusion.I have numerous problems with the logic used with FS ATC but two things in particular.As Mike (my retired controller friend) has often told me, pilots like to think they are in charge but it is the orders of the tower that they must obey whether they like them or not. That's where the control comes from in ATC. And if the controllers are very busy, pilots had better have a very good reason for any requests or they will not be granted. With that in mind I should not have to request certain things via my flight plan. Holds, for instance, are often required at times of heavy congestion so planes arriving can be lined up for landing and sometimes to bleed off altitude. It may be my lack of experience, but I have never yet been ordered to hold at a fix while traffic clears and a place is made in line for me. I could perhaps request such a thing, but it should be ordered by the tower as needed. Could you please tell me how to get FS9 to order that when necessary or give me straight in clearance when that is indicated?That's one. Secondly, it is not in compliance with FAA rules for a plane to be on close final in with a second or third plane to follow it directly on it's tail - all within 100'or so of one another - on the same runway. That's a recipe for a major air catastrophe yet it seems to happen at any busy airport. This is one thing that caused my friends to laugh, but as you suggest, it is probably that I do not understand how to set things up correctly. How do I prevent the program from doing this and lining planes up so they can arrive in a reasonable order with a bare minimum of go arounds?There are other issues, of course, but getting those two things straightened out would be a great help. Thank you for your helpin sharing your knowledge in doing this.And once again, I apologize if I came to a wrong conclusion about your post Jim. I'm somewhat frustrated by what must be my lack of knowledge as to how to get FS9 to handle the two noted issues so I really appreciate your input to that end.Ken

[Reset XPDR 1,271]

Wow, tough crowd! The simple fact is that FSX ATC is neglibly better than FS9 ATC, no matter how badly these others who have posted here make you feel about how well you use the ATC system. The bottom line is that FS ATC will still head-butt aircraft with you on the ground and try and land many of you all at the same time, without some divine intervention on your behalf, whether it be by external addons (eg. AI smooth) or just your own survival instinct. FS ATC still has a long way to go.Gary