In P3D the default ATC gave you vectors, which worked reasonably well, as long as you weren't flying in mountaineous terrain, in which case you would end up back upside down stuck to a mountain. 

I have never gotten vectors from ATC in MSFS - the default ATC in MSFS is pretty much useless. 

I fly all the approaches myself, using Navigraph charts and the flight guidance capabilities of the on-board Garmins. 

If I were you, I'd invest in a Navigraph subscription - money extremely well spent. 

Thanks for all the replies. I have found a way around the descent stage that sometimes works. When ATC tells me to descend to a certain altitude, I ignore the FL it gives me and instead of their step down levels I descend to FL 2,700 and ignore the instructions to climb etc. after going through their suggested altitude. 

Does Beyond ATC follow a flight plan I would generate using Simbrief?

1,000 percent learn how to set up ILS as mentioned above using the glideslope. I only play fsx but ATC will set you up for the localizer. Takes practice. You could just fly VOR but that also take learning

Welcome to the Fogey Forums! 

(tiny tot here at 60😎) 

In 25 years of simming I've never used an atc addon but finally gave up with crazy msfs default and got fs hud. I sent the dev a msg on the app I never use (Facebook) and within minutes got helpful replies about purchase and immediately using latest announced beta instead of default install). Impressed by the support I purchased and use with fstl traffic for every flight now. With regard to descents so far it's been spot on to charts. 

It will generate a full flight plan for you which matches up with navigraph charts, sids //stars and apprs if you have that. If you have simbrief I guess so? Will also sync with sb and load the plan. 

I've tested with short ga flights and short haul. Last night I did quick flights in pmdg 739 where cruise was only 50 miles or so. This meant I needed normally to reset mcp to lower altitude before vnav descent could start to avoid fmc warning. On 3 flights every time I got descent clearance just before planned descent phase. Atc in fs hud uses 'descend when ready' so you can wait or go ahead with descent. 

So far it's cleared me for each arrival chart altitude restraint in plenty of time before I reach it. Also sets me up for glide scope capture fine too. 

Well done to all the veteran simmers, and I thought I was getting old at 56!

What other hobby would keep us hooked for all these years while sitting in a chair?

48 minutes ago, Amon1973 said:

Well done to all the veteran simmers, and I thought I was getting old at 56!

What other hobby would keep us hooked for all these years while sitting in a chair?

You ain't seen nothing, yet, says a 77 year old 🙂 To me, too, simming is the one and only hobby, ever since 1986. As to the OP's question, I would calculate TOD and start my decent a few miles ahead of it. Or as others said, use a 3rd part payware ATC program. Happy flying!

Edited May 20, 20242 yr by hvw
Syntax error

All I do is switch to VFR once I get a runway/approach from the ATC.  I'll be in a plane like the Comanche or something else slow and yet they'll ask me to climb to 15,000+ out of nowhere (no terrain around). 

I just use the charts and fly the approach myself. 

2 hours ago, Vineguy said:

Does Beyond ATC follow a flight plan I would generate using Simbrief?

Yes, there may be occasional issues (it’s in early access) but it has done a great job for my flights so far.  I have no reason to use default ATC for IFR flights now.

BATC has occasionally descended me too late as well. Nothing as regular or ridiculous as default ATC, but it does still happen. I'm sure that will improve as updates are released.

Honestly, it's probably good that I'm not a real-world pilot because I've gotten in the habit of flat out ignoring ATC instructions that I think are stupid. Probably not a good reflex for real flying. 😉

@Vineguy I'm not sure how one avoids messing with the FMS on a commercial jet flying an IFR airline route, but when you plan the route in Simbrief it is possible to import that route into MSFS so that whatever you were doing to get the route into the plane will still work. Simbrief can also drop flight plans into aircraft-specific locations so, for example, the PMDG aircraft can load it into the FMS for you (but you'd still have to command that retrieval within the FMS).

 

 

 

So, are you saying that if I load a flight into the FMC I could start at a gate or runway and not contact ATC for clearance etc.?

Haha yes! You can launch from the taxi way if you want 

Sweetd31. I know how to do an ILS approach etc. and your last post I don't think is funny. 

Unfortunately sometimes using default ATC there isnt much you can do except to use your judgement and start descending to make sure you can intercept the glideslope correctly (I know its not realistic - but has its been said until Asobo implement improvements to default ATC there isnt much that can be done and if you want better you will need to go to a 3rd party ATC).   Default ATC will eventually once you get to the initial approach fix start start behaving better and should be more realistic from that point.   

1 hour ago, Vineguy said:

So, are you saying that if I load a flight into the FMC I could start at a gate or runway and not contact ATC for clearance etc.?

It's game you don't need  follow or listen to ATC. There is no risk to collide with other traffic, cause crash or runway incursion, or get your pilot certificate revoke by FAA and etc LOL 

Programming FMC and follow flight path will bring you to your destination way better that any ATC instruction in current version of MSFS! 

1 minute ago, sd_flyer said:

It's game you don't need  follow or listen to ATC. There is no risk to collide with other traffic, cause crash or runway incursion, or get your pilot certificate revoke by FAA and etc LOL

Sense spoken here.  😁

But don't make a habit of it. 😋