I think the problem with VFR is that it differs significantly across the world.

Here in the UK we generally use a Basic Service or a Traffic Service provided by either ATC or a FISO. We do not use what those in the US would call a Flight Following. Our joining procedures into airfields also differ. So to be able to fly VFR realistically the sim needs to support the regional variations in procedures.

And sayintentions ai support that…

1 hour ago, Kaboki said:

And sayintentions ai support that…

Before managing regional differences, I would love that SI gives me a smart instruction to join right or left downwind depending where I am, of course if the circuit is possible on both side. My last 2 weeks experience flying in California is that SI most of time give me weird pattern entry 😉 For example, passing overhead where I can join the downwind on the side I'm already.

Edited January 3, 20251 yr by vbazillio

Yeah, its far from perfect, but what alternative is there for VFR?

2 hours ago, Kaboki said:

I never flown VFR IRL ever in my life(im a sim pilot) and still dont feel default is good enough:p. Good enough for a CFI but not good enough for a casual flightsimmer like me:).

I guess I dont know what Im doing then:p

It's good enough for anyone that knows what they are doing or doesn't want to spend money on a monthly subscription for an VFR ATC add-on. That's something that as a CFI, I could not recommend to any sim pilot. Sorry if it offends you.

14 minutes ago, Kaboki said:

Yeah, its far from perfect, but what alternative is there for VFR?

Default. 😀

It's more about acquiring the required knowledge, than spending money on a monthly subscription. That's really what it comes down to.

First time in history I ever heard that default ATC is good enough…Well I guess if its good enough for you then who am I to argue with you, each to he’s own;p

Hearing the same voice as atc and the pilot it talks to, its bizarre, like the atc is talking to itself, kills my immersion more than anything, and on top, its so robotic. So its not all about knowlegde, but also about immersion for a wannabe pretend to be pilot like me…

Edited January 3, 20251 yr by Kaboki

1 hour ago, Kaboki said:

First time in history I ever heard that default ATC is good enough…Well I guess if its good enough for you then who am I to argue with you, each to he’s own;p

Hearing the same voice as atc and the pilot it talks to, its bizarre, like the atc is talking to itself, kills my immersion more than anything, and on top, its so robotic. So its not all about knowlegde, but also about immersion for a wannabe pretend to be pilot like me…

It's good enough for VFR, not for IFR. However, maybe you're new to AVSIM, but over the years I've read here that some simply preferred default, instead of an unfinished ATC add-on. This was echoed more for P3D and some preferred it for IFR. The ATC has always been bad in flight simulator, it has improved in MSFS 2020.

You are recommending SI, but most people don't want to pay for a subscription or can't afford it. I recommend BATC for IFR. It's as immersive as it gets and it's a one time affordable fee.

You will never win this argument. I've been at this for 30 years.

I encourage people to try the free 24h demo of SayIntentions and experiment for themselves (assuming they actually want to use their voice to interact with the ATC). 

Talk to the mentor if you need some guidance.

Welcome to ask for help on the discord server !

Edited January 3, 20251 yr by YankeeMike01
Parenthesis

42 minutes ago, CFIJose said:

It's good enough for VFR, not for IFR. However, maybe you're new to AVSIM, but over the years I've read here that some simply preferred default, instead of an unfinished ATC add-on. This was echoed more for P3D and some preferred it for IFR. The ATC has always been bad in flight simulator, it has improved in MSFS 2020.

You are recommending SI, but most people don't want to pay for a subscription or can't afford it. I recommend BATC for IFR. It's as immersive as it gets and it's a one time affordable fee.

You will never win this argument. I've been at this for 30 years.

Think I been around since 2010 so maybe Im new:p. Not trying to win any argument, but for those that can afford SI, it is 100% more realistic than default ATC will ever be. I will look into BATC when it supports VFR and make a choice what I will stick with… Im guessing it will be SI because if I want premium voices in everything in BATC. I think its gonna be way more expensive than the fixed montly pay of SI… The robotic BATC basic voices does’nt cut it for me so I would have to pay to get the same quality as SI anyway. So no one time payment of 30 bucks would work for me in BATC….

8 hours ago, CFIJose said:

You are recommending SI, but most people don't want to pay for a subscription or can't afford it.

SI was hallucinating wildly in VFR 4 months ago when I cancelled my sub. I won't EVER join again due to the fact that the dev requested users to turn off firewalls completely while connected to the net. 

THIS IS A NO GO!  Absolutely irresponsible.

1 hour ago, MaGer1965 said:

SI was hallucinating wildly in VFR 4 months ago when I cancelled my sub. I won't EVER join again due to the fact that the dev requested users to turn off firewalls completely while connected to the net. 

THIS IS A NO GO!  Absolutely irresponsible.

SI is not requiring you to switch off your firewall to function correctly, this is absolutely misleading. Your case was either a temporary fix to help resolve an issue or a user misunderstanding. We re missing some context.

You should just have the usual windows firewall exceptions, what else ? 

Edited January 4, 20251 yr by YankeeMike01

Thanks for the suggestions and in some ways reassuring to know im not alone in the light VFR end of flight sims.

A shame that the subscription model has taken over so much.

There used to be something called VoxATC that did the job reasonably well many years ago (from memory may be some rose tint going on)  but I think that disappeared during the long gap between FSX and 2020.

 

Flight simulators, the one's we love here at AVSIM, have always been looked as good for IFR training devices, but MSFS 2020 changed the way we see a sim for VFR. As someone who did most of my training with Martha & John King as the video instructors, here's a video that might be helpful for those that really want to learn how to communicate on the radio:

This is just a few minutes of an old ATC video, but it's a good illustration of how knowledge of Radio Com procedures plays a major role when flying VFR. I have the full ATC video and it helped me become a better VFR private pilot many, many years ago. This thread has now become more of a hangar chat.

4 hours ago, CFIJose said:

Flight simulators, the one's we love here at AVSIM, have always been looked as good for IFR training devices, but MSFS 2020 changed the way we see a sim for VFR. As someone who did most of my training with Martha & John King as the video instructors, here's a video that might be helpful for those that really want to learn how to communicate on the radio:

This is just a few minutes of an old ATC video, but it's a good illustration of how knowledge of Radio Com procedures plays a major role when flying VFR. I have the full ATC video and it helped me become a better VFR private pilot many, many years ago. This thread has now become more of a hangar chat.

Always were decent enough tutorials, getting a little dated but the basics haven't changed much.

Personally I'm not looking to learn phraseology and procedure rather to find something that comes close to what I experience in my real flying that works in the sim.

I do though have to disagree with you that the sim's built in ATC is adequate for use under VFR, its quite appalling in my view