Been a member of PilotEdge since 2016 and subscribe for both their So-Cal and Western US coverage areas. Was a beta tester and now Premium User of SI over a year now so I pay monthly for both. I spent 20K on my simpit build last year and have been into flight simming since FS98. I'm also have my Part 107, ASEL and ASES ratings. This is a hobby and I am lucky enough to be able to pay for the extras to make it as close to real as I can get.

I've never tried any other ATC options other than PE and SI. Once the beta for SI was over, it took about two months before I became a member. I wanted ATC outside of PE coverage area and at the time SI was still very green but improving rapidly. Fast forward to today and I will always consider PE king of ATC services but since I do like to fly in areas outside of their coverage areas (as well as being able to use SI within their coverage areas to man towered airports that PE does not within their coverage area) I feel I get the best bang for my buck with SI.

I dont need to dis any other ATC addons in order to feel like SI is the best choice for me. I kinda get where SI is coming from in that their full product line is way more that just ATC so perhaps they feel like if more people knew about this and gave it a try, they might be able to increase their user base. As far as I know other ATC addons dont offer all these other bells and whistles and thats because of one of two things. Either they dont or they arent trying hard enough to get the word out which is why I dont know this. 

All said and done, I just happy we have choices. It seems for all options available, we still have a lot more to see from them as it appears they are all working behind the scenes to keep making their product better. While typing this, I took a look at BATC and told myself that I will give it a try. Not exactly for the ATC but more so to see about the AI traffic.

1 hour ago, Drumcode said:

The response wait times in SI are pretty laughable. You can request clearance, go get a cup of tea and voila! 

That was long time ago now it responds really fast. 

1 hour ago, Drumcode said:

The response wait times in SI are pretty laughable. You can request clearance, go get a cup of tea and voila! 

The response times for the free open sky are indeed longer.  That’s one reason it’s free.  The subscription is substantially less and almost as fast as real ATC on the radio.  I’d say it’s down to about 3 seconds from 9 seconds when I first started using it a year ago.

I saw that topic above about SI using BOTS ... Well, sad if true, but, it makes part of the "New Times"... We are surrounded by BOT-based strategies from all flanks, and it'll only get worst until AI proves to be better placed where it is supposed to...

Anyway, the return from at least one friend here from "Porta Land" (the door to Paradise 🤣) is rather positive.

He started trying OpenSky this weekend, and I am really wanting to give it a try, but I spent last evening installing AIG 3d models which took quite a while, and as usual when it's time for a sim session, "Maria" is already getting sleepy and asking for the sound of the "virtual air activities" to get to really low / zero levels, so, starting to talk silly stuff at the time I do simming is rather problematic around here :-), no to mention the cat, who want's me in bed not latter than 23:30, and will have me squawking 7500 very soon after his first tries at blocking me from continuing a flight.

I am rather satisfied with BATC, I also like FSHUD, I love the traffic injection with FSLTL and now also AIG, and this all calls for finally getting the chance to practice "talking ATC", but it'll be rather difficult 😕 ... Anyway, I will surely give OpenSky a try...

Edited February 9, 20251 yr by jcomm

The main drawback for me with SayIntensions is that you have to talk. You know, there comes a point in your life when you've talked enough (I babbled through my whole job/career). 😄 
I simply don't wanna talk on my pc - that's one of the qualities of my pc time. Also, when you fly commercial / IFR, the pilot not flying handles ATC.
If SI would implement a 'button talk' and an auto-FO, I would consider trying it.

1 minute ago, Watsi said:

The main drawback for me with SayIntensions is that you have to talk. You know, there comes a point in your life when you've talked enough (I babbled through my whole job/career). 😄 
I simply don't wanna talk on my pc - that's one of the qualities of my pc time. Also, when you fly commercial / IFR, the pilot not flying handles ATC.
If SI would implement a 'button talk' and an auto-FO, I would consider trying it.

THIS !!!!!!!

1 hour ago, Watsi said:

The main drawback for me with SayIntensions is that you have to talk. You know, there comes a point in your life when you've talked enough (I babbled through my whole job/career). 😄 
I simply don't wanna talk on my pc - that's one of the qualities of my pc time. Also, when you fly commercial / IFR, the pilot not flying handles ATC.
If SI would implement a 'button talk' and an auto-FO, I would consider trying it.

Not sure about Opensky but in the the paid SI, you can have your co-pilot(of which there are several to choose from) handle the coms simply by pushing a button and asking.

2 hours ago, Watsi said:

The main drawback for me with SayIntensions is that you have to talk. You know, there comes a point in your life when you've talked enough (I babbled through my whole job/career). 😄 
I simply don't wanna talk on my pc - that's one of the qualities of my pc time. Also, when you fly commercial / IFR, the pilot not flying handles ATC.
If SI would implement a 'button talk' and an auto-FO, I would consider trying it.

No button talk but definitely auto FO that minimizes the need for a microphone by a good 90%. You'll still need to ask  ATC or the FO (to do it for you) for clearance, PB/Taxi clearance but form there ATC will hand you over and the FO will take care of communications.

3 hours ago, jcomm said:

THIS !!!!!!!

 

3 hours ago, Watsi said:

The main drawback for me with SayIntensions is that you have to talk. You know, there comes a point in your life when you've talked enough (I babbled through my whole job/career). 😄 
I simply don't wanna talk on my pc - that's one of the qualities of my pc time. Also, when you fly commercial / IFR, the pilot not flying handles ATC.
If SI would implement a 'button talk' and an auto-FO, I would consider trying it.

Say intentions has a FO which handles all the comms. You can choose between a lot of different FO’s which can speak 10 different languages. As of new version they can also read custom made checklists.

Well, tried to register for the beta, but after filling the form I get a JSon error 😕

OpenSky doen't want to open the skies for me 🙂

8 hours ago, Watsi said:

The main drawback for me with SayIntensions is that you have to talk. You know, there comes a point in your life when you've talked enough (I babbled through my whole job/career). 😄 
I simply don't wanna talk on my pc - that's one of the qualities of my pc time. Also, when you fly commercial / IFR, the pilot not flying handles ATC.
If SI would implement a 'button talk' and an auto-FO, I would consider trying it.

I feel its things like this which is why they are aggressive in getting the word out for their features list because here you say you would give it a try if it had a feature that it does that you didnt know they had. Its way more than just AI ATC which seems to be the norm for all the other ATC addons.

Right now I am waiting to get a text from Sky Ops letting me know when my OnAir VIP pax have arrived to the airport to start my flight. I just text with my phone to Flightline Ops, I'm expecting 2 VIP pax to show up at 5B6 in the next 15mins to fly to KBOS. Let me know when they arrive. After getting a reply they will text me when they show up, I will randomly get a text within the next 15 minutes they are at the airport. Then when I start SI, I will get additional AI voices from Dispatch and the VIP as they board the plane.

Or I can just text that I will be on call for the next hour for any Med flights, or VIP charters etc and let me know if anything comes up. Not only will they say in the text its ready but it comes up with back stroies on the pax, who they are, why they are a VIP etc. Just one of so many options to have to in addition to ATC using realistic sounding voices.

Edited February 9, 20251 yr by Ident

4 hours ago, jcomm said:

Well, tried to register for the beta, but after filling the form I get a JSon error 😕

OpenSky doen't want to open the skies for me 🙂

I just sent you a message for your email addy. As an SI member I have 10 codes to give out.

 

OpenSky is by Invitation ONLY

While it's in beta, we're limiting OpenSky signups exclusively to those who've received an invitation code. In other words, you've got a hot commodity! Note that we will be adding more invite codes to your account as the rollout progresses, so don't hesitate to put them to good use.

Watch our announcement video to learn more:

How to Share Your Invite Codes:

1. Log in to your Pilot Portal: https://portal.sayintentions.ai/portal/
2. Navigate to the Invite Codes section.
3. Enter the email address of the person you wish to invite.

 

We're excited to see what you and your network think of OpenSky. Thank you for being part of our journey!

I also have 10 invites send me a Private Message with your e-mailadress and will give the first 10 a invite link!

 

@Watsi - This is in the works at SI and might be of interest to you (more info on their website):

Quote

Texting with ATC - “Flight Line”

We’re introducing a feature we like to call Flight Line. This lets you communicate with Air Traffic Control directly from your phone, using text or WhatsApp messaging. No more worrying about a running sim or sitting at your computer. You can file or pick up an IFR clearance, check the ATIS, or ask for weather updates - all from your phone!

Here’s a quick idea of what it can do:

• IFR Clearances via Text: Type your request (“I’d like to pick up my IFR clearance”) and watch your clearance pop up on your phone in real time. It even shows up inside the simulator if it’s running.

• Weather & Visibility Reports: Need to know current visibility at JFK or the ATIS at your departure airport? Just text and get the info right away.

• SkyOps Missions Support and SkyOps Pager Duty: If you’re flying missions, your briefings can be delivered via text too.

• AI-Powered Chat: It’s not just keyword-based replies. There’s an AI behind the scenes that can carry on a conversation and help you with all your flight-related queries.

‍

 

21 hours ago, sympilot said:

Opensky is free

For how long, until the beta is over?