20 minutes ago, Bobsk8 said:

I got an update just yesterday, about my 5th one in the last week and a half.  

Me 2, of course, late yesterday

Quite impressive update frequency on the experimental branch! Example - latest update last evening:

Quote

MSFS2024 SU2 Beta - fix no traffic models found error if you are using the SU2 Beta build of MSFS2024.

Vectors - ensure final alt restriction on STAR is enforced in vector calculations

Vectors - better altitude handling on vectors, as a side affect from this fix less warnings about terrain issues when loading a plan.

Frequencies - prevent incorrect airport frequency being tuned when told to change center, frequencies should now be more accurate to station distance compared to player

Departures - better handling of single waypoint flight plans preventing really early descend calls

Descents - in ICAO regions given an intermediate descent altitude if there are no alt restrictions on arrival / approach rather than descend straight to IAF / FAF.

Parking - no longer check users aircraft size against parking size to prevent gate not suitable messages 

Parking - continue to tweak and rework traffic parking logic based on user feedback with respect to traffic sizing and overlapping parking.

Performance - further tweak that may help with occasional stutters in traffic movement

Voices - new premium voices for French, Greek, Scottish and South African

Airport Ops - new ops for runways and frequency changes based on user feedback.

I don't know in which of these recent BATC threads we discussed go-arounds. Anyway, I did another approach into Gatwick, from de Gaulle. Both myself and the aircraft in front of me got a go-around (due to aircraft vacating the runway). But it's not a big deal. BATC handled this flight beautifully, including the missed approach. 

I do have to repeat myself several times each flight (usually 2-3 times), whereas with FSHud voice recognition is close to 100%. But every time my readback is not recognized, I just hit the button assignment to let the FO handle it. 

Edited March 26, 20251 yr by Cpt_Piett

26 minutes ago, Cpt_Piett said:

Quite impressive update frequency on the experimental branch! Example - latest update last evening:

I don't know in which of these recent BATC threads we discussed go-arounds.

Yeah those are some great improvements. Of all non-human ATC options, I really look forward to the day when holds are used to avoid go-arounds. I would much rather hold and be sequenced in then having to go around. It would just be new/different and it keeps you in line as opposed to having to start all the way at the back of the line.

8 minutes ago, Ident said:

Yeah those are some great improvements. Of all non-human ATC options, I really look forward to the day when holds are used to avoid go-arounds. I would much rather hold and be sequenced in then having to go around. It would just be new/different and it keeps you in line as opposed to having to start all the way at the back of the line.

Yeah, I think this is a tricky thing to handle for all ATC addons, at max traffic settings. But I agree with you - a hold would be better. 

On the 2nd approach I was lucky, as the aircraft ahead of me (which also had to go around after the first approach) - had to do a 2nd go around. There was an aircraft vacating the runway as I was on short final, which vacated just in time. 

It's quite fun using these high traffic settings - but it also reveals the shortcomings of these addons. 

FSHud has some attempts at traffic separation with speed reductions, but it's still hit and miss. 

Edited March 26, 20251 yr by Cpt_Piett

Just editing a video from the latest flight from de Gaulle to Gatwick. Voice recognition is not great (I do have an accent though). I had to repeat my readbacks numerous times (or rather, my FO did) - even though it's clear from the recording that my readbacks were correct.

Also - I had a "mid air collision" on de Gaulle departure.

Oh well. I guess it's early days - hopefully things will get better. It's certainly not "bland and boring" though - what the heck does OP mean with this title?

Edited March 26, 20251 yr by Cpt_Piett

I’ve noticed on Airports that have two tower frequencies, this will cause planes to land on top of other planes, and collisions occurring when crossing runways. 

I have never seen more than one aircraft landing at a time using BATC with FSTL/AIG models and of course MFSF AI turned off. There have been occasional issues with crossings on taxiways and this is sometimes down to the data that BATC pulls from the scenery, but other than that I'm more than happy with my purchase.

21 hours ago, Cpt_Piett said:

It's certainly not "bland and boring" though - what the heck does OP mean with this title?

My experience of BATC was 'bland and boring'.  In the real world an aircraft may fly the sid or get pulled off for vectors. With BATC the departure was always the same, with unreal altitude clearances.  It doesn't seem to know real world ATC sectors, so the routings and altitude clearences are not realistic.

I know it may be impossible at the current time for any ATC program to know ATC sectors, but it is one thing that makes the ATC boring for me.

For example, traffic leaving Heathrow for the north will step climb through the sectors - FL140/190/290 then cruise level.  BATC always clears me to half the cruise level on contact.  Any vectors off the SID seem random, rather than vectoring because of traffic.

I feel bored using it.  I'll give it another go soon to see if much has changed.

7 minutes ago, MrBitstFlyer said:

BATC always clears me to half the cruise level on contact.

From Edinburgh (either runway) I always get 17,000 (ignoring the 6,000 ft max height at TLA VOR), then the cruise alt. I don't know if the 6,000 ft restriction is enforced in the real world.

22 hours ago, Cpt_Piett said:

Just editing a video from the latest flight from de Gaulle to Gatwick. Voice recognition is not great (I do have an accent though). I had to repeat my readbacks numerous times (or rather, my FO did) - even though it's clear from the recording that my readbacks were correct.

Also - I had a "mid air collision" on de Gaulle departure.

Oh well. I guess it's early days - hopefully things will get better. It's certainly not "bland and boring" though - what the heck does OP mean with this title?

This is such a dealbreaker for me.  No need for any ATC at all when it does this.  Straight back to FSHud!

On 3/27/2025 at 1:42 AM, Cpt_Piett said:

FSHud voice recognition is close to 100%.

One thing going on here is that FSHud doesn't actually check what you say on readbacks, or at least not for any I tested. You can say "yabba dabba doo" and it'll respond "Readback correct." This makes for a smooth experience but means you won't get a correction if you make a mistake, so you need to check the text window to confirm your own readback. This was true for all readback types I tested, flight plan clearances, push and start, taxi instructions, frequency changes...I didn't specifically test turn (heading) instructions or altitude instructions yet but I'd expect it to apply to those too.

Actually triggering a command, like asking for IFR clearance or requesting taxi, does require at least one real keyword in what you say -- like "taxi" -- or you'll get a "say again, please." This command keyword part seems to be basically the same approach as BeyondATC. (I guess maybe not exactly the same now with BATC's LLM thing though I have no idea how much difference that makes.)

The readback check topic was something SayIntentions went back and forth on at first before eventually adding a user-selectable setting for strict readback enforcement on/off. Wouldn't surprise me to see FSHud and BeyondATC end up converging on making this user-adjustable as well.

(Then there's Pilot2ATC which requires correct readbacks but uses the old school built-in Windows voice recognition...you really gotta speak clearly for that lol)

On 3/26/2025 at 6:48 PM, Cpt_Piett said:

Also - I had a "mid air collision" on de Gaulle departure.

I knew that BATC has no seperation at this time. And it seems not even on the ground 

I was cleared to cross RW28 at Zürich at J from the north. Right into a departing airbus which collided with me during its take off roll.

Quite a catastrophic blunder by ATC. 😉

Edited April 1, 20251 yr by Farlis

If only someone could license Johnny from Airplane. Then ATC would be anything but boring.

On 4/1/2025 at 12:30 PM, Magenta Line said:

One thing going on here is that FSHud doesn't actually check what you say on readbacks, or at least not for any I tested. You can say "yabba dabba doo" and it'll respond "Readback correct."

Actually, this seems to be the case. Still, I prefer not having to repeat myself in "critical" situations with FSHud - whereas with BATC I might have to repeat "Air France 246, cleared to land runway 32 right" twice. Strengths and weaknesses....