What's odd to me is that fsx, 20 years ago, could vector aircraft onto an ils.  It brought you pretty far out, and it didn't know terrain very well, but it did a reasonable job of providing approach services.

I'm just confused as to why BATC struggles to perform this very basic task.

I also don't understand why BATC claims to not have a terrain database.  I literally just watched the installer (apparently not the new version) load some terrain files.  They must have some sort of data to use.

 

3 hours ago, tttocs said:

Respectfully, if the software is only usable between major hubs it's pretty much useless to many of us.  I fly exclusively GA, mostly IFR and the biggest airports I typically fly to/from are regionals.  As Ryan notes, if it can't be at least mostly correct between two towered US airports it's of pretty limited use to any but scheduled airline folks.  And that's a good thing to know

Scott

I fly both. None of the So called commercial ATC software work very well with small regional airports, even worse with GA planes. None of them. I have tried them all.  

They work well with major hubs most of the time when things are pretty much scripted for them by Simbrief. (This part is my personal belief) 

I wish things were different but they are not, yet. This latest update is still major positive for BATC however.

When I fly GA sadly, I turn off ATC completely. I have waited 40 years for even basic VFR ATC with planes in the sky. I don't see it happening in my lifetime. (course time is growing short now) 😉

So it is not that I disagree with you or Ryan, but I believe what you are hoping for is but a pipe dream. Hope I am wrong, but I doubt it.

 

2 hours ago, ryanbatc said:

Still curious about smaller GA IFR flights.

Well I just installed a new video card and was looking for some places to fly.  Gonna break out my JF Piper Warrior and fly some IFR.  If you’ve got a favorite route pass it on and I’ll fly it first. I’ll have some observations Sunday night.
-B

34 minutes ago, btacon said:

If you’ve got a favorite route

IFR into LOWI Innsbruck, austrian alps:

✔ The LOC DME approach from the west for a landing on Runway 08
This is widely described as the most difficult IFR arrival into LOWI.

Here’s why it’s particularly tough:

🟡 Complex course and terrain — The west LOC DME approach requires flying down the Inn valley with significant terrain close on both sides.
🟡 Steep descent and manual flying — There’s no glideslope, so vertical guidance must be flown with vertical speed control, steep descent planning, and excellent energy management.
🟡 Visual manoeuvres late in the approach — Near the airport, especially for RWY 08, pilots must break off the instrument portion and fly visual right turns inside the valley (often two turns of about 180°) to align with the runway.
🟡 Maintaining visual contact is hard — In larger aircraft the right-hand circling / final turn path can be extremely difficult to keep the runway in sight until late in the approach.

Key Challenges at LOWI IFR

Across all IFR arrivals into Innsbruck, pilots contend with:

• Valley terrain rising steeply to over 9,000 ft+, leaving narrow corridors for approaches.

• Microclimates and winds (e.g., Föhn) that can cause turbulence, crosswinds, and downdrafts especially near final.

• No standard ILS guiding all the way to touchdown — most approaches become visual close-in, adding workload in IMC or marginal conditions.

Pilots flying LOWI must have special training and experience because of these complexities.

Edited February 28Feb 28 by turbomax

50 minutes ago, Ron Lefebvre said:

I fly both. None of the So called commercial ATC software work very well with small regional airports, even worse with GA planes. None of them. I have tried them all.  

They work well with major hubs most of the time when things are pretty much scripted for them by Simbrief. (This part is my personal belief) 

I wish things were different but they are not, yet. This latest update is still major positive for BATC however.

When I fly GA sadly, I turn off ATC completely. I have waited 40 years for even basic VFR ATC with planes in the sky. I don't see it happening in my lifetime. (course time is growing short now) 😉

So it is not that I disagree with you or Ryan, but I believe what you are hoping for is but a pipe dream. Hope I am wrong, but I doubt it.

 

The product should not advertise GA IFR flight.  They are clear that VFR is for the future, but IFR should work.

I'm also flying GA, but between airports where there are 737 and A320 flights.  These airports should work, or at least come close to working.  I'm not expecting it to work on some grass strip out in a field.

Their exact quote on their product page is "Full IFR for Jetliners and GA

https://www.beyondatc.net/features  

Full IFR for Jetliners and GA

Moving to BATC (via a gentle prod 😄) is the best thing I've ever done, ATC-wise.  I enjoy every session with it and quirks, losses of connections etc are very rare, compared to the 'other' product that had me seething in frustration.

And that's without VFR...... when they add VFR I think many others will have a rething on the subscription model, when you can get a product like this for a one-off cost of $29.95.

For the record, I do buy occassional premium voice bundles.  The basic voices are fine (especially in English-speaking countries) but I treat myself to a premium bundle every now and then..... not exactly expensive for the equivalent of £7 😎

1 hour ago, btacon said:

Well I just installed a new video card and was looking for some places to fly.  Gonna break out my JF Piper Warrior and fly some IFR.  If you’ve got a favorite route pass it on and I’ll fly it first. I’ll have some observations Sunday night.
-B

I don't have any favorites.... But any random airport pair should work...  I try to pick areas that would force BATC to give me an instrument approach, so pick something with weather lower than VFR.  Last time it gave me an RNAV approach it started to do just fine then randomly vectored me away from the IAF lol...  Swing and a miss!

3 hours ago, JYW said:

Moving to BATC (via a gentle prod 😄) is the best thing I've ever done, ATC-wise.  I enjoy every session with it and quirks, losses of connections etc are very rare, compared to the 'other' product that had me seething in frustration.

And that's without VFR...... when they add VFR I think many others will have a rething on the subscription model, when you can get a product like this for a one-off cost of $29.95.

For the record, I do buy occassional premium voice bundles.  The basic voices are fine (especially in English-speaking countries) but I treat myself to a premium bundle every now and then..... not exactly expensive for the equivalent of £7 😎

Have you tried the local voice model? It’s miles ahead of the basic voices and the latest Experimental version adds worldwide accents to the native English voices. And it’s free…

5 hours ago, Ron Lefebvre said:

I fly both. None of the So called commercial ATC software work very well with small regional airports, even worse with GA planes. None of them. I have tried them all.  

They work well with major hubs most of the time when things are pretty much scripted for them by Simbrief. (This part is my personal belief) 

I wish things were different but they are not, yet. This latest update is still major positive for BATC however.

When I fly GA sadly, I turn off ATC completely. I have waited 40 years for even basic VFR ATC with planes in the sky. I don't see it happening in my lifetime. (course time is growing short now) 😉

So it is not that I disagree with you or Ryan, but I believe what you are hoping for is but a pipe dream. Hope I am wrong, but I doubt it.

 

I found rather much success with SI actually for VFR. Even entry and exit waypoints in and out of control zones in Europe just like in real life. In US you are asked to pen down a number if you accidently fly into class Bravo airspace without a clearance. Adds a lot of VFR AI traffic as well. Is it perfect? absolutely not. I have been waiting as well almost 40 years with this hobby for a good ATC and too me for now SI is the closest it will get. Hate the monthly fee concept but until BeyondATC adds VFR this is the route I will go.

9 hours ago, simsuper80 said:

At RPLL there is plenty of parked aircraft, but bearly any movement, at least compared to how the airport should look at that hour.

I can't confirm. I tested it for you just now and compare it to the arrivals I see on FR2024. I have my arrivals set to 8.  I currently  see 7 Aircraft lining up to final in real life. In the sim it's 4 and a 5th has just landed.

That seems about correct for a setting of 8.

 

I'm using the payware version of RPLL together with the enhancement file found on flightsim.to and have set my traffic to the winter schedule.

Edited February 28Feb 28 by Farlis

This team is amazing!

I would love to offer them any of my professional input.

I'm already helping them by buying additional voices every now and then.

If someone knows who I need to contact, please let me know.

33 minutes ago, CFIJose said:

This team is amazing!

I would love to offer them any of my professional input.

I'm already helping them by buying additional voices every now and then.

If someone knows who I need to contact, please let me know.

Just hop on the discord.

13 hours ago, simsuper80 said:

I hope they can fix the issue of airports not being busy. Most big airport are almost dead of movement. Plenty of parked aircraft, but bearly anything moving. 

 

It's like an aircraft graveyard 

Uh all my airports are busy? Have been in a queue of 8 aircraft before takeoff yesterday at VHHH. If you hop on the Discord, we can take a look at your case.

Edited February 28Feb 28 by Fiorentoni

10 hours ago, ryanbatc said:

What's odd to me is that fsx, 20 years ago, could vector aircraft onto an ils.  It brought you pretty far out, and it didn't know terrain very well, but it did a reasonable job of providing approach services.

I'm just confused as to why BATC struggles to perform this very basic task.

I also don't understand why BATC claims to not have a terrain database.  I literally just watched the installer (apparently not the new version) load some terrain files.  They must have some sort of data to use.

 

Who claims that? It uses the sim terrain database, like anybody else does (e.g. the aircraft on terrain radar).
 

In general guys, if you have any issue, please get on the Discord: https://discord.gg/beyondatc

There's around 50.000 members and issues are solved, users are helped, fun is restored by the minute.