When flight planning, what does Approach (automatic) mean? I have always presumed it means ‘Vector me to approach’. However…
Every time I have tried this (automatic) in flight planning on the sim, ATC instructs ‘descend to (altitude)’ then keeps quiet, sending me over the airport. Then I have to BC and reacquire the LOC and GS.
The term ‘automatic’ is something I usually relate to my washing machine 
If you wan’t something resembling reality for ATC and IFR, this is not the sim for you. It’s completely non-compliant with real ATC procedures, phraseology, and the ARINC coding is not implemented properly in the FMSs. I mean it’s GROSSLY wierd. You would be better off with X-Plan/Navigraph until MSFS2020 gets this sorted out. As bad as it is now, it could take a LONG time to get sorted.
Thanks for that and taking the trouble to reply.
I am well aware of the deficiencies of this sim. I flew jets for 25 years. That is why I have XP/Navigraph and you are correct in what you suggest regarding procedures. However, XP ATC is worse than F2020, not least because it does not recognise terrain elevation..
However, I am interested to see FS2000 develop and it is only by pointing out the anomalies that it will ever be improved.
At present, FS2020 is a game, not a simulator, imo. However, a good number of real world pilots would like to see this develop into a proper sim.
You’re right about everything. I don’t even bother with ATC at all in XP. I was an air traffic controller for ten years in another life (pro pilot now), so anything less than standard 7110.65 compliant phraseology and procedures are just something I can’t bear to listen to. It’s too much like watching someone put ice in a fine Scotch
@rp198419, I select the ILS approach, for example, ILS33R. That refers to Rwy 33R. Then you need to know the ILS or localizer frequency and enter it in your NAV radio, for example, 111.90. Then, follow the GPS flight plan on your AP NAV. Then ATC will know how to direct you. When you see the runway, maybe 10-15 miles out, you can switch the CDI to localizer, and when the glideslope is alive, select APR on your autopilot. Generally before you select APR, the ATC will tell you that you are cleared for landing Rwy 33R. That’s how I do it and it works great. I do mainly fly the Bonanza or Cessna 172, don’t know how to do that on the big jets or the Citation.
Yeah, try it in the airliners…Even FS9, 16 years ago, had a more authentic, accurate, and workable ATC and Approach / Landing procedures. This one, so far, is horrible. How they bungled it after so much testing, is beyond me.
It’s the word ‘generally’ that you use that is the problem.
Generally, in my experience, ATC just go into a coma until I wake them up.
Love your analogy. You’ll be glad to know I never drink single malt with ice
For the approaches I have tried, I can get on final and fly the final. It’s the transitions that do not match published tracks/procedures.
Correct. A major problem. Last night the transition didn’t exists lol.
Hopefully when the Simconnect issue is ironed out, we can run Pilot2ATC which is much better. I hope that it can see and direct the AI traffic in the way that it can in p3d but not XP11
Pls guys, come to Vatsim and I believe you’ll have so much work to do in cockpit and also fun with reality leave generic ATC in trash bin…
Vatsim is great bur not always available when I want to fly. Can reduce FPS also.