Yes, but my whole point is to be able to answer the ATC call first, then set the squawk code manually. Not having the simulator do it for me, which is completely unrealistic (at least make it an option). You CAN however set the squawk code manually before answering the ATC call, but that’s not realistic and the ATC will start prompting you for a reply before you have the time to set the code in the box.
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You do know you can set the squawk code while ATC is telling you. By the time ATC reads it off (having text enabled will fix your issue) you’ll have it dialed in. Takes less than 10 seconds and ATC doesn’t bother you after 20 or so. You just need to be quicker.
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It makes the whole thing completely unrealistic. When I fly my C172 in real life I read back the squawk code, then I set it in the transponder. That’s the way it should work in the sim too without having to use creative approaches.
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Sorry to say…but a simulator is not the real world. It’s a representation of one but it’s not the real one. Asobo can’t and shouldn’t try to accommodate every single persons little personal preferences or their own procedures to how they feel flying should be done. If you created your own topic and got enough votes, good on you.
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Well, this is quite a fundamental issue with the ATC system that should be addressed sooner or later. I’ve been flying for over 15 years so this is not exactly a personal preference or procedure.
And it’s not SOP either, it’s preference. Right? Some pilots set the squawk before replying and some reply first and then set the squawk. Replying first and then setting in my mind serves to ensure you read it back correctly. You could do it either way, personal preference. 
Moving on.
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If you start fiddling with the transponder before replying back in a busy airspace like over London I can guarantee you will quickly become very unpopular
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Most content creators and “serious” simmers fly without ATC whatsoever from what I’ve seen in the past years. Whether it’s because of the problems of the ATC system or because the constant radio chatter would interfere with their constant chatter, I don’t know, but most people who I watch / follow either use Vatsim or don’t use any ATC, just fly around.
Now, I use ATC all the time (default – I’m on Xbox) and for the purpose of what I’m doing it’s perfectly usable. They get me to the desired altitudes, get me down in time for approach and it generally makes flights much more atmospheric than flying in complete silence. My copilot responds to all radio messages so it’s really just in the background for me, making flights more atmospheric, and crucial for altitude. I agree there are issues with the system (sound cutting off, using the same voices as the AI planes, constantly requiring different altitudes over mountainous approach paths), but other than that I find it perfectly usable on a daily basis.
However, I can understand the system can’t really handle special situations, live traffic, situation changes, etc. It works only until you fly in a general fashion without any special circumstances. So I agree that it could use a full upgrade, but then again, I do think it’s generally usable and as far as I can tell more advanced simmers wouldn’t use it anyway. Even in case of an upgrade, I just wouldn’t expect human-level flexibility and intelligence from an automated system in a commercial game.
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I’m on pc and use the default ATC too. I would say it’s fine 90% of the time.
To make it work you need to set your flight plan up in the world map. I use simbrief autodownloader to save the flight plan and then simply load that into the world map. As i usually start cold and dark, i have to change the starting point which defaults to the runway, so just select a gate from the drop down list (i find that if you click on the map to do this it will change the flight plan but using the drop down doesn’t seem to do that). Once in the plane, then i upload the simbrief flight plan into the FMC so that is the same as the world map flight plan.
This works pretty well most of the time.
I’m sure there’s lots of scope for improvement though.
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Yes, I have to add that I also use the world map for flight planning and start cold and dark so I guess a lot of data loads in by default with which the ATC can work with. I’m fairly sure it’s a different story if you load into the world with a completely “empty” aircraft and program the whole thing manually. Then the ATC rather just reacts to what you’re doing instead of properly instructing you. And that’s where the system may have way less integrity and flexibility.
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I am flying the Cessna Citation Longitude (C700) exclusively these days…
I plan with SimBrief; export and then import into Navigraph for verification; and then export the plan and load it into the sim via the world map.
I usually end up tweaking the plan via the FMS panels (removing extraneous “suggested” waypoints) and then gas it off the runway and we’re on our way.
Unless there are no changes during the flight, like runway switch, everything works somehow. But since the ATC does not use any STARs etc. you are pretty much pwned.
So I wasted a couple of hours with that ATC and I decided to switch it off until we have something that is not based on 30 year old code.
Talking about standard altitudes and stuff. Speed and ALT restrictions. Etc. The data is there. They just need to find a genius coder for it.
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dang it Jim i’m a pretend pilot, not a doctor!
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Get a hold of yourself man!
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I don’t think we will see any meaningful improvements to these dated systems before Working Title start working on them as they announced last year.
I agree ! Due to the current state of the built-in ATC, I keep it TURNED OFF and rely on a more stable and reliable method of good ATC.
Yup - plenty of good ATC programmes out there, just use one of those.
i turned OFF the default ATC, and i use FS ATC Chatter
Could it be this is in the beta? I haven’t noticed it on live.