Unable to contact tower via comm menu

Bug Reporting Hub ATC, Traffic & NAVAIDs
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1

ISSUE DESCRIPTION

Description of the issue:
Although I am flying near my destination airport, it is not possible to contact the tower with the ingame communication menu.
Tower frequency is set on the airplane, but the option does not show up.
The only way to contact tower is the (terrible) “nearest airport” comm menu option.

If applicable, which aircraft is experiencing this issue:
ALL

[PC Only] Did you remove all your community mods/add-ons? If yes, are you still experiencing the issue?
YES

FREQUENCY OF ISSUE

How often does this occur for you (Example: Just once, every time on sim load, intermittently)?
ALWAYS
Example screenshot is C172 at KSFO

REPRODUCTION STEPS

Please list clear steps you took in order to help our test team reproduce the same issue:

  1. fly near the airport you want to land
  2. dial in the tower frequency on the plane (or set it via EFB “set” function)
  3. notice that the option to contact tower is missing in the communication menu

YOUR SETTINGS

If the issue still occurs with no mods and add-ons, please continue to report your issue. If not, please move this post to the User Support Hub.

What peripherals are you using, if relevant:

[PC Only] Are you using Developer Mode or have you made any changes to it?
NO

[PC, MSFS 2020 Only] Are you using DX11 or DX12?

[PC Only] What GPU (Graphics Card) do you use?

[PC Only] What other relevant PC specs can you share?

MEDIA

Screenshot 2025-01-05 210857
Screenshot 2025-01-05 2108571186×907 112 KB

[END OF FIRST USER REPORT]

:loudspeaker: For anyone who wants to contribute on this issue, Click on the button below to use this template:

Do you have the same issue if you follow the OP’s steps to reproduce it?
•

Provide extra information to complete the original description of the issue:
•

If relevant, provide additional screenshots/video:
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2 Likes
2

For discussion on this topic see:
https://forums.flightsimulator.com/t/help-on-atc-communication-for-landing/694768

3

Do you have the same issue if you follow the OP’s steps to reproduce it?
• yes

Provide extra information to complete the original description of the issue:
•

If relevant, provide additional screenshots/video:
•

5

Thank you for the bug report.

We have created an internal ticket to see if our team already has this logged, and if not they will attempt to reproduce the issue and create a new bug report. This item is now marked as feedback-logged. If there is an existing bug report or one is created, we will move this thread to bug-logged.

6

I’ve also encountered an issue with the radio during VFR cargo missions, and I suspect it might be related to enabling extras like flight following. Typically, I enable flight following because it’s a nice feature, and when it works, you can even score more than 100% on procedures (which might be another bug).

However, I’ve noticed that sometimes, when it’s time to descend, all radio communication options disappear. This effectively leaves me NORDO (no radio contact). Even when I see the prompt to press “Enter” to contact the tower, pressing it doesn’t do anything. At that point, I’m unable to communicate with the tower or use any other radio functions, making it impossible to complete the mission properly. It’s especially frustrating after a long flight—everything feels like a waste of time when this happens.

Has anyone else experienced this? Could enabling flight following be the cause? Is there a workaround or solution to prevent the radio from becoming unresponsive?

On another note, I’m disappointed that I can’t seem to submit my own bug reports. Why isn’t there an option to create a new topic for me? I’ve been playing MSFS2024 for a couple of weeks, and not a day goes by without discovering a new bug. It’s probably the buggiest game I’ve ever played, and I feel like I have a lot to report to help make it better.

2 Likes
7

See this article on trust levels:

That said, it’s pretty easy to advance to Level 1, which will gain you access to starting threads.

1 Like
8

I think this may be working now. While the ATC window is in the list of nearest airports, setting the tower frequency in the EFB also contacts the tower for selecting runway.

9

Hm just tried in SU3 beta 1.5.1, for me it still does not work.
I can tune in the tower frequency, but the comm-menu does not give the the options to request landing. They only appear when I chose the (same) frequency with the “nearest airport list” menu.

10

Maybe it’s avionics specific? I tried in the SkyCourier.

11

Thanks for the feedback.
Just tried it with the SkyCourier, does not work for me - tried KSFO and LEBB.

When I tune in the tower frequency I can hear it, but not talk to it.
It always requires either the switch over the Approach or the “nearest airport” button.
But maybe I’m misunderstanding how it should work :smiley:

KSFO Tower
KSFO Tower1609×1236 279 KB

LEBB Tower
LEBB Tower1926×1366 359 KB

12

I just tried again - works. a) get into range, b) open the “Nearest Airport” menu in the ATC window, c) set tower freq from EFB (I see it change the COM) and the “request landing” option appears automatically.

1 Like
13

Thanks!
With your description about the detour into the “nearest airports” and then tuning the frequency, I also got it to display the tower contact options.

That it still not how it should work in my opinion (tuning the frequency without the submenu should be sufficient), but at least it’s a possibility :slight_smile:

1 Like
14

Just tried it with the Dreamliner going into KDEN, could not get it to work :frowning:
Setting the tower frequency (in the nearest airport list) did not change the available communication buttonsto contact the tower. Tried several of the available frequencies.

2 Likes