Smarter ATC and more authentic/standard phraseology

[Aquorys]

One thing that I think still needs a lot of improvements to be useful is ATC. Currently, it frequently does irrational things, like expecting me to request a startup while I'm cruising at 30k ft and would actually like to request an approach, or it keeps repeating a "hold short" instruction for someone who's parked or even flying every 2 seconds.

The most important improvement in my opinion would be deconfliction on the runway, making sure that either one aircraft is landing or another one is taking off, but not both at the same time, as that would help a lot in multiplayer games.

Another thing that I think should be changed is virtually all of the ATC phraseology. I guess it would be a bit too complicated to make it really authentic in the game, but it should at least be somewhat close to standard phraseology and not completely off as it is now.

Here are some of the more significant ones that come to my mind:

Cleared for startup
Startup approved

Request takeoff
Springfield 1-1, ready at runway 21 left

...answered by something like...

Springfield 1-1, runway 21 left, cleared for takeoff

...and similarly for landings...

Springfield 1-1, runway 08 right, cleared to land

Also, an option to announce a go-around would be helpful, as it happens quite frequently in multiplayer, something like:

Springfield 1-1, going around

It would probably best to consult a couple ATC folks what they think the best compromise between realism/authenticity and feasibility within the limitations of the game would be.

[Tank50us]

These things are in the pipeline already. Check the roadmap.

[Aquorys]

Didn't find anything specific in the roadmap, just generic "Improved ATC", "NATO ATC", "Russian ATC", etc. items, so I think some more specific input still makes sense.

[Tank50us]

37 minutes ago, Aquorys said:

Didn't find anything specific in the roadmap, just generic "Improved ATC", "NATO ATC", "Russian ATC", etc. items, so I think some more specific input still makes sense.

because it's still in the early stages of development. If you want an idea of how it'll behave, just listen to the Super Carrier coms, which itself will get improved over time.

[Mike_Romeo]

4 hours ago, Aquorys said:

Didn't find anything specific in the roadmap, just generic "Improved ATC", "NATO ATC", "Russian ATC", etc. items, so I think some more specific input still makes sense.

Over the past year, our primary ATC focus has been on the Supercarrier. Now that the Supercarrier ATC system is nearing completion, we will next move on to airfield ATC radio communications. Given the scope of DCS World, this is not a simple task, and it will require three separate ATC systems: Western Modern Day, Eastern Modern Day, and World War II. 

Because this effort will require a large amount of new radio voice overs, we will also take this opportunity to update the radio communications for other entities like flight members, other flights, AWACS, tankers, etc.

 

This will continue to be developed in 2021, but we do not have an estimated release date.
 

 

Edited December 1, 2021 by Mike_Romeo