Mystery of DCS stock ATC crickets

[DmitriKozlowsky]

Ever since DCS was a thing, a constant problem has stayed with me. ATC crickets. It is almost impossible to taxi without runway incursions or landing without clearence. I get taxi to runway instructions, or 'Contact tower for landing clearance". I then contact ATC for T/O clearance while at rwy threshhold, or landing clearance on final. Then crickets. ATC is silent. Waiting for 5 to 10 minutes, 15 at most, nothing. Then do a runway oncursion for T/O and ATC comes alive, telling me "Can't clear takeoff". What is the secret?

Edited March 6 by DmitriKozlowsky

[The_GhostRider]

no secret, that's how it's been forever and how it will be until they address the ATC. We can hope that they address it as part of the dynamic campaign, otherwise any immersion the campaign brings will be ruined by the chaos of dozens of aircraft trying to takeoff at the same time. 

[SloppyDog]

The secret that the ATC system in DCS is borked. Outdated and obsolete.

It works...ok-ish for start-ups and after start-up to taxi clearance.

It works when announcing the landing and when it asks you to contact tower. In order to "contact tower", use the same radio, the same frequency and a new option will appear on the menu. No need to switch frequencies as it would in real life. 

And it does not work when requesting take-off clearance. You need to get past the hold line and...well, enter the runway, just a little. Then contact ATC and it will answers with clearance. ]

But, above all, do not expect realistic or logical behavior from the DCS ATC. Your experience may vary, by a lot.

Even MSFS ATC system is way better. Not to mention the BMS system, which is very smart.

ED said they are working on a new system, but they stated that it is still in development and years away to be released in the sim.

DCS ATS and ground units comms: it is what it is and will be like this for a long time.

 

[DmitriKozlowsky]

On 3/6/2025 at 10:04 AM, The_GhostRider said:

no secret, that's how it's been forever and how it will be until they address the ATC. We can hope that they address it as part of the dynamic campaign, otherwise any immersion the campaign brings will be ruined by the chaos of dozens of aircraft trying to takeoff at the same time. 

There also has to be better taxiway markings and ground tower taxi instructions. "Taxi to runway" or "Taxi to parking" is insuffcient. Taxi instructions come with directions as to which taxiway to use, and which direction to take. Taxiways are 'generally' one way streets. I dunno maybe ED should consider making 'Advanced field operations and Air Traffic' an inexpensive add on mod, like Combined Arms.

Example.

" 'Callsign', Welcome to'airfield', taxi via L right on C, to spot ###"

[rob10]

43 minutes ago, DmitriKozlowsky said:

There also has to be better taxiway markings and ground tower taxi instructions. "Taxi to runway" or "Taxi to parking" is insuffcient. Taxi instructions come with directions as to which taxiway to use, and which direction to take. Taxiways are 'generally' one way streets. I dunno maybe ED should consider making 'Advanced field operations and Air Traffic' an inexpensive add on mod, like Combined Arms.

Example.

" 'Callsign', Welcome to'airfield', taxi via L right on C, to spot ###"

The reason it's not better than it is is because it's not "an inexpensive add on".  Look at the challenge the carrier deck crew has been and that has ONE layout (generally speaking) for all carriers, vs how many different variants at all the different airports.  Hopefully they decide at some point it's worth adding as a base function, because I doubt it will be less than a full module cost if they specifically make an ATC module.

[DmitriKozlowsky]

4 hours ago, rob10 said:

The reason it's not better than it is is because it's not "an inexpensive add on".  Look at the challenge the carrier deck crew has been and that has ONE layout (generally speaking) for all carriers, vs how many different variants at all the different airports.  Hopefully they decide at some point it's worth adding as a base function, because I doubt it will be less than a full module cost if they specifically make an ATC module.

Carrier deck spotting operations are far more complex then airfield. PseudoAI can lock airfield taxi and parking and only have one solution. But carrier deck spotting is a science in itself, depending on mission, and phase of mission on carrier. Launch stations, recovery stations, QRA-Ready 5 launch stations.In RL there is a team of officers and ratings , below decks, moving aircraft chess peices on flight deck and hangar deck chessboard. DCS solves conflicts by making aircraft appear or disappear by magic.

For airfield operations, DCS needs two base items. IMHO.

Ground tower communications. To issue taxi instructions. With helicopter specific sub-set. Helicopters don't need to taxi to runway. Just designated H pads . 

Active ground personell and field suppourt vehicles. To issue guides as to which spot to taxi into and face which direction.

[SloppyDog]

On 3/8/2025 at 6:18 AM, DmitriKozlowsky said:

Ground tower communications. To issue taxi instructions. With helicopter specific sub-set. Helicopters don't need to taxi to runway. Just designated H pads . 

Something that the old FSX did beautifully. Not perfect, but for the most part did it well. In 2006.

So, yeah, DCS needs this to add to the immersion. It is sorely missed in the sim. 

[Gary]

On 3/6/2025 at 4:04 PM, The_GhostRider said:

no secret, that's how it's been forever and how it will be until they address the ATC. We can hope that they address it as part of the dynamic campaign, otherwise any immersion the campaign brings will be ruined by the chaos of dozens of aircraft trying to takeoff at the same time. 

Sadly it was recently confirmed that the ATC improvements are not a priority for the Dynamic Campaign - so basically still years away.

Regards,

Gary

[Lange_666]

On 3/10/2025 at 6:37 PM, SloppyDog said:

Something that the old FSX did beautifully. Not perfect, but for the most part did it well. In 2006.

Yup it did. However, FS2020 and FS2024 are, although released 14 and 18 years later, not on par with what FSX had in terms of ATC (or AI traffic which is even worse in 20/24).

Edited March 12 by Lange_666