I could use some help here… as it’s causing me headaches if not putting my flights at risk:

1. I’m trying to fly VFR, but for some reason, my AI copilot is requesting IFR as soon as I move off the parking spot… I’m like “offensive initials not allowed are you doing? I do not want IFR!” - what am I doing wrong? My process is: free flight, select departure and arrival airports at the top of the map screen, open EFB, add cargo, load plane, review flight plan, change all settings to VFR, load plan to avionics, go fly…then as I say… copilot is requesting IFR?!

2. I have to open up the ATC window at some point to cancel IFR (see 1) and then to request landing (as my copilot never does that) and the window is kinda broken… it covers half my 4K screen with text that can be read from a football field away, but the last transmissions are off the bottom and require scrolling and that’s buggy. It’s basically dangerous. Is there some way to deal with this that I’m overlooking? Maybe I need to get a second screen and pop it out there? But my issue with that is every time you take focus away from the flight sim window it disrupts frame gen. Maybe I should just turn ATC off completely and do my own thing, but that’s not very immersive. Ideally I could interact with ATC via my iPad so I’m not stealing focus from the sim, and not blocking half my screen… but I’ve not found anything to do this.

How do you deal with these issues? 

Thanks,
-Chris

 

Edited July 21, 2025Jul 21 by Virtual-Chris

It seems I’m not the only one with an IFR happy copilot…

https://forums.flightsimulator.com/t/atc-copilot-infinite-loop-requesting-ifr-clearance/671157/33

Guess I need to turn off copilot assistance. I really need a VFR ATC add-on. I guess I’m going to have to look at Pilot2ATC because I’m not shelling out a monthly subscription for Say Intentions.

i never thought it would be possible, but the default ATC in 2024 is worse than 2020. The interface is a mess and its buggy, and of course they’re still telling you to climb and descend like a yo-yo. 

Edited July 21, 2025Jul 21 by Virtual-Chris

IRL it's not like you get to choose, in fact getting a PPL requires a lot of study about the weather, and when and where you are allowed to fly. Heaven's knows the ATC in the sim sucks, but what I think is happening is that the conditions are IFR and thus it is forcing you to follow those rules maybe? Since I assume you are talking about career missions you probably can't control the weather either, am I right? Otherwise you could just force the weather to VFR conditions?

As I said, career mode and ATC in the sim are ridiculous, if this were only the worst thing we had to deal with it would be bliss 🙂  Good luck!

 

Edited July 21, 2025Jul 21 by jfv

3 hours ago, jfv said:

IRL it's not like you get to choose, in fact getting a PPL requires a lot of study about the weather, and when and where you are allowed to fly. Heaven's knows the ATC in the sim sucks, but what I think is happening is that the conditions are IFR and thus it is forcing you to follow those rules maybe? Since I assume you are talking about career missions you probably can't control the weather either, am I right? Otherwise you could just force the weather to VFR conditions?

As I said, career mode and ATC in the sim are ridiculous, if this were only the worst thing we had to deal with it would be bliss 🙂  Good luck!

 

It’s a bug with the copilot assistance. See the link above your post. And I’m flying in blue sky conditions… no bad weather. 

Found a solution to problem 2 if anyone cares...

I use AAO for mapping controls and using Guenseli's stream deck profiles, and it turns out that Lorby's ATC Bridge works in MSFS 2024 which allows me to interact with ATC via a web page on my iPAD! Perfect!

Honestly Virtual-Chris,

 

I fly mainly VFR and use SayIntentions, takes the experience to whole new level, might be worth considering. Yes, it is subscription based but it really adds to the immersion, well worth it in my opinion.

1 hour ago, davenicoll said:

Honestly Virtual-Chris,

 

I fly mainly VFR and use SayIntentions, takes the experience to whole new level, might be worth considering. Yes, it is subscription based but it really adds to the immersion, well worth it in my opinion.

Thanks, I realize it's good but I cannot justify a monthly subscription for an add-on, especially for VFR ATC which is really pretty basic stuff. I plan to buy BeyondATC for IFR - at least that's a one-time charge. 

I found out how to solve problem 1... thanks to that thread above on the official forums. 

Quote

This was happening to me (SU2 / A320Nv2 / XBOX X / IniBuilds). However, I stopped specifying destination airport on the free flight loading screen the issue never happened again.
When creating the flight, just choose the departure location (e.g. gate where your flight starts) and go flying. When inside the aircraft, load EFB, create the flight plan and send the flight plan to ATC. Then program FMC, configure the aircraft and when ready request ATC IFR clearance. From this point on ATC follows its normal course.

Except I do the same for VFR... select only my starting point on the world map, then do the rest in the plane on the EFB/Garmin.

Edited July 22, 2025Jul 22 by Virtual-Chris

What kind of ATC services are you expecting when operating VFR though? Aside for cleared for take off and cleared to land. I suppose it would all depend on where you are operating and what airspace it is. 

On 7/21/2025 at 10:11 PM, Dave_YVR said:

What kind of ATC services are you expecting when operating VFR though? Aside for cleared for take off and cleared to land. I suppose it would all depend on where you are operating and what airspace it is. 

As you say, I’m just expecting the basics. Problem is, I ran into a bug where I’d plan a VFR flight and my copilot would request IFR clearance. On top of that, as I say in the original post, the window to interact with ATC is buggy. It all added up to a frustrating experience just trying to do a basic VFR flight. But I’m sorted now.