ATC - On and OFF

[Paintwagon]

I know how to turn the ATC on..(`), but once it is on, how do you turn it off? The only way I have done this is to contact ATC and just not reply to anything (ATC Terminated). Is there a key to turn this off?

[BFMF]

What exactly do you mean by turning ATC off. You mean the radios off? Simply flip the Avionics switch. If you're talking about ATC service like flight following, or if you're on an IFR flightplan, you should be able to cancell either. If you're flying the pattern at a controlled airport, you should be able to cancel landing intentions. Or, you could simply tune your radios to another frequency

[simonmd]

Just re tune the COM1 radio to a random frequency and ATC will be gone.

[Paintwagon]

Thanks.. Retuning Com1 turned off the sound, but the display still appeared. I then X'ed out of it...

[garymbuska]

You can turn off AI traffic and fly VFR and you will not hear much from ATC unless you apply for traffic following. Other than that I do not think you can get rid of ATC all together. 8-)

[Hagar]

Copied from the FS9 Learning Center

Disabling ATC

If you don't initiate contact with ATC at the beginning of your flight, you can fly without any interaction with controllers.
You may still hear transmissions to other aircraft if your radio is tuned to a local frequency.
Turn off the avionics master switch if you don't want to hear local radio calls.

[Nav]

Paintwagon, there's a compromise.

1. Get takeoff clearance (with or without 'Flight Following'), take off, and fly the first leg of your trip. Ask for and receive airspace clearances if required.

2. Cancel 'Flight Following,' if you've got it on, at any time, by punching the numbers on the ATC screen. After that you can fly whatever course you like.

3. Quite soon ATC will 'hand you off' to the next station along. Acknowledge the hand-off but DON'T contact the next station.

4. You can then re-establish contact with ATC (for landing etc.) at any time, just by bringing up the ATC screen and contacting whichever ATC Centre is shown at the top.

5. If you encounter bad visibility and need an IFR approach, you can organise that too, by filing an IFR flightplan in flight. Alternatively, if you've taken off IFR, you can cancel that and revert to VFR in flight. Those options are on the ATC screen, too.

[Paintwagon]

Thanks for the info, NAV... It is very helpful......