X-Plane 11 ATC (Air Traffic Control)
X-Plane 11 has a revised, flexible ATC voice system for improved realism. ATC commands can now be prefaced with your tail-number, your airline, flight number, and more. The tutorial video below shows the revised ATC system and goes through the steps to set up a flight plan and contact ATC for clearance and taxi instructions.
Users can choose to have text, verbal, or both types of ATC messages enabled. By default, ATC text and verbal messages should both be enabled. These settings are located in the Sound tab of the General Settings Menu, under Air Traffic Control.
Setting up a Flight Plan
To get started, press the Return/ Enter key to bring up the ATC window.
(Note: if you hit the enter key and you get a narrow black box, that is a chat box, and this means you have multiplayer enabled. Turn this off in your network settings to get the ATC window back.)
Press the button File Flight Plan to specify information about your flight.
The aircraft identification box lists the c172 tail number by default, but you can change this if you wish using the drop-down menus. These are the fields that ATC will use to identify your aircraft when they talk with you. You can also specify the airline and flight number if you wish.
The Departure ICAO field will be filled with the current location, so you just need to enter your destination airport into the Arrival ICAO field. Fill in your enroute altitude next.
Leave the Route field blank if you want to fly direct, but you can also enter any NDB/VOR/FIX/Airway to get real routings.
We recommend checking the "Auto-tune recommended frequencies" box. When combined with the Departure Wizard, (enabled by default), this makes the ATC process very straightforward and easy to use.
Preparing for Takeoff
Request altimeter and then read back the transmission.
(Note: If you click Readback Transmission while ATC is still talking, you will hear a beep, which indicates the line is in use.)
You can also use the Repeat Last Transmission button if you need to hear ATC's instructions again.
Request Clearance and read back those instructions.
Request Taxi and acknowledge the clearance as before. Follow the yellow arrows painted on the ground directing you to where you should go. Where the arrows stop, you must also stop and wait for further instructions. These arrows are enabled by default. You can turn them off in the settings if you prefer.
Taxi to where the arrows are taking you, and when you reach the side of the runway, ground will instruct you to contact the tower and auto-tune the frequency once you respond.
Check in with the new controller. This is how you tell the controller you're now on their frequency and waiting for their command.
If there are AI aircraft using the runway, you will have to wait until they are done. Tower will call you and give you your takeoff clearance.
Respond and then depart.
In the Air/ Landing
Once you're in the air, you'll have additional options to cancel your flight plan or to request a missed approach.
You will be handed off to the center controller at some point. Check in as you did before. Continue on your heading and altitude and eventually the controller will begin vectoring you to an approach at your destination.
Once the approach is set up, you will be handed off to the the tower for landing.
Follow all instructions til you are back at your gate.
Our Manual
The X-Plane 11 manual is a great online resource for finding answers and solving problems. And best of all, its searchable. Go here and use your browser's find function or the Table of Contents to find more information.