NextATC Unicom

NextATC guideNextATC User Guide

4. User Interface

4.1 Radio Log#

The Radio Log is the main conversation area. It shows ATC and pilot messages, readback buttons, action buttons, timestamps if enabled, and optional auto-hide behaviour.

When ATC asks for a readback, the Radio Log normally shows:

  • Readback
  • Say Again

Readback confirms the instruction. Say Again requests the controller to repeat the current instruction.

Use the Radio Copilot · ON/OFF chip in the Radio Log to delegate pilot-monitoring radio work. When enabled, Radio Copilot performs deterministic readbacks, tunes assigned handoff frequencies, makes controller initial calls, and sends objective runway-vacated reports. Flight-plan filing, clearances, startup, pushback, taxi, crossing and takeoff requests, missed approaches, emergencies, weather deviations, and routing choices remain with the pilot. AutoFly has priority and shows the copilot as paused until its radio work has settled. Remember Radio Copilot state in Options controls whether the current state is restored after reload; when it is off, Radio Copilot starts disabled next time.

4.2 Frequency Box#

Open it from:

Plugins -> NextATC -> Frequencies selector

or with:

NextATC/frequency_selector_toggle

The Frequency Box lists the useful frequencies for the current departure or arrival context, such as Delivery, Ground, Tower, ATIS, Approach, and Center. Unavailable frequencies are hidden. If the Frequency Box is open, Handoff will normally act on its highlighted frequency first.

Use Handoff Switch to cycle the selected frequency. Close the Frequency Box when you want Handoff to return to readbacks or ATC action buttons.

4.3 Flight Actions#

The Altitude tab of the Nav Display provides Request cruise altitude change when it is available.

Declare emergency and Cancel IFR or Cancel VFR appear as Radio Log action buttons when their conditions are met. The actual radio workflow is shown in the Radio Log, not in a separate floating action dialog.

Open it from the plugin menu command or:

NextATC/nav_display

The Nav Display shows a route list and a map. The Flight Plan tab provides separate map-fit modes for departure, route, and arrival.

Nav Display features:

  • Departure, route, STAR, approximation, ILS, and runway fixes.
  • The current aircraft position.
  • The current taxi guide when on the ground.
  • TCAS traffic markers when traffic is available.
  • Weather radar context when available from X-Plane.
  • SID/STAR and FMS preview overlays.
  • Mouse-wheel zoom and mouse drag pan.
  • A single 2D/3D toggle below the zoom controls replaces the map surface with a spatial view of the same operational picture. Aircraft are placed at their observed current altitude; the route profile then follows published SID/STAR constraints, assigned initial and cruise altitudes, and the arrival runway elevation when those data are available. Where a route point has no exact altitude, the display estimates a plausible climb or descent from the aircraft category and remaining distance, including a stabilized final path, and distinguishes that estimate from known altitude references. The view remains a schematic map rather than terrain or scenery. External TCAS stays an observed position only, with no invented route, procedure, or intent.
  • Click the user-aircraft marker or a NextATC synthetic-aircraft marker to select its camera. Only the user aircraft can be repositioned: hold its marker for about half a second, then drag it to the new position.
  • (Alpha builds) A real map from OpenStreetMap under the map and the runway and approach previews. Switch it with MAP in the map layers legend (L); the setting is kept. It needs an internet connection: only the area on screen is downloaded, then kept for at least a week in the plugin's cache/maptiles folder. The OpenStreetMap servers therefore see which area you are looking at; switch MAP off to stay fully offline. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
  • (Alpha builds) The Airport board also lists your own flight, highlighted, with its stand, runway, status and estimated departure or arrival time; click it to return to your cockpit view.

The map keeps separate zoom and pan state per map-fit mode. If you zoom into a VFR pattern or airport area, hide the window, and show it again, that view is restored for the same mode.

4.5 Flight Info#

Flight Info is an on-screen status window for the current flight. It shows plugin version, navigation state, active route, speed, altitude, altimeter, departure/arrival information, radio state, weather, and autopilot state.

Use it for flight monitoring and bug reports. It is not required for normal operation.

4.6 VR (Alpha builds)#

In VR the radio becomes a panel you can move and resize in the headset. The Flight Plan window and the arrival parking map open in the headset too, and the SID/STAR preview opens in its own window. When the arrival runway window opens in flight, a Radio Log line and the action sound tell you.