Landing pad empty but no docking

[CmdrJacks]

Is this a bug? I've watched the pad which is lit up (meaning it's ready?) but no clearance given. Nothing takes off and suddenly I'm allowed to dock. Very annoying.

 

[Teklow82]

Patience. The hydraulics under the pad have to get back in place. Remember. This is a sim. Does take a few.

 

[lexandro]

May well have been another player logging off or someone canceling the landing request. Pads only light up when someone is coming in to dock. If you dont have clearance yet and they are lit, it means its busy and you need to wait.

 

[CmdrJacks]

I'm talking about 10 minutes of waiting and it happening consistently on subsequent visits to station. I've even done the loading a new instance thing but it doesn't seem to help.

EDIT: And I've seen several NPCs take off without another landing in between.

 

[Phero77]

Its not a bug, its a stealth ship..

 

[Crell]

I'm talking about 10 minutes of waiting and it happening consistently on subsequent visits to station. I've even done the loading a new instance thing but it doesn't seem to help.

EDIT: And I've seen several NPCs take off without another landing in between.

I had almost the opposite yesterday. Cleared to dock but there was another craft on the pad that didn't move for 5 mins. I had to cancel and ask for permission again. The ship wasn't on the radar, but you definately "hit it" if you tried to land on the pad.

 

[Zplintz]

The pad stays lit up when another ship is in the hangar (player or npc).

A pad is in use while a ship is docking, on the pad or inside the hangar (dropping into the hangar does not free it up for anyone else) + the animation is slightly bugged sometimes.

Assuming that npcs do not go afk while docked, players definately do. If thry are in/on the single medium pad often found at outposts, no medium ship will be avke to land until the blocking Player logs off or launches.