diff --git a/ros_acomms/src/tdma_advanced_node.py b/ros_acomms/src/tdma_advanced_node.py
index 07fde2cad431cc5a00fd12780823832bd91222e8..5ee01f3ededbdeb5586a23ae59d1632a333865d0 100755
--- a/ros_acomms/src/tdma_advanced_node.py
+++ b/ros_acomms/src/tdma_advanced_node.py
@@ -402,10 +402,6 @@ class TdmaAdvancedMacNode(TdmaMacNode):
 
             if position_in_queue is not None:
                 update_last_tx = True
-            # after sending comms packet, we clear the flags on nav pings
-            # after sending all modem pings requested, a transponder ping (if requested) is sent out, 
-            # .. then comms are allowed to use the remaining active time
-            sent_modem_pings, sent_transponder_ping = False, False
             self.log_debug(f'DEBUG: tdma advanced sent packet, position in queue: {position_in_queue}')
 
         return sent_modem_pings, sent_transponder_ping, update_last_tx