X-Plane 12
X-Plane 12.2 Beta Brings Vulkan Improvements and New ATC Features
By Emma Thornton · · 2 min read
Laminar Research has released X-Plane 12.2 beta, featuring significant Vulkan API optimizations and a revamped ATC system with SID/STAR support. The update also includes new default aircraft and enhanced weather radar.
Laminar Research has announced the release of X-Plane 12.2 beta, a major update that promises substantial performance gains and new features. The Vulkan renderer has been optimized to reduce CPU overhead and improve frame rates, particularly in complex scenery areas. Early testers report smoother performance in high-density regions like New York and London, with reduced stuttering and faster texture loading.
The default ATC system has been overhauled to include support for SID/STAR procedures and more realistic vectoring. The new ATC engine can now assign departures and arrivals based on active runways and weather, and it provides more accurate altitude and speed restrictions. This brings X-Plane's default ATC closer to the experience offered by third-party solutions like Pilot2ATC, though it still lacks full voice recognition.
Additionally, X-Plane 12.2 introduces a new default aircraft: the Cirrus SR22 with G1000 avionics, featuring a detailed flight model and interactive checklists. The weather radar has also been improved to include tilt control and ground clutter suppression. Laminar has also updated the default G1000 to include more accurate engine pages and synthetic vision.
For X-Plane users, this beta represents a significant step forward in both performance and simulation depth. The Vulkan improvements alone are worth the update, and the ATC enhancements make flying IFR more realistic. The beta is available now via the X-Plane installer, and users are encouraged to report bugs to Laminar's bug tracker.
Tags: X-Plane 12, Laminar Research, Vulkan, ATC, Beta