X-Plane 12
X-Plane 12.2 Update Brings Major ATC Overhaul, New Weather Radar, and Vulkan Optimizations
By Emma Thornton · · 2 min read
Laminar Research's X-Plane 12.2 update introduces a completely rewritten ATC system, a new weather radar simulation, and significant Vulkan performance improvements, now available in open beta.
Laminar Research has released the first open beta of X-Plane 12.2, a substantial update that addresses several long-standing community requests. The headline feature is a completely rewritten ATC system, which now supports SIDs and STARs, holds, and more natural vectoring. The new ATC also integrates with the flight planner and can handle complex airspace transitions, according to Laminar.
Additionally, X-Plane 12.2 introduces a new weather radar simulation that models attenuation and beam tilt, providing a more realistic depiction of precipitation. The update also includes Vulkan optimizations that promise up to 20% performance gains in CPU-bound scenarios, as well as improved VRAM management. Other changes include updated default aircraft, including a revised Cessna 172 with a G1000 cockpit, and new particle effects for runway contamination.
The beta is available now via the X-Plane installer. Third-party developers have been given early access to the new ATC SDK, and several are already working on integrations. Laminar has cautioned that the beta may have stability issues and recommends users back up their installation. The final release is expected in early 2027.
Tags: X-Plane 12, Laminar Research, ATC, weather radar, Vulkan