X-Plane 12
X-Plane 12.2.0 Beta Lands with New ATC, Improved Turbulence, and Enhanced Autogen
By James Whitfield · · 2 min read
Laminar Research has opened the beta for X-Plane 12.2.0, delivering a rebuilt ATC system, more realistic turbulence modeling, and enhanced autogen scenery. The update also includes performance optimizations for Vulkan and improved VRAM management.
Laminar Research has released the first public beta of X-Plane 12.2.0, a significant update that touches nearly every aspect of the simulator. The headline feature is a complete rebuild of the default ATC system, which now uses a more robust flight plan parser and offers improved SID/STAR assignment. Controller phraseology has been tightened, and the system better handles vectors and altitude clearances, though it remains a work in progress. For VATSIM pilots, the default ATC is largely irrelevant, but for offline IFR practice, the improvements are welcome.
Turbulence and weather modeling have received a substantial overhaul. Laminar has integrated a new computational fluid dynamics (CFD) based turbulence model that generates more realistic gust profiles and mountain wave activity. The result is a more dynamic ride, particularly in convective weather, where updrafts and downdrafts now interact with terrain more plausibly. This should please pilots flying the FlightFactor A320 or ToLiss A340, who will feel the aircraft react more naturally to atmospheric disturbances.
Autogen scenery has been enhanced with new building types and improved regional accuracy, reducing the repetitive suburban sprawl that plagued earlier versions. The update also includes performance optimizations: Vulkan memory management has been refined, and VRAM usage is lower in dense urban areas, which should help those running 8GB GPUs. Loading times have been reduced on NVMe drives.
X-Plane 12.2.0 is available now via the Steam beta channel and the Laminar installer. As with any beta, users should back up their preferences and expect some add-on incompatibilities. Laminar is soliciting feedback on the ATC and turbulence models via its developer blog.
Tags: Laminar Research, X-Plane 12, ATC, turbulence, Vulkan