X-Plane 12
X-Plane 12.3.0 Update Brings Major ATC Overhaul and New Weather Radar
By Trevor Bair · · 2 min read
Laminar Research has released X-Plane 12.3.0, introducing a completely rewritten ATC system with SID/STAR support and a functional weather radar. The update also improves turbulence modeling and VR performance.
Laminar Research has rolled out X-Plane 12.3.0, a significant update that overhauls the simulator's default ATC and adds a new weather radar simulation. The revamped ATC now supports full SID/STAR assignments, altitude clearances, and vectoring, bringing it closer to real-world operations. It also integrates with PilotEdge and VATSIM for seamless handoffs. The weather radar, available in aircraft like the default Cirrus SR22 and third-party add-ons, displays precipitation intensity and turbulence, with tilt and gain controls.
Other improvements include enhanced turbulence modeling based on real-world meteorological data, improved VR performance with foveated rendering, and updated runway textures for several default airports. The flight model has been refined for better ground handling and crosswind behavior. Laminar has also added support for the new Navigraph navdata cycle, ensuring accurate PBN procedures.
Third-party developers are already updating their aircraft to leverage the new features. ToLiss has confirmed that its A320neo and A340-600 will receive weather radar integration in upcoming patches. FlightFactor is also working on updating its 767 and 757 fleet. X-Plane 12.3.0 is available now via the Steam and Laminar Research websites. Users can expect a 2.5 GB download.
Tags: X-Plane 12, Laminar Research, ATC, Weather Radar, Update