BeyondATC has been relatively quiet for the past several months, working to improve the stability of the core program. Now, the developer is back with a new video on their YouTube channel recapping recent improvements, as well as announcing the development roadmap for adding Visual Flight Rules (VFR) support to the popular AI-powered Air Traffic Control addon for Microsoft Flight Simulator.
In the video, BeyondATC describes the improvements made to the core program since the last development update video. These include performance enhancements and adding support for GSX and realistic CPDLC. Additionally, the program now includes localized voices with 800+ US and UK voices, traffic improvements featuring realistic flight plans and schedules, and custom airport operations for more realistic traffic handling at large airports.
Moving on to the product roadmap, BeyondATC confirms that adding VFR support will be the next major update for the software. Previously, the program focused almost exclusively on IFR (Instrument Flight Rules) operations, leaving a significant gap for pilots looking to simulate VFR operations. The coming update aims to make the software a complete solution for all types of flying.
BeyondATC says that in order to allow for a quicker rollout to its users, VFR support will be introduced in three stages, starting at the airport level and expanding “outward”. Initially, the program will focus on VFR circuits and traffic patterns, clearances, touch-and-gos, and entering and exiting the airport environment. Stage 2 will cover operations in different classes of airspace, including entering, exiting, and transitioning between different airspace classes and FIRs. Finally, stage 3 will allow users to perform a full flight with VFR services. ATC phraseology and procedures vary worldwide, and as such, the program will initially focus on perfecting VFR operations across three core regions: the US, UK, and Australia, with more regions and procedures added over time.
Lastly, the dev team cautions that support for VFR operations in BeyondATC will take quite some time to develop, and won’t launch feature-complete with the next product update. Recreating VFR operations within the program will also require several backend system changes that will be released between the VFR release stages.
To learn more about BeyondATC or to purchase your copy of the program, visit their website at https://www.beyondatc.net
