The FS Conference 2024 took place last weekend at the terminal of Paderborn-Lippstadt Airport, showcasing a vibrant gathering of flight simulation enthusiasts and industry professionals. Sponsored by key players like SIMMARKET, OnAir Airline Manager, VA Systems by DarkOcean, and SayIntentions.AI, the event featured a series of talks introduced by Aerosoft CEO Winfried Diemann. Presentations by prominent organizations such as VATSIM, SayIntentions.AI, MobiFlight, Cruise Level, IVAO, and Homecockpit-BAU highlighted innovations and trends in the flight simulation community, primarily in German.
The conference also included exhibitor booths from software add-on developers, hardware manufacturers, resellers, and ATC/pilot multiplayer networks like VATSIM and IVAO. Attendees explored offerings from media outlets like Cruise Level and associations such as the FlugSimulator Club. This diverse showcase fostered engagement between enthusiasts and professionals, emphasizing the ongoing evolution and vibrancy of the flight simulation ecosystem.
Software
The FS Conference 2024 showcased a wide range of software innovations, with ToLiss demonstrating its Airbus collection for X-Plane 12, including the recently released A330-900. Visitors could explore these aircraft on a dedicated desktop simulator, enhanced by the use of miniCockpit FCU and EFIS units compatible with ToLiss planes. As an officially licensed Airbus partner, ToLiss highlighted the realistic features of its products, available for both X-Plane 11 and 12, providing an immersive experience for attendees.
Pilot’s brought their diverse lineup to the event, presenting their Dash 7 and Boeing 314 the Clipper aircraft for MSFS, alongside a variety of detailed airport sceneries such as LEAL Alicante , KCDK Cedar Key, 2NC0 Mountain Air Airport or W24 Falwell Airport. Their offerings showcased a commitment to quality and variety, catering to flight simulation enthusiasts interested in both aircraft and highly immersive sceneries. Visitors were able to interact with their products and gain insights into Pilot’s unique development approach.
SayIntentions.AI impressed attendees with their advanced ATC and flight-enhancement solutions. Their representatives were here to present and explain the multiple features included in SayIntentions.AI products. Their Premium subscription unlocks dynamic ATC interactions. The serious advantages of their ATC solution, accessible via the Premium subscription ony, give you advantages not only like AI voices but also random events and AI interactions, since they are not scripted and limited. This said, for all Entourage MSFS24/20 users, the features list is already complete and impressive with many kind of agents and crews simulated, interacting during your flight : cabin crews, tour guides, dispatchers. Additional features spice up your adventures with – CabinCrisis: 100+ million AI driven emergency scenarios – Medical, Passenger disruptions, harrasement, safety issues.. you name it! Can have a set percent chance of happening, or be triggered at any time by the pilot. Other notable functionalities include ATC Chatter, Progressive Taxi guidance, and AI-driven “Follow Me” cars for added realism. Their innovative approach to unscripted and highly immersive simulation drew significant attention at the conference.And yes, Entourage MSFS works flawlessly in both Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 and 2020.
FlightSim Studio showcased a broad portfolio of products for MSFS, including the B727 Freighter, Tecnam P2006T, and the E-Jets series (170, 175, 190, 195). Their simulators allowed attendees to test these aircraft, emphasizing the studio’s dedication to delivering realistic and versatile aircraft for a variety of simmers’ needs. Complemented by their attention to smaller airfields like Airfield Ganderkesee, FlightSim Studio demonstrated a balanced focus on both general aviation and commercial aircraft development.
Another booth was VA Systems by DarkOcean‘s who is a leading provider of airline scheduling solutions, boasting a vast database of over 500 airlines and more than 8 million schedules derived from 200 million historical flights. Serving over 6,000 airports and tracking 45,000 aircraft registrations, the platform offers detailed, real-world flight schedules tailored for virtual airlines and individual flight simmers. Their offerings include specialized schedule packs for major carriers like British Airways, EasyJet, American Airlines, Korean Air, Virgin Atlantic, and Lufthansa, as well as immersive training modules for airports like JFK and Heathrow. They have started to expand their products selection with Missions Training Packs for MSFS24/20 like their recent Airport STAR Training series for John F. Kennedy and for London Heathrow. For more information, visit SIMMARKET here.
Aerosoft
Aerosoft dominated the FS Conference 2024 with the largest booth and a significant visual presence, supported by a sizable on-site crew. Their showcase included a variety of hardware products, accompanied by a detailed printed catalog for visitors. Attendees could experience three simulator setups featuring MSFS, the new MSFS 2024, and X-Plane 12, separate from the FlightSim Studio AG area. Aerosoft also prominently displayed a large banner for Honeycomb Aeronautical, drawing attention to the eagerly awaited Charlie Pedals, which were available for testing.
Interestingly, Aerosoft did not feature its A330 in the event’s displays, a not so surprising omission given its particularly fresh feedback from the flightsim community. Furthermore, as communicated by their marketing team ahead of the conference, the developer team did not attend, leaving technical discussions or insights into specific projects absent from the event. Despite this, Aerosoft maintained strong engagement with visitors through its comprehensive hardware demonstrations and immersive simulation setups.
Hardware
The FS Conference 2024 also featured a strong presence of hardware exhibitors, highlighting cutting-edge technologies for flight simulation enthusiasts. Notable participants included Cockpit Crafters, Homesim, Octavi, Honeycomb Aeronautical, MobiFlight, Aerodreams, and FScockpit. These companies showcased a wide range of products, from high-quality flight controls and panels to custom cockpit setups and DIY solutions for enhancing the realism of home flight simulation experiences.
Attendees had the opportunity to explore the latest in flight simulation hardware, engage with manufacturers, and discover innovations tailored to various budgets and skill levels. Whether looking for advanced yokes and throttle quadrants or modular cockpit building kits, the diverse lineup of exhibitors catered to both casual simmers and professional-grade enthusiasts. This hands-on experience underscored the event’s focus on bridging the gap between technology and immersion in the virtual skies.
Online Networks – IVAO / VATSIM
At FS Conference 2024 at Paderborn-Lippstadt, visitors could meet with team members of the popular multiplayer networks of IVAO And VATSIM on their respective booth.
IVAO was showing off their new client software, Attitude, now available for Windows, macOS, and Linux. Major updates include a redesigned user interface built on Qt 6.6 for improved compatibility and native rendering libraries for each operating system. Enhancements include resizable UI windows, better screen scaling support, and fixes for GPU-related issues. Additional features include reorganized AutoUNICOM functionality and observer mode connections with staff positions as callsigns. IVAO is also preparing for its annual Crowded Skies event, set for December 8, 2024.
VATSIM Germany, part of the global VATSIM network, provides free ATC services and organizes frequent events, catering to pilots and controllers in its vACC region. Their weekly rotating events span major cities, such as Hanover Trainee Night on November 26, Cologne Wednesday on November 27, and simultaneous events in Hamburg and Stuttgart on November 28. The week concludes with activities in Hanover and Frankfurt on November 29. These events offer pilots the chance to participate in realistic virtual air traffic operations while encouraging engagement with the European aviation simulation community.
