The world of flight simulation is becoming increasingly realistic, and a key component is a convincing Air Traffic Control (ATC). A recent video published on YouTube highlights a significant update to BeyondATC, a promising project in this area, that takes AI-controlled air traffic controllers to a new level.

LLM for More Natural Interaction

The core of the update is the integration of a Large Language Model (LLM), as described in the YouTube video. This AI model enables more natural and intuitive communication with virtual air traffic control. Requests are better understood, and the responses from the AI controllers are not only precise but also context-aware and – who would have thought – sometimes even humorous!

Intelligent Traffic Management

In addition to the LLM, the development team has also been working intensively on improving AI-controlled air traffic, according to the YouTube video. Particular attention was paid to avoiding congestion and blockages on the taxiways. New algorithms enable the ATC AI to anticipate traffic and take preventive measures. Functions such as “Takeoff Without Delay” and “Backtrack” have also been optimized to ensure smooth flight operations. Another highlight is the dynamic adaptation of radio communications to the current traffic situation. On less frequented frequencies, there are more detailed instructions and small talk, while on heavily frequented frequencies, communication is reduced to the essentials.

Tutorials for Easy Start

To make it easier for new users to get started with BeyondATC, interactive tutorials have been integrated, as mentioned in the YouTube video. These guide you step-by-step through the basic functions of the software and cover both IFR and VFR procedures.

Looking to the Future

The BeyondATC roadmap, presented in the YouTube video, shows that the project is in a stable phase of further development. In addition to bug fixes and continuous improvements, the implementation of VFR flights is planned as the next major milestone. The development team also plans to publish a survey to take into account user feedback for future feature developments.

Recognition for BeyondATC

The hard work of the team behind BeyondATC is also recognized by the community: The project has been nominated in the “Best Tool” category for the Flight Sim Awards 2025, as reported in the YouTube video.

BeyondATC promises to take flight simulation to a new level in terms of realism and immersion. We are excited to see how the project will develop in the future!