Welcome to the 1.2.10 version of the Microsoft Flight Simulator Alpha!

In this update you’ll find a description of the new content we’ve added, bugs we’ve addressed, and an updated list of known issues.

We know many of you have been waiting to fly jets, and today we’re incredibly excited to announce the wait is over!

In close partnership with Airbus, we’re proud to release the Airbus A320 for community testing. This is a key step in our development process as we work together with the community to finalize this aircraft for launch.

Though this is the first version of the plane, we hope you will help test many of the systems we’ve already included. For example:

Fly by Wire system including some of the flight-envelope protection features and new airliner-specific autopilot and auto-throttle functions.
MCDU (flight computer)
FCU (Autopilot control panel) functions implemented.
SID’s and STAR’s
High altitude flight
Long range missions
Land with autobrake and ground spoilers
Newly implemented ground handling features such as jetways, refueling trucks, baggage and catering, pushback and ground power carts.
There are some complex systems in the aircraft that we did not include at this stage in order to ensure focus on the ones that were ready to be tested. You should expect that some indications may be missing or not final, and some displays may show anomalies. Many of the autopilot and auto-throttle functions work but some are still WIP. You will be able to fly ILS and visual approaches, but full approach functionality is not included in this version. Expect updates to the MSDU functionality and audio during our next round of updates.

It has been an incredible experience partnering with Airbus to bring the A320 to the next iteration of Microsoft Flight Simulator. And we are looking forward to working with the community to ensure the very best flight simulation experience across all our aircraft.

Alpha testers, Airbus A320 is cleared for takeoff!

-Microsoft Flight Simulator Team-

Airbus A320 NEO Is now cleared for takeoff!
 

Airport Life improvements
Bug fixing
Addition of Tarmac workers in airports
Improved parking spot settings based on plane types
Improved ground service vehicles visuals and behaviors
Air Traffic behaviors improvement
Performance impact fixed
Ground service vehicles can be used/called through ATC
Baggage loader
Ground power Unit
Passenger boarding ramp
Fuel Truck
Catering Truck
Airport area elevation improvement in generic airports
 

Performance and stability changes

Changes made to UI allowing users to save/load assignment mapping easier

Traffic nameplates no longer obscure other players
Installation issues/Duplicate packages fixed
 

Fixed installation issues with duplicate files/not removing old directories
 

Displays

Approach speed bug and values are missing from the speed tape
Direct to waypoints display does not match reality on ND and in MCDU
Flight director blinks regularly
Flight director can be off on final approach
Traffic display on ND cannot be disabled
ILS nav beacons are not displayed in the MCDU flight plan section
Radar altimeter callouts report altitude approximately 10 feet higher than they should
The flight plan overlay symbols can be drawn at incorrect position
Radio frequencies don’t update following ATC window set frequencies
Direct to doesn’t display DIR destination on PFD
Scale is not correct for flight path drawing between NAV and ARC modes on PFD
PFD shows ETA in local time rather than ZULU time
FMA auto thrust mode during take off can show wrong information
Only Fuel and Engine synoptic displays are implemented
Flight management and guidance system

RNAV and VOR DME procedures are displayed in MCDU but are not yet supported
VOR indicators don’t work
LOC mode doesn’t work
Expedite mode is not implemented
FMGC does not take into account selected speed in MCDU as in reality
In MCDU departure runway cannot be selected without also selecting a SID
TRK/FPA mode is not implemented
MCDU “VIA airways” feature is not implemented
Mach/IAS automatic switch at high altitude is not fully working
MCDU performance approach phase automatic triggering happens too early during approach
Top of climb and descent must be more precisely calculated and displayed
Selected runway via the world map can be different from the one in the MCDU
Altitude constraints are implemented but not yet fully functional
Autoland is not implemented
Both autopilots cannot be selected at the same time
CAT 3 ILS is displayed in the FMA with only one AP enabled
Missed approach altitude cannot be set in MCDU during approach
Engaging managed mode for heading can cause unexpected aircraft behaviors
The selected and managed options cannot be selected in the MCDU
Backcourse navigation is not implemented
LVL CLB message in FMA should blink and not be framed when passing thrust reduction altitude
Other systems

Engine oil pressure is too high
Engine oil quantity is too high and does not change as N1 increases
External power is not available while the plane is on a parking spot
Air pressure displayed while starting engines is too low
Weather radar tilt cannot be changed
TCAS and TARA are not implemented
Transponder code needs to be cleared before another code can be set
ADIRS is not implemented
Battery voltage should decrease when turning on multiple systems while operating on Battery
Sound

The APU bleed sound is too quiet
Thrust levers detents can be impossible to hear when using some peripherals
The master warning sound does not match reality
Misc

A placard is missing on the rudder pedals
Some tooltips are missing
 

Some jetways are misplaced at airports
Black stripes can be visible on the side of different world tiles
Trees sometimes overlap with buildings
There are missing buildings in Chicago-O’Hare airport
There are missing buildings in Frankfurt am Main Airport
FPS tends to drop after the end of a loading sequence
FPS tends to drops during intro cutscenes
There are possible FPS drops when moving the camera around the plane
Objectives can fail to show any inputs if they were previously cleared by the user under Controls
Panels previously undocked from the toolbar can appear enable on any Activity
There are issues with the TTS voice on the Take-off Flight Training when using the Female Voice
The TTS voice during the Take Off Flight Training audio and subtitles are mismatched
We still display some debug subtitle-text with TTS audio on the Landing Flight Training
Planes can teleport 900 – 5000 FT above when returning to freeflight from any Landing Challenge
The ‘‘Apply the Brakes’’ objective fails to get completed after the player applies the brakes during that Landing Tutorial
Objectives can break using the despawn /respawn at the start of the Take Off Flight Training
The TBM930 engine shuts down after a teleport
Intermittent weather bug that can sometimes create unrealistic gusting winds, more likely to hit this when the user changes settings mid-session.
HUEN main buildings are not spawning
Autopilot can become inoperable when switching between Vertical Speed and Altitude in All Aircrafts.
Switching instructor models mid flight (in tutorials) will not switch the instructor voices.

Upcoming Alpha releases:
 
    Alpha Update – Build 1.2.12.0
        In final testing. Prepping for release. Target release date within 7 days.
        SDK bug fixes
        ATC bug fixes
        Experimental tech for community feedback – Neural TTS solution
        Full build notes to be posted upon release.
 
    Alpha Update – Build 1.3.0.0
        In testing.
        Target release date – May.
        Boeing 747 ready for first round of community testing/feedback.
        Bug fixes
        Full build notes to be posted upon release.