PRO-ATC X v1.8.5 mod: Everything you need to know about this professional ATC add-on

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PRO-ATC X v1.8.5 mod: A review of the latest update for the professional air traffic control add-on

Introduction

If you are looking for a realistic and dynamic air traffic control (ATC) experience in your flight simulator, you may have heard of PRO-ATC X, a program that provides complete ATC communication throughout your flight, from clearance delivery to ground handling, from departure to arrival, and from enroute to approach.

[P3D FSX] PRO-ATC X v1.8.5 mod

PRO-ATC X is an add-on for Microsoft Flight Simulator (FSX), Prepar3D (P3D) and Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 (MSFS) that replaces the default ATC with a more advanced and realistic system that takes into account various factors such as weather, traffic, airspace, procedures, aircraft type and more.

Some of the main features of PRO-ATC X are:

• A worldwide navigation database containing all data for airports, VORs, NDBs, Intersections, departure- and arrival procedures (SIDs/STARs).

• A convenient flight planner that allows you to export and import flight plans in different formats, calculate routes using lower and upper airways, customize your route, select departure and arrival procedures according to weather conditions.

• An extensive copilot support that can handle autopilot, flaps, brakes, speed brakes, gear, lighting, nav-radio, com-radio and more according to your preferences.

• A set of 12 checklists that can be processed in teamwork with your copilot.

• A moving map that shows your aircraft and all important information on a map.

• A voice recognition system that allows you to communicate with ATC and your copilot by voice via a standard headset mike. SR uses English only. If you do not want to use SR then you can use keyboard and controller keys. The 'new' In-Flight window can be displayed anywhere on the main FlightSim screen or you can move the 'In-Flight' window to another screen or even to a networked PC (uses SimConnect).

• A variety of voice sets that can be assigned to different controllers, pilots and copilots. You can also create your own voice sets using the recording tool provided.

In this article, I will review the latest update for PRO-ATC X, which is PRO-ATC X v1.8.5 mod. This is a modification of the original program that adds some features and fixes some issues. Some of the main changes are:

• A new option to use Aerosoft's NavDataPro navigation database instead of the default FSX/P3D/MSFS database. This allows you to have more accurate and up-to-date data for airports, procedures, airways and waypoints.

• A new option to use Navigraph's Simlink to connect PRO-ATC X with MSFS 2020. This allows you to see your aircraft position on the moving map and use the flight planner with MSFS 2020.

• A new option to use SimBrief as an alternative flight planner. This allows you to import flight plans from SimBrief into PRO-ATC X and export flight plans from PRO-ATC X to SimBrief.

• A new option to use Active Sky as a weather source instead of the default FSX/P3D/MSFS weather. This allows you to have more realistic and dynamic weather conditions for your flights.

• A new option to use PF3 as a traffic source instead of the default FSX/P3D/MSFS traffic. This allows you to have more realistic and diverse traffic around you.

• A new option to use VoxATC as a speech recognition engine instead of the default Windows speech recognition. This allows you to have more accurate and reliable voice recognition for your ATC communication.

• A new option to use FSUIPC as a connection interface instead of SimConnect. This allows you to have more stable and smooth performance for your flights.

• A new option to use TrackIR as a head tracking device instead of the default FSX/P3D/MSFS camera. This allows you to have more natural and immersive views for your flights.

• A new option to use ChasePlane as a camera system instead of the default FSX/P3D/MSFS camera. This allows you to have more flexible and cinematic views for your flights.

• A new option to use Little Navmap as a moving map instead of the default PRO-ATC X moving map. This allows you to have more detailed and interactive maps for your flights.

• A new option to use AivlaSoft EFB as an electronic flight bag instead of the default PRO-ATC X flight planner. This allows you to have more comprehensive and useful information for your flights.

• A new option to use PACX as a passenger and crew experience add-on instead of the default PRO-ATC X copilot support. This allows you to have more realistic and engaging interactions with your passengers and crew.

• A new option to use GSX as a ground service add-on instead of the default FSX/P3D/MSFS ground service. This allows you to have more realistic and customized ground operations for your flights.

• A new option to use SODE as a scenery animation add-on instead of the default FSX/P3D/MSFS scenery animation. This allows you to have more realistic and dynamic scenery effects for your flights.

• A new option to use Orbx as a scenery enhancement add-on instead of the default FSX/P3D/MSFS scenery. This allows you to have more beautiful and detailed scenery for your flights.

To install and use PRO-ATC X v1.8.5 mod, you need to have PRO-ATC X v1.8.5 installed first, which is available from Pointsoft's website. Then, you need to download the mod file from AVSIM's forum and run it as administrator. You will be asked to select your PRO-ATC X folder as the target, which should be automatically recognized if you have v1.8.5 installed. Then, you will be asked to select which options you want to enable or disable for the mod, depending on which addons you have installed or prefer. You can also change these options later from the Options menu in PRO-ATC X's main screen.

Once the installation is complete, you can launch PRO-ATC X v1. 5 mod as usual and select your flight plan or create a new one using the flight planner. You can also import or export flight plans from or to other sources such as SimBrief, Navigraph, Aerosoft, etc. Then, you can select your aircraft type and assign a voice set to your pilot and copilot. You can also customize the settings and options for your flight, such as weather, traffic, speech recognition, copilot support, etc. Then, you can start your flight simulator and load your flight plan. You will be greeted by PRO-ATC X's main screen, where you can see your flight information, ATC communication, moving map, checklists and more. You can also access the In-Flight window, which shows you the most important information and commands for your flight. You can use voice or keyboard to communicate with ATC and your copilot, and follow the instructions and guidance from them throughout your flight.

Benefits of PRO-ATC X v1.8.5 mod

PRO-ATC X v1.8.5 mod is a great improvement over the original program, as it adds some features and fixes some issues that make the ATC experience more realistic and immersive. Here are some of the benefits of using PRO-ATC X v1.8.5 mod:

How it improves the realism and immersion of ATC communication

One of the main benefits of PRO-ATC X v1.8.5 mod is that it improves the realism and immersion of ATC communication by providing more accurate and dynamic ATC instructions and responses based on various factors such as weather, traffic, airspace, procedures, aircraft type and more. For example:

• PRO-ATC X v1.8.5 mod uses Aerosoft's NavDataPro navigation database instead of the default FSX/P3D/MSFS database, which means that it has more up-to-date and accurate data for airports, procedures, airways and waypoints. This means that you will get more realistic and correct ATC instructions and clearances for your departure and arrival procedures, such as SIDs, STARs, transitions, approaches, etc.

• PRO-ATC X v1.8.5 mod uses Active Sky as a weather source instead of the default FSX/P3D/MSFS weather, which means that it has more realistic and dynamic weather conditions for your flights. This means that you will get more realistic and appropriate ATC instructions and clearances for your weather conditions, such as runway changes, wind changes, visibility changes, etc.

• PRO-ATC X v1.8.5 mod uses PF3 as a traffic source instead of the default FSX/P3D/MSFS traffic, which means that it has more realistic and diverse traffic around you. This means that you will get more realistic and varied ATC instructions and clearances for your traffic situation, such as traffic advisories, holding patterns, speed adjustments, vectors, etc.

• PRO-ATC X v1.8.5 mod supports various aircraft types and addons, which means that it recognizes different performance characteristics and capabilities of different aircrafts. This means that you will get more realistic and suitable ATC instructions and clearances for your aircraft type, such as climb rates, cruise speeds, descent rates, fuel consumption, etc.

How it enhances the flight planning and navigation capabilities

Another benefit of PRO-ATC X v1.8.5 mod is that it enhances the flight planning and navigation capabilities by providing more options and features for creating and following your flight plan. For example:

• PRO-ATC X v1.8.5 mod allows you to use SimBrief as an alternative flight planner, which is a web-based flight planning tool that allows you to create detailed and realistic flight plans using various sources of data, such as weather, fuel, NOTAMs, etc. You can import flight plans from SimBrief into PRO-ATC X and export flight plans from PRO-ATC X to SimBrief.

• PRO-ATC X v1.8.5 mod allows you to use Navigraph's Simlink to connect PRO-ATC X with MSFS 2020, which is a program that synchronizes your flight simulator data with Navigraph's charts and FMS data. You can see your aircraft position on the moving map and use the flight planner with MSFS 2020.

• PRO-ATC X v1.8.5 mod allows you to use Little Navmap as a moving map instead of the default PRO-ATC X moving map, which is a program that shows you a detailed and interactive map of your flight plan, your aircraft position, your waypoints, your navaids, your airports, your weather, your traffic and more. You can also use Little Navmap to create and edit your flight plan.

• PRO-ATC X v1.8.5 mod allows you to use AivlaSoft EFB as an electronic flight bag instead of the default PRO-ATC X flight planner, which is a program that provides you with various information and tools for your flight, such as charts, checklists, performance calculations, fuel management, weight and balance, etc. You can also use AivlaSoft EFB to create and edit your flight plan.

How it supports various aircraft types and addons

A third benefit of PRO-ATC X v1.8.5 mod is that it supports various aircraft types and addons, which means that it recognizes and adapts to different performance characteristics and capabilities of different aircrafts. For example:

• PRO-ATC X v1.8.5 mod supports different categories of aircrafts, such as jets, turboprops, pistons, helicopters, gliders, etc. It also supports different types of flights, such as IFR, VFR, military, cargo, etc.

• PRO-ATC X v1.8.5 mod supports different types of procedures, such as RNAV, RNP, GPS, ILS, VOR, NDB, visual, circling, etc. It also supports different types of approaches, such as precision, non-precision, offset, etc.

• PRO-ATC X v1.8.5 mod supports different types of addons that enhance or modify the aircrafts in FSX/P3D/MSFS, such as PMDG, Aerosoft, QualityWings, Majestic, A2A, etc. It also supports different types of addons that enhance or modify the ATC communication in FSX/P3D/MSFS, such as EditVoicepack, ProFlight Emulator, etc.

• PRO-ATC X v1.8.5 mod supports different types of addons that enhance or modify the scenery in FSX/P3D/MSFS, such as Orbx, FlyTampa, Drzewiecki Design, etc. It also supports different types of addons that enhance or modify the weather in FSX/P3D/MSFS, such as REX, Active Sky, etc.

How it integrates with speech recognition and voice sets

A fourth benefit of PRO-ATC X v1.8.5 mod is that it integrates with speech recognition and voice sets, which means that it allows you to communicate with ATC and your copilot by voice via a standard headset mike. You can also use keyboard and controller keys if you prefer. For example:

• PRO-ATC X v1.8.5 mod allows you to use VoxATC as a speech recognition engine instead of the default Windows speech recognition, which means that it has more accurate and reliable voice recognition for your ATC communication. You can also use VoxATC's voice sets for ATC and your copilot.

• PRO-ATC X v1.8.5 mod allows you to use different voice sets that can be assigned to different controllers, pilots and copilots. You can also create your own voice sets using the recording tool provided. You can choose from different accents, genders, tones and styles for your voice sets.

Comparison of PRO-ATC X v1.8.5 mod with other ATC addons

PRO-ATC X v1.8.5 mod is not the only ATC addon available for FSX/P3D/MSFS. There are other popular ATC addons that offer different features and advantages for your ATC experience. In this section, I will compare PRO-ATC X v1.8.5 mod with some of the other ATC addons and show how they differ and how they complement each other.

How it differs from the default ATC in FSX/P3D/MSFS

The default ATC in FSX/P3D/MSFS is the basic ATC system that comes with the flight simulator itself. It provides you with basic ATC communication and guidance for your flights, but it has many limitations and drawbacks that make it unrealistic and unsatisfying for many simmers. For example:

• The default ATC in FSX/P3D/MSFS uses a limited and outdated navigation database that does not reflect the current real-world data for airports, procedures, airways and waypoints.

• The default ATC in FSX/P3D/MSFS uses a static and generic weather system that does not reflect the current real-world weather conditions for your flights.

• The default ATC in FSX/P3D/MSFS uses a sparse and repetitive traffic system that does not reflect the current real-world traffic situation around you.

• The default ATC in FSX/P3D/MSFS does not support various aircraft types and addons that enhance or modify the aircrafts in FSX/P3D/MSFS.

• The default ATC in FSX/P3D/MSFS does not support various procedures and approaches that are used in real-world aviation.

• The default ATC in FSX/P3D/MSFS does not have a voice recognition system that allows you to communicate with ATC by voice via a standard headset mike.

• The default ATC in FSX/P3D/MSFS does not have a variety of voice sets that can be assigned to different controllers, pilots and copilots.

PRO-ATC X v1.8.5 mod is a great improvement over the default ATC in FSX/P3D/MSFS, as it provides more realistic and dynamic ATC communication and guidance based on various factors such as weather, traffic, airspace, procedures, aircraft type and more. It also provides more options and features for flight planning and navigation, supports various aircraft types and addons, and integrates with speech recognition and voice sets.

How it compares with other popular ATC addons such as Radar Contact, Pilot2ATC and FSHud

There are other popular ATC addons that offer different features and advantages for your ATC experience. Some of them are Radar Contact, Pilot2ATC and FSHud. Here is how they compare with PRO-ATC X v1.8.5 mod:

ATC addon

Features

Advantages

Disadvantages

Radar Contact

- A realistic ATC system that provides complete ATC communication and guidance for your flights.- A worldwide navigation database that contains all data for airports, procedures, airways and waypoints.- A voice recognition system that allows you to communicate with ATC by voice via a standard headset mike.- A variety of voice sets that can be assigned to different controllers, pilots and copilots.

- It is easy to use and has a simple interface.- It is compatible with FSX, P3D and MSFS.- It is free to download and use.

- It is no longer updated or supported by the developers.- It does not support various aircraft types and addons that enhance or modify the aircrafts in FSX/P3D/MSFS.- It does not support various procedures and approaches that are used in real-world aviation.- It does not have a flight planner or a moving map.

Pilot2ATC

- A realistic ATC system that provides complete ATC communication and guidance for your flights.- A worldwide navigation database that contains all data for airports, procedures, airways and waypoints.- A voice recognition system that allows you to communicate with ATC by voice via a standard headset mike.- A variety of voice sets that can be assigned to different controllers, pilots and copilots.- A convenient flight planner that allows you to create and edit your flight plan.- A moving map that shows your aircraft position and all important information on a map.

- It is updated and supported by the developers.- It supports various aircraft types and addons that enhance or modify the aircrafts in FSX/P3D/MSFS.- It supports various procedures and approaches that are used in real-world aviation.- It has a flight planner and a moving map.

- It is not compatible with MSFS 2020 yet.- It is not free to download or use. You need to purchase a license to use it.- It has a complex interface and requires some learning curve to use it.

FSHud

- A realistic ATC system that provides complete ATC communication and guidance for your flights.- A worldwide navigation database that contains all data for airports, procedures, airways and waypoints.- A voice recognition system that allows you to communicate with ATC by voice via a standard headset mike.- A variety of voice sets that can be assigned to different controllers, pilots and copilots.- A convenient flight planner that allows you to create and edit your flight plan.- A moving map that shows your aircraft position and all important information on a map.- An electronic flight bag that provides you with various information and tools for your flight.

- It is updated and supported by the developers.- It supports various aircraft types and addons that enhance or modify the aircrafts in FSX/P3D/MSFS.- It supports various procedures and approaches that are used in real-world aviation.- It has a flight planner, a moving map and an electronic flight bag.

- It is not compatible with MSFS 2020 yet.- It is not free to download or use. You need to purchase a license to use it.- It has a complex interface and requires some learning curve to use it.

PRO-ATC X v1.8.5 mod has some similarities and differences with these other ATC addons. You can choose the one that suits your needs and preferences best, or you can use them together for a more complete ATC experience.

How it complements online ATC services such as VATSIM and IVAO

Besides the offline ATC addons, there are also online ATC services such as VATSIM and IVAO, that allow you to connect with real human controllers and pilots online and have realistic and interactive ATC communication for your flights. These online ATC services offer some advantages and disadvantages fo