Lesson Overview
Welcome to Module 10 of the Flight Sim Mastery Academy.
In this module you’ll learn how to use BeyondATC, one of the newest AI-powered air traffic control systems available for Microsoft Flight Simulator.
Unlike the default MSFS ATC system, BeyondATC uses AI-generated voices, realistic phraseology and dynamic traffic awareness to create a much more immersive IFR experience.
By the end of this lesson you’ll be able to:
- Install BeyondATC correctly
- Configure it for MSFS 2020 & 2024
- Connect SimBrief
- Configure traffic injection
- Integrate FSLTL models
- Fly an entire IFR flight
- Optimise performance
- Troubleshoot conflicts
- Benchmark CPU and FPS impact
Learning Objectives
After completing this lesson students will understand:
Installing BeyondATC
Creating an account
Voice package installation
SimBrief integration
AI Traffic Injection
Airline operations
Pushback procedures
IFR communications
STAR and SID handling
Missed approaches
Go-arounds
Emergencies
CPU impact
MainThread impact
Traffic optimisation
Stability testing
STEP 1 — Installation & Initial Setup
Estimated Time: 15 Minutes
What is BeyondATC?
BeyondATC is an AI-powered ATC application that runs externally alongside Microsoft Flight Simulator.
Unlike the default simulator ATC, BeyondATC provides:
- Natural AI voices
- Airline phraseology
- Dynamic ATC
- IFR procedures
- Realistic handoffs
- SID/STAR support
- AI Traffic Injection (where enabled)
- SimBrief integration
The application runs outside the simulator and communicates with MSFS through SimConnect, reducing the need to interact with the default ATC window.
System Requirements
Recommended:
Windows 11
16GB RAM minimum
32GB recommended
Modern quad-core CPU minimum
RTX 3060+
Internet connection
MSFS 2020 or MSFS 2024
SimBrief account
Creating Your Account
Visit BeyondATC’s website.
Create your account.
Record:
Username
Subscription status
Licence key (if applicable)
Downloading BeyondATC
Download the latest installer.
Install normally.
Avoid installing into:
Program Files (if permission issues occur)
OneDrive folders
External USB drives
Recommended location:
Dedicated SSD
First Launch
Launch BeyondATC.
Login.
Allow updates.
Verify:
Simulator detected
Audio devices detected
Microphone detected
Internet connected
Voice Packages
BeyondATC supports downloadable voice packs.
Different packs include:
Airline voices
Tower voices
Ground controllers
Approach
Departure
Centre
Regional accents
Different countries
Higher quality voices generally require more storage.
Audio Configuration
Configure:
Microphone
Headset
Push-to-talk
Input sensitivity
Noise suppression
Output device
Always test before your first flight.
SimBrief Integration
Open Settings.
Enter:
SimBrief Username
Validate login.
Import a flight.
Verify:
Route
Fuel
Aircraft
Departure
Arrival
SID
STAR
Traffic Injection
Traffic Injection allows BeyondATC to generate AI traffic.
Options include:
Static Aircraft
Live Aircraft
AI Airline Traffic
General Aviation
Ground Traffic
Choose an appropriate density for your hardware.
MSFS 2020 Setup
Launch simulator.
Start BeyondATC afterwards.
Confirm:
SimConnect connected
Aircraft recognised
Flight loaded
Audio active
MSFS 2024 Compatibility
Latest versions support MSFS 2024.
Always:
Use latest BeyondATC version
Latest SimConnect
Latest simulator update
Avoid beta builds unless testing.
STEP 2 — Configuration & Complete Flight
Estimated Time: 20 Minutes
Importing Your Flight Plan
Generate flight in SimBrief.
Import.
Verify:
Route
Cruise level
SID
STAR
Runways
Aircraft type
Alternate
Fuel
Performance
Selecting Voices
Students can choose:
British ATC
American
European
Australian
Male
Female
Mixed
Different regions improve immersion.
Push-To-Talk
Choose one button.
Avoid:
Space bar
Brake buttons
Autopilot disconnect
Use joystick or throttle instead.
Airline Callsigns
BeyondATC automatically recognises many airlines.
Example:
BAW123
Spoken:
Speedbird One Two Three
UAL222
United Two Two Two
AAL45
American Forty Five
Requesting Clearance
BeyondATC issues:
Route clearance
Squawk
Initial altitude
Departure frequency
Read back every clearance.
Pushback
BeyondATC coordinates:
Push approval
Engine start
Taxi release
Use with GSX for best immersion.
Taxi Instructions
Students learn:
Taxi routes
Hold short
Runway crossings
Hotspots
Progressive taxi
Always keep airport diagram open.
Departure
BeyondATC provides:
Takeoff clearance
SID
Altitude
Heading
Speed restrictions
Frequency changes
En-route Operations
Includes:
Altitude changes
Direct routing
Speed assignments
Weather deviations
Frequency handoffs
Holding
Vectoring
Arrival
Controllers provide:
STAR
Descend via
Speed restrictions
Runway changes
Approach assignment
Approach
Supports:
ILS
RNAV
Visual
Vectors
Sequencing
Transition management
Go-Around
If unstable:
Execute published missed approach.
BeyondATC:
Issues vectors
Re-sequences traffic
Provides another approach.
Students should practise this regularly.
Emergency Handling
Examples:
Engine failure
Hydraulic failure
Smoke
Medical emergency
Diversion
Emergency landing
Priority handling
Airline Operations
BeyondATC improves realism through:
Gate assignments
Push sequencing
Traffic flow
Busy arrivals
Runway sequencing
Holding patterns
STEP 3 — Performance Testing & Optimisation
Estimated Time: 10 Minutes
Establish Your Baseline
Record:
FPS
1% lows
CPU usage
GPU usage
RAM
VRAM
MainThread
Frame Times
CPU Usage
BeyondATC primarily loads:
Speech recognition
AI decision making
Traffic calculations
Generally CPU usage is modest on modern processors, but busy airports with high traffic density can increase overall system load.
RAM Usage
Record:
Simulator RAM
BeyondATC RAM
Total system RAM
Long-haul flights should also be monitored for memory growth.
Traffic Injection Performance
Test:
No traffic
Medium traffic
Heavy traffic
Maximum traffic
Observe:
FPS
CPU
MainThread
Frame times
Traffic injection is often the largest performance factor within BeyondATC.
Network Usage
BeyondATC communicates with online services for AI functionality and voice processing.
Monitor:
Latency
Connection stability
Bandwidth
Packet loss
Poor internet quality may result in delayed or interrupted ATC responses.
FSLTL Model Integration
Recommended setup:
Install:
FSLTL Base Models
Allow BeyondATC to use FSLTL models for AI aircraft if supported by your chosen traffic configuration.
Do not run multiple traffic injectors simultaneously.
Live Traffic Conflicts
Avoid enabling:
MSFS Live Traffic
FSLTL Injector
AIG Traffic
VATSIM traffic
BeyondATC Traffic
all at the same time.
Duplicate traffic is usually caused by more than one system injecting aircraft.
MainThread Performance
Busy airports can increase MainThread load because of:
AI aircraft
Ground movement
Pathfinding
Lighting
Airport complexity
Monitor using Developer Mode.
Frame-Time Testing
Test:
Cold & Dark
Taxi
Takeoff
Climb
Cruise
Arrival
Landing
Busy Gate
Look for:
Micro-stutters
Large spikes
Traffic loading
Loading Time Test
Compare:
Without BeyondATC
BeyondATC installed but closed
BeyondATC running
Traffic enabled
Traffic disabled
Measure:
Simulator startup
Flight loading
Aircraft loading
ATC connection time
Stability Testing
Complete:
30-minute flight
1-hour flight
2-hour flight
4-hour flight
Observe:
Memory usage
CPU usage
Traffic behaviour
Voice quality
ATC stability
Any crashes or hangs
Common Problems
BeyondATC cannot detect MSFS
Check:
SimConnect
Firewall
Latest version
Simulator fully loaded
SimBrief won’t import
Check:
Username
Internet connection
Correct account
Generated flight plan
No voices
Check:
Output device
Voice package installed
Internet connection
Audio settings
Push-to-talk not working
Check:
Button assignment
Microphone permissions
Windows audio devices
Duplicate traffic
Disable:
Live Traffic
FSLTL Injector
AIG Injector
Other AI injectors
Only one traffic injector should be active.
FPS dropped dramatically
Reduce:
Traffic density
Ground aircraft
Airport workers
Object LOD
Traffic draw distance
Stutters on approach
Usually caused by:
Heavy airport
Traffic injection
Premium scenery
MainThread limitation
Not BeyondATC alone.
Student Practical Assignment
Complete one full IFR flight.
Record:
Simulator
Aircraft
Airport
Weather
Traffic density
Voice package
Measure:
Average FPS
1% lows
CPU usage
RAM usage
VRAM usage
MainThread
Traffic count
Loading time
Voice quality
ATC realism
Stability
Repeat the same flight:
Without BeyondATC
With BeyondATC
Compare results.
Student Checklist
BeyondATC installed
Account configured
Voice packages installed
Audio configured
SimBrief connected
Traffic configured
Flight imported
Pushback completed
Taxi completed
Departure completed
En-route completed
Arrival completed
Approach completed
Landing completed
Go-around practised
Emergency procedures understood
CPU usage tested
RAM usage tested
MainThread monitored
Traffic performance tested
FSLTL integration configured
Duplicate traffic avoided
Stability tested
Lesson Summary
You can now confidently install, configure and optimise BeyondATC for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 and Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024.
Key points to remember:
- BeyondATC is an external AI-driven ATC application that integrates with the simulator through SimConnect.
- SimBrief integration streamlines flight-plan loading and helps keep your route consistent across your tools.
- Configure only one AI traffic injector at a time to avoid duplicate aircraft and unnecessary performance loss.
- FSLTL Base Models can be used for realistic aircraft models, but you should avoid running multiple traffic injection systems together.
- The largest performance impact typically comes from AI traffic density and busy airports rather than BeyondATC itself.
- Always benchmark with the same aircraft, airport and weather before and after making changes so you can accurately measure the effect of your configuration.