FSX: Steam Edition - Active Sky Next Add-On

Active Sky Next, the most widely used weather engine for PC flight simulation, provides an entirely new level of realism to your FSX: Steam Edition experience! Advanced technologies enable incredible levels of accuracy and smoothness. Realistic radar simulation, cloud position awareness and synchronized ambient effects, brand new air effects, brand new thunderstorm depictions, microbursts, thick overcast, smooth cloud transitions, variable cloud areas, voice weather briefings and forecast data integration are just some of the features that await you!With ASN, your skies will be accurate, smooth, visually stunning and uncompressed. No longer must you configure complicated settings to achieve accuracy in certain areas while compromising others. You can have it all, all the time.ASN also introduces, for the first time ever in a weather engine: Complete cloud position awareness, synchronized cloud-based ambient weather effects and an integrated accurate radar simulation. Precipitation is accurately depicted in the proper locations within and below appropriate cloud structures. Entering or exiting a cloud brings an appropriate change in precipitation, visibility and turbulence. The exact position of clouds and precipitation cells are always synchronized between the simulator depiction and the radar display.Thunderstorms have been given great attention, utilizing a new depiction system, ambient effects, radar and cloud position synchronization. Completely new microburst, updraft and downdraft, enhanced turbulence and wind-shear effects combine to make thunderstorms beautiful yet dangerous. Using the new radar system will be key to safe piloting in the vicinity of these storms.Full International Airmet/Sigmet simulation is now provided in real time weather mode, with airmet/sigmet areas shown visually on the map and/or gauge. These areas are now also synthesized, influencing weather depiction appropriately. If a Sigmet warns against severe turbulence, convective activity, or icing, you can expect to encounter this appropriately during your flight.New voice weather briefings, a new intuitive user interface with resizable/undockable and multi-window support, redesigned high-resolution wake turbulence simulation, and enhanced air effects are just a few of the other new features in ASN.FeaturesHybrid Weather Depiction SystemUtilizing a combination of Theme Control, SimConnect Interfacing, and new Low-Level interfacing via our brand new AS Connect module, comprehensive control of the weather environment is finally achievedAmbient conditions including Visibility, Wind Direction and Speed, Pressure, Temperature and Precipitation type/density are completely controlled, smoothed and synchronized for accurate and realistic conditions at all timesHigher performance depiction and updates utilizing new features such as dynamic Cloud Draw Distance ControlSmooth Cloud Theme TransitionsClouds depicted using the Theme Control method are smoothed during transitions to new conditions using our unique Smooth Theme Reload methodNewly Designed High-Fidelity Air EffectsAir effects are brand new, bypass all internal simulator air effects and include: Wind Shear with Predictive Detection and Alert System (via audio warnings and visual mapping overlay)Micro bursts synchronized with thunderstorm activityUp drafts and Down drafts with high-resolution terrain awarenessThermals with realistic simulation based on temperature and surface typeWake Turbulence with realistic moving wake trails effected by windCloud Turbulence synchronized with cloud sprite positionsEnhanced Wind Turbulence with direct aircraft attitude control vs. simple camera head movementCloud Sprite Awareness For Accurate In-Sim Depiction SynchronizationIn-cloud visibility reductionCloud-related turbulenceAccurate ambient precipitation localization and controlAccurate radar precipitation graphicsAccurate cloud position graphicsNew Precipitation Radar GraphicsNew levels of realism are provided with totally accurate precipitation radar that is aware of actual cloud sprite positions in the simulatorSee and avoid dangerous conditions on the radar that accurately match the in-sim depictionGraphics CompatibilityASN works with default and add-on graphics texturesIncluded Radar and Weather Mapping GaugeRealistic satellite-wx-based mapping display with NEXRAD precipitation simulationPredictive Wind Shear system provides aural wind shear alertsNew Thunderstorm/CB SimulationThunderstorms are bigger, higher, and more consistently depictedIntegrated Turbulence, Wind Shear, Micro burst, and Vertical Air effectsStrong thunderstorm cells can be difficult if not impossible to fly throughDifferent effects depending on position relative to the thunderstorm cloudsUncoupled Audio/Voice SystemAllows playback of audio on either client or server in networked configurationAllows selecting the desired audio deviceNew voice sets and new voice weather briefingsNew voice SIGMET and AIRMET warningsComprehensive Weather mapping With New Overlays:Precipitation Base Reflectivity and Echo TopsDetailed Cloud PositionsPredictive Wind ShearOther Aircraft (includes wake trail representation)Winds, Visibility, Sigmets, Airmets, Pireps, Stations, Airports, NDBs and VORsFlightplan Route and Waypoints with integrated flight plan editing capabilityNew high performance display with click and drag panning and track-up display modeIntegrated Real-Time Sigmets, Airmets and Pireps (Both USA and International)Sigmets and Airmets provided by actual data for all global regionsSigmets and Airmets provide influence in weather synthesis (i.e. appropriately injecting forecasted turbulence)Pireps provided by actual AS user reportsAloft Inter-layer InterpolationProvides smooth and realistic vertical transitions of wind direction, wind speed and temperature as you climb and descentWeather Cell Awareness and Depiction ControlComplete awareness and synchronization of weather cell-based cloud model drawing for the ultimate in cloud depiction accuracyPrioritization of inter-cell weather station data depending on departure and/or flight plan relevant stationsForecast Weather Integration Including New Forecast Aloft DataWith the click and drag of a mouse, see forecast conditions, graphically and textually, hour by hour, up to 24 hours in advanceImproved winds aloft planning accuracyDynamic weather changes based on forecast conditions when METAR information becomes staleBrand New User InterfaceMulti-monitor supportResizable and undockable windowsMultiple weather condition window supportAccess to the Improved HiFi Weather Data NetworkMultiple high-performance servers in different regions for excellent redundancy and availabilityAlways-improving coverage and resolutionHigh-resolution surface and wind aloft data collected from multiple sourcesNewly incorporated multiple forecast-window wind aloft data (real-time and historical)Historical data access for the past 2 yearsAccurate Winds AloftUsing World Area Forecast System data (a.k.a. GRIB data), developed and improved since 2002Enhanced high-altitude wind and temperature simulation above 50,000ftCompletely smooth transitions at all times with no wind shiftsHurricane SimulationRealistic hurricane simulation based on actual hurricane dataOverrides surface weather station data (which is usually erroneous during hurricanes)Full Flight and Weather PlanningManually enter, import, or build a flight plan using auto-routingEasily change waypoints/route during planning or while in-flightReceive updated navigation log, weather briefing text, or voice weather briefingsReceive favorable wind/altitude information, dynamic ETAs per waypoint and live conditions updatesIntegrated Voice FeaturesReceive realistic voice weather updates via ATIS, FlightWatch and FSS simulation by tuning your radio to 122.0, 122.02 or 122.05Enhanced Weather SearchEasily find weather conditions with improved station/range filteringSmart Data InterpolationMore robust data interpolation for more realistic weather conditions and depiction in areas with fewer reporting stationsStation Database ManagementEasily add, edit or disable different types of stations (Weather, Airport, NDB, VOR)Additional New FeaturesNew Hail simulation and included hail audio effectsAutomatic Simulator Flight Plan Import (optional)Customizable User Option Presents and EASY/REALISM mode option setsFavourite Weather Stations (add, remove, and recall any station’s conditions from the favorites menu)