Fenix Simulations has released the first “proper patch” for Version 3 of its Airbus A320 for Microsoft Flight Simulator. The developer announced the update in a post-release blog post. It follows an earlier update to the A320 that dealt with ground handling fixes.
Fenix says it thanks users for their support tickets. Once tickets caused by mod incompatibilities are excluded, the team puts the true error rate at around 1-2% during the launch cycle. It describes this as a good result given the large infrastructure changes under the hood. The patch includes many fixes from those reports, listed in the changelog.
The most notable system change is a reworked EGPWS. According to the developer, a new baseline terrain detection algorithm and a higher-resolution terrain database should reduce the spurious warnings of the previous version. Fenix can now also add exclusion or configuration zones. Areas with very spiky or undulating terrain may still trigger false warnings, and users are asked to contact support so zones can be added to the profiles.
The update also adds a new physical radio simulation model. LOC, GS, VOR, DME and ADF signals now account for terrain, the curvature of the earth, reflection and diffraction, aircraft attitude and antenna shielding. Stations sharing a frequency can affect guidance, bearings and identification. Fenix also introduces independent DME tracking, working around the limited radio slots in the MSFS SDK. The terrain display on the ND receives an improved mask in some display configurations.
On the visual side, Fenix reports a VRAM reduction of up to 1GB in some scenarios, focused on the A319 and A321. Window blinds now cast an orange hue into the flightdeck, and the shadow-casting panel flood lights from the previous update, made possible in MSFS 2024 through a workaround, are highlighted again. Sounds have been refined, and the EFB gains an ANC (Active Noise Cancellation) toggle in the quick menu and a setting to limit ANC to the flight deck. The changelog also lists fixes for VNAV, LNAV and Virtual Purser behaviour.
The update is available free of charge through the Fenix installer. If you want to purchase the A320 for MSFS and MSFS 2024, you can purchase it individually through the Fenix website for around 50 GBP, or in a pack with the A319 and A321 for around 90 GBP.
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