Microsoft has officially released Sim Update 16 (version 1.39.9.0) for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020, bringing with it a wide range of stability improvements, avionics updates, bug fixes, and world adjustments.
This update includes significant work on glass cockpit systems, memory handling on Xbox, and improvements to water polygon rendering, as well as overhauls to the G1000 NXI, G3000/G5000, G3X Touch, and other integrated avionics packages.
Performance and Stability
- Crash fix for specific locations, such as the Pecs TV Tower
- Improved memory management on Xbox Series S/X for increased stability
NavData and World Fixes
- Improved handling of runways not present in sim navdata
- ICAO-related waypoint loading errors corrected
- Terraforming and Bing Maps data now aligned with MSFS 2024
- Fixed overlapping water body polygons cancelling each other out
- Enhanced timezone accuracy and better country coast and border data
Aircraft Enhancements
Boeing 787-10
- Resolved spoiler input bug causing aircraft instability
Cessna Citation Longitude
- Numerous avionics improvements, including:
- Airspeed and AOA indicators now show approach cues along with PFD pitch limit indicator
- FMS initialization flow added
- Improved autothrottle behavior and alerts (e.g., “autothrottle”, “airspeed”)
- Better FADEC logic for reverse thrust and engine failure messaging
- Cabin pressurization and altitude messages corrected
- Thrust reversers and hydraulic logic refined
Daher TBM 930
- New ESP (Electronic Stability and Protection) added
- Enhanced go-around pitch guidance
- Updated flight director logic and FMS initialization
Avionics Updates
G1000 NXi
- Virtual Pathways feature added to PFD
- Improved approach and departure leg handling
- Better approach transition integration
Garmin G3000 / G5000
- Support added for:
- VNAV vertical track annunciations
- TAWS alerts and glidepath deviation warnings
- GTC terrain alert suppression
- Optimized flight plan display and scroll behavior
- Multiple fixes for map wind vectors, OBS course tuning, and autopilot logic
Garmin G3X Touch
- New support for CDI course slewing
- Improvements to PFD/MFD layout and logic
- Fixed OBS source issues and flight plan display errors
GNS 430/530
- Fixed flight plan leg duplication and approach connection issues
- Fixed helipad data discrepancy
- Improved heliport data handling and runway logic
Primus Epic 2.0 (not aircraft on FS2020, but available for development)
- Flight plan sequencing fixes
- VNAV behavior improvements
- Numerous UI and procedure selection corrections
UNS-1Ew SBAS-FMS (not aircraft on FS2020, but available for development)
- NAV page accuracy and ETE/ETA calculations fixed
- Arrival procedure persistence improvements
- Better airport and waypoint handling
Controls and SDK
- Added Honeycomb Alpha Lite support
- 3ds Max 2024 now supported via the SDK exporter
Sim Update 16 Full Release
Sim Update 16 is available now for all Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 users. This release continues Microsoft and Asobo’s focus on avionics realism, performance, and navigation accuracy across the platform. For the full changelog, head over to Release Notes – Sim Update 16. Stay tuned to FSNews to know about future MSFS 2020 and 2024 updates.
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