HiFi SimTech's entrance into the X-Plane space was one of the top stories of 2018. Their product, Active Sky XP, was one of 2018's most anticipated addons, and now the first major update to the software is available.

Service Pack 1 was first announced on the 30th of January and brought a multitude of changes to the weather engine.

SP1 is available to all owners of Active Sky XP for free. To update, simply re-download the installer from the Active Sky website here.

Here's the changelog:

Open Beta 1

• Added Turbulence improvements throughout for increased realism and compatibility with various aircraft types
• Improved weather update process to significantly reduce “cloud redraws” when the relevant cell areas haven’t changed significantly even during a download/update process
• Added new 3-letter USA airport/weather station data support – 3 letter airports now provide actual weather data, when available, instead of interpolating
• Improved weather station coverage by approximately 500 stations globally
• Added 5 second delay when looping ATIS/Flightwatch messages
• Added common data export path support as per FSX/P3D AS products (available in General options)
• Added support of VV/// METAR elements which will force ceiling to 0ft
• Added additional X-Plane version checking logic during folder selection process to prevent a case where automatic detection of an old/obsolete version could be found without user’s confirmation and no ability to select the desired/proper version folder
• Added + character support in Active Sky account e-mail addresses
• Improved documentation regarding default X-Plane location/folder selection process whether standard or Steam variant
• Added various user registration process improvements
• Improved cell/station logic logging for debugging purposes
• Improved interpolation logic for very short flights with or without flight plan for more accurate weather conditions even when a station borders multiple “cells” that previously may have had variable weather causing apparent discrepancies
• Improved interpolation logic in general
• Adjusted Maximum and Minimum Surface Visibility options when in default non-global depiction mode to limit maximum value to 20 miles (due to X-Plane limitations in this mode)
• Reduced yaw/side forces during turbulence effects
• Various UI adjustments for 125% and 150% scaling modes
• Changed default maximum surface visibility to 20 miles for consistency between depiction modes
• Updated Documentation to account for changes
• Fixed problem with ASXP turbulence not effecting larger aircraft appropriately
• Fixed issue regarding yaw forces seemingly persisting after turbulence events in some cases
• Fixed problem with cirrus clouds not depicting in many cases when in default cell/theme depiction mode
• Fixed some UI layout issues in certain cases
• Fixed some language issues and typos in UI messages, descriptions and documentation
• Fixed problem in password change function where password change may cause inability to login in some cases
• Fixed issue with crosswind attenuation with gusts/variability present
• Fixed problem with very long passwords
• Fixed an issue regarding sigmet boundary parsing in some cases
• Fixed problem regarding delayed/obsolete TAF data preventing proper interpolation in some cases
• Fixed issue regarding AI aircraft data read in some cases (regarding certain add-ons that modify internal AI aircraft datarefs)

Open Beta 2

• Tuned turbulence: Decreased effect scale for middle-heavy weight aircraft, Increased effect scale slightly for light aircraft, increase pitch rotational effect overall, reduced roll effect slightly
• Updated API docs to correct issue regarding as_xconnect.txt module log filename
• Added client IP address/ports logging into in as_xconnect.txt

Open Beta 3

• Fixed 2 potential crashes
• Miscellaneous stability improvements
• Updated User’s Guide (typos)

Open Beta 4

• Adjusted gusts/variability effects for increased smoothing, more organic feel and reduced repetitive yaw movement in near-surface wind layers
• Tuned turbulence for more effect for heavy to super heavy aircraft (767+)
• Tuned turbulence for less effect for mid weight airliners (757)
• Improved Cirrus depiction for more appropriate cloud/texture type

Release Candidate 1

• Changed maximum surface visibility (and minimum surface visibility’s maximum setting) to 30SM vs. previous 20SM, when in default theme/cell depiction mode, to increase surface vis when conditions dictate

Release Candidate 2

• Slightly reduced roll motion in turbulence effect
• Adjusted turbulence for less overall effect for light/medium weight GA aircraft (2000-10000lbs)
• Fixed potential memory leak/OOM issue related to logging
• Fixed an error in parsing old .fms flight plan format containing an uppercase “3 VERSION” line

Release Candidate 3

• Attempted fix for potential crash related to wind smoothing
• Attempted fix for X-Plane crash on exit in some cases

Release Candidate 4

• Further turbulence tuning (less overall rotation, more translation, less roll and yaw in general)
• Added new API function GetWeatherInfoXml to receive extended weather/layer information from Active Sky
• Added new API functionality to change audio volume
• Added new API functionality to get active SIGMETS/AIRMETS
• Updated API documentation