Synaptic A220 Takes Center Stage in Extensive Developer Livestream

The highly anticipated Synaptic Simulations Airbus A220 returned to the spotlight Wednesday during an extensive developer livestream presented in partnership with iniBuilds and Microsoft Flight Simulator.




Broadcast live on the official Microsoft Flight Simulator Twitch channel, the presentation offered viewers a detailed look at the aircraft's systems, avionics, sounds and overall level of simulation as development moves closer to completion.




Rather than simply showing another collection of carefully framed screenshots, the stream allowed members of the development team to demonstrate the A220 in operation and explain some of the work taking place behind the displays.




A Deeply Simulated Flight Deck



One of the central themes of the presentation was the depth of the aircraft's systems.




Synaptic has built a custom flight management system designed to recreate the Collins Pro Line Fusion avionics found aboard the real A220. The system includes graphical flight planning, lateral and vertical navigation, performance calculations, holds, path offsets and direct-to functionality.




Pilots will be able to select waypoints and make changes directly through the navigation display, including inserting holds, creating reroutes, activating direct-to commands and adding nearby fixes to the flight plan.




The developers have also modeled some of the real aircraft's less glamorous limitations and quirks. These include limits on the number of flight-plan legs and holds that can be stored, along with the messages and system behavior that appear when those limits are exceeded.




It is an approach that goes beyond making the displays look correct. The goal is to reproduce how information moves between the individual computers and components aboard the aircraft.




Detailed Navigation and Approach Capabilities



The A220 is being developed with support for a wide selection of approach types, including ILS, localizer, LDA, VOR, VOR/DME, RNAV RNP, RNP AR and LPV approaches.




A vertical situation display provides pilots with a graphical representation of the aircraft's planned vertical path. During arrival, the display can also depict the destination runway and the appropriate ILS or LPV approach path.




Full autoland capability is included, complete with the expected RETARD, ALIGN, FLARE and ROLLOUT mode transitions. The system can also determine when conditions or aircraft configuration do not permit a full autoland and revert to the appropriate lower-level approach mode.




Performance planning includes FLEX takeoffs, takeoff and climb derates, noise-abatement departure profiles, flap speed calculations and configurable climb, cruise and descent speeds. SimBrief wind data can also be incorporated into the aircraft's fuel and arrival predictions.




Component-Level System Behavior



Synaptic's component-based simulation allows aircraft behavior to develop naturally as systems change or fail.




Hydraulic fluid, fuel and battery temperatures respond dynamically to aircraft operation. Extending the landing gear or moving the flaps, for example, places demand on the hydraulic system and produces a corresponding change in fluid temperature.




The simulation even models heat transfer between hydraulic fluid and fuel.




Control surfaces can react to gravity and wind when hydraulic pressure is unavailable, while cockpit indications incorporate the slight delays and smoothing found aboard the real aircraft instead of instantly jumping between values.




These may be small details individually, but together they help create an aircraft that behaves like a connected collection of systems rather than a series of animated switches.




That Famous A220 Sound



No presentation of the A220 would be complete without its distinctive engine howl.




The aircraft's sound package is being produced with Echo 19 Audio Productions using recordings from a real A220. The familiar "whale" sound created as the Pratt & Whitney PW1500G engines spool through approximately 30 percent N1 is procedurally generated using live engine parameters.




The soundscape also includes cockpit switches, aircraft warnings, environmental sounds, the hydraulic power transfer unit and changes in engine sound throughout the operating range.




Combined with the highly detailed exterior, cockpit and passenger cabin, the audio work is intended to make the aircraft convincing from both the pilot's seat and the passenger window.




Built for MSFS 2020 and 2024



The Synaptic A220 is planned for both Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 and Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024.




The A220-300 will be the first variant released. Synaptic also plans to add the smaller A220-100 and an ACJ corporate version following the initial launch. Previous information from the developers indicated the A220-100 would be provided as a free update to owners of the base package.




The aircraft is expected to be available through the iniBuilds Store and Microsoft Marketplace. The project's official FAQ currently lists a summer 2026 release window, although the developers have not announced an exact launch date or final price.




Wednesday's presentation made one thing fairly clear: the Synaptic A220 has moved well beyond being an interesting project to watch from a distance. With most major features now in place and the development team concentrating heavily on testing, refinement and bug fixing, one of the flight-simulation community's longest-awaited airliners appears to be entering the final stretch.




Until an exact release date is announced, however, the seatbelt sign remains firmly illuminated.



via: https://news.skyblueradio.com/2026/07/16/synaptic-a220-takes-center-stage-in-extensive-developer-livestream/