One of the consistent challenges in flight simulation is the disconnect between "live" data and specific training needs. You want to fly a specific approach in challenging crosswinds, but the current METAR at your home airport is showing calm winds and clear skies. To solve this, we have deployed the 24-hour historical weather feature, allowing you specific access to the last day of meteorological data.
This update allows you to fly in "yesterday's weather" with the full support of our AI ATC and Co-Pilot systems.
FEATURE HIGHLIGHTS
- 24-Hour Lookback: Access real-world weather data from any time in the previous day.
- ATC Synchronization: Our systems detect the time shift and align traffic and clearances to the historical conditions.
- Persistent Training Environments: Re-fly the same approach in the exact same conditions to refine your technique.
- Global Coverage: Works anywhere in the world, matching the local historical METARs.
Restoring Consistency for Training
For many of us using the simulator for proficiency, "Live Weather" is unpredictable. While that adds realism, it detracts from structured practice. If a storm front passed through Dallas three hours ago, you might want to fly that approach now, not when you were stuck at work.
With this update, we are effectively caching the global weather state. When you adjust your simulator time to a point within the last 24 hours, the 24-hour historical weather feature activates automatically. SayIntentions.AI stops pulling "current" live data and switches to the historical record for that timestamp. This means the winds, visibility, and altimeter settings your Co-Pilot reads back to you will match what actually occurred at that time.
How It Works
This integration relies on the native time settings in Microsoft Flight Simulator.
- Select your departure airport.
- Adjust the time slider to your desired point in the past (within 24 hours).
- Start your flight.
Our client detects the discrepancy between system time and sim time and queries our historical database. You don't need to configure anything in the separate SayIntentions app; the switch happens automatically in the background.
Limitations and Scope
It is important to note that this is currently limited to a rolling 24-hour window. If you set the simulator time back further than one day, or set it to a future time, the system will default back to the live stream. We decided on this 24-hour window to balance storage costs with the most common use cases: immediate debriefing and "catching up" on missed flying opportunities.
We believe the 24-hour historical weather feature adds a functional layer of utility to the platform, moving beyond just "immersion" and into practical toolsets for serious simmers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this work with MSFS 2024? Yes, the feature is fully compatible with MSFS 2020 and MSFS 2024 time settings.
Do I need a separate subscription? No, this feature is included for all users, including those on SayIntentions Premium.
Can I go back further than 24 hours? Currently, we only cache a rolling 24-hour window of global weather data to ensure fast retrieval performance.