It’s been nearly two years in the making, but Orbx’s highly detailed rendition of Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (KATL) for Microsoft Flight Simulator is finally reaching its final stages of development. Developer Matteo Veneziani has shared what he calls the “third and final development update” before release, this time focusing entirely on one of the airport’s most recognizable and important landmarks: Delta TechOps.
If you’ve flown through Atlanta in real life, there’s a good chance you’ve seen the massive red FLY DELTA JETS sign looming over the maintenance hangars. That’s Delta TechOps, the largest airline maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) facility in North America. It’s where Delta keeps its fleet in top shape, and Veneziani has gone all-in to build a detail-heavy virtual rendition of this facility.
According to the developer, the Delta TechOps zone has been recreated with true 1:1 accuracy. Every rooftop pipe, ventilation duct, and AC unit has been placed exactly where it exists in the real facility. “Nothing is random; everything matches reality,” Veneziani says. It’s an obsessive level of attention to detail that will no doubt be noticed by pilots taxiing past or spotting the complex from their jumpseat on approach.
This update also includes a look at Atlanta’s control tower, which provides a commanding view of the world’s busiest airport.
What’s left before release?
While this is the last development update, the project isn’t quite finished. Veneziani still needs to complete:
- The airport’s custom groundpoly
- Cargo buildings on both the north and south sides
- Taxiway signage
- Approach lighting
- Tunnel details
- A round of final finishing touches
The plan is to release the scenery before Christmas 2025, marking the end of what will be a two-year development cycle. But Veneziani’s focus remains “100% on quality.”
This will no doubt be an exciting addition for airliner pilots in MSFS. KATL is the beating heart of Delta’s network, a hub that handles over 100 million passengers a year and connects to nearly every major destination in the U.S. For simmers, having a truly up-to-date, highly accurate version of Atlanta means more realistic airline operations, better VATSIM and AI traffic flow, and an anchor point for countless domestic and international routes.
This will also be the first major handcrafted KATL for MSFS to reflect the airport’s 2025 layout — including expansions, updated taxiway geometry, and infrastructure changes. And judging by the previews, the custom assets and level of environmental accuracy should make this a scenery worth adding to the virtual logbook.
We’ll keep an eye out for further previews or the official release date announcement. In the meantime, the new screenshots from Orbx show just how close this project is to the finish line. And if you’re a Delta flyer in the real world, you’ll probably feel right at home!
