Take Control of Four Detailed Airports
The initial Early Access version includes four airports:
- John F. Kennedy International Airport
- Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport
- Jinan Yaoqiang International Airport
- Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport
Each airport includes six structured levels and an Endless Mode that generates randomized flight schedules.
Rather than presenting traffic as simple symbols moving across a two-dimensional screen, Airport Control 27 combines radar tools with detailed three-dimensional airport environments. Players can watch aircraft push back from gates, taxi across the airfield and operate around animated jet bridges, airfield lighting and accurately marked runways and taxiways.
The environments are designed to offer what the developer describes as flight-simulator-quality scenery while still providing controllers with the tools needed to manage the airport.
That means players may occasionally have time to admire the terminal architecture—usually about three seconds before two aircraft attempt to occupy the same taxiway.
Ground and Tower Operations Work Together
Airport Control 27 covers several stages of airport traffic management.
Players can approve engine starts and pushbacks, create taxi routes, issue takeoff and landing clearances and assign runway exits. Aircraft can be instructed to follow other traffic or give way at intersections, while tug vehicles can be dispatched to resolve surface conflicts.
Controllers must also react to changing wind conditions by changing active runways and reorganizing traffic accordingly.
The simulator includes:
- Surface-movement radar
- Approach radar
- Runway-occupancy indicators
- Flight-progress strips
- Radio communication logs
- Taxi-route planning
- Runway and taxiway restrictions
- Arrival and departure procedures
- Altitude and speed restrictions
Radio instructions and pilot readbacks are synchronized with player commands. Communications are available in English or Chinese, with multiple pilot accents intended to represent international operations.
The simulation also incorporates STARs, approaches and SIDs along with aircraft wingspan limits, pavement restrictions and airport-specific operating procedures.
Sky Blue Radio recently examined another side of virtual air traffic control with the launch of Virtual Controller Supply’s realistic VATSIM ATC hardware. While Airport Control 27 is currently a standalone experience, both projects demonstrate the growing interest in simulation beyond the pilot’s seat.
Early Access Comes With a Large Roadmap
CCC Games says Airport Control 27 has been in development for approximately two years and has already gone through several public demo versions.
The developer expects the Early Access period to last around one year, although that estimate could change depending on development progress and community feedback.
Several major features are planned during Early Access:
- Two additional built-in airports
- Multiplayer with separate controller positions
- Multi-window support
- Random emergencies and special flights
- Low-visibility procedures
- Rain and snow
- Weather-related ATC procedures
- Ground-service vehicles
- AI-controlled towers
- Multiple tower and ground sectors
- Steam Workshop support for liveries and schedules
The multiplayer plans are particularly interesting. Separating tower, ground and other controller positions could turn the simulator into a cooperative traffic-management environment rather than leaving one player responsible for the entire airport.
The developer is careful to describe these items as development goals rather than guaranteed features. Airport Control 27 is playable in its present form, but buyers should understand that it remains an unfinished product.
Community Feedback Will Guide Development
CCC Games says feedback from demo players has already influenced the simulator’s direction.
According to the developer, nearly 1,000 pieces of feedback have been submitted, with more than 400 feature requests, improvements and bug reports handled between April and September.
That community-driven approach will continue during Early Access through a public feedback platform and development roadmap.
It is a familiar strategy for modern simulation projects. Releasing a functional foundation allows dedicated users to test unusual situations that may be difficult for a smaller development team to reproduce internally.
Air traffic control players are particularly talented at finding unusual situations. Give them enough aircraft and several intersecting taxiways, and somebody will eventually create a traffic jam that makes Atlanta on a Friday afternoon look peaceful.
Players interested in evolving ATC technology can also read Sky Blue Radio’s coverage of BeyondATC’s expanding VFR and dynamic-airport systems.
Early Reviews Raise Questions About Value
Initial Steam reviews are mixed, with approximately 64 percent of early reviewers recommending the game at the time of publication.
Some players have praised the detailed airport environments, approachable controls and satisfying traffic-management experience. Others have questioned whether the current amount of content justifies the price of an Early Access release.
Airport Control 27 carries a regular U.S. price of $49.99. A 10-percent introductory discount reduces the price to $44.99 through October 1.
The developer says the price is expected to increase when the simulator eventually leaves Early Access.
That creates a difficult decision for potential buyers. The current version already offers four airports, multiple scenarios, randomized traffic and a substantial collection of tower and ground-control tools. However, several of the most ambitious features—including multiplayer, emergencies, weather and two additional airports—remain on the roadmap.
A free demo is available for players who want to test the experience before purchasing.
Airport Control 27 Is Available Now
Airport Control 27 is available through Steam for Windows, macOS and Linux.
Windows users will need at least 16 GB of memory, 20 GB of storage and a graphics card with 6 GB of video memory. The recommended configuration increases those requirements to 24 GB of memory, 25 GB of storage and a graphics card with at least 8 GB of VRAM.
The Early Access release provides a promising foundation for players interested in airport operations, traffic sequencing and the organized chaos happening on the other side of the radio.
Pilots spend plenty of time complaining about air traffic control.
Airport Control 27 finally gives them an opportunity to sit in the tower and discover whether they can do any better.
