Are you a pilot looking for ways to improve your performance in the cockpit? Aviation apps are by far the best (and most cost-effective) way of increasing situational awareness, flight planning performance, and safety in the cockpit.
From flight planning and weather information to electronic charts and aircraft performance calculations, aviation apps have everything a pilot needs to stay organized and informed.
This blog post will review the top aviation apps for pilots to help make your flights more efficient and enjoyable. Whether you are a student pilot or a seasoned professional, these apps are sure to make your time in the cockpit more productive and stress-free.
Here’s a quick summary:
- ForeFlight – Navigation and Flight Planning:
- ForeFlight is a widely used aviation app for flight planning and navigation, with various features including flight planning, weather information, electronic charts, and aircraft performance calculations.
- Garmin Pilot – Navigation and Flight Planning:
- Including an Android offering, Garmin Pilot is a direct competitor to ForeFlight, offering many of the same features for a similar price.
- CloudAhoy – Flight Data Capture:
- CloudAhoy is an aviation app that helps pilots improve their flying skills by providing detailed information on their flight performance, including flight path, altitude, and speed, with a 3D visualization of the flight path, a scoring system, and a sharing system that allows pilots to share their flights and flight analysis with other pilots and flight instructors.
- Sporty’s E6B – Electronic Flight Computer:
- Sporty’s E6B app has been the flight computer app of choice for tens of thousands of pilots worldwide for the past decade.
- ASA FAR/AIM App – FAA Regulations and AIM Integration:
- The ASA FAR/AIM app allows users to easily access the FAR/AIM, make notes, and much more while providing useful offline functionality.
- LogTen Pro – Electronic Logbook and Duty Tracker:
- The LogTen Electronic Pilot Logbook simplifies your life by providing quick flight logging, thorough analysis of your flight time, and advanced technology that tracks all your upcoming flights and alerts you of any rest/duty/currency issues while safeguarding all your information through backups to iCloud, Dropbox, or both.
6 Best Aviation Apps for Pilots
1. ForeFlight
Available on:
- iPhone
- iPad
ForeFlight is a popular aviation app that pilots widely use for flight planning and navigation. Since its introduction in 2007, ForeFlight has become the go-to choice for pilots looking for an electronic flight bag, and for good reason.
ForeFlight offers a wide range of features, including flight planning, weather information, electronic charts, and aircraft performance calculations. The user interface is intuitive and easy to navigate, which makes it an excellent choice for pilots of all experience levels.
While ForeFlight boasts a range of features, it is, first and foremost, a flight planning and navigation app. The app allows pilots to easily create and edit flight plans, including filing flight plans with the FAA, and provides in-flight navigational guidance. It also offers real-time weather information, including radar and satellite imagery, making it easy for pilots to stay informed about weather conditions along their route.
The app also offers a wide range of electronic charts, including sectional charts, IFR en route charts, and airport diagrams. These charts are highly detailed and easy to read and can be overlaid with weather information and flight plans. Additionally, the app provides information on airports, including runway information, frequencies, and other important details.
Another great feature of ForeFlight is its aircraft performance calculations. The app allows pilots to enter information about their aircraft, including weight and balance, and then calculates performance data such as takeoff and landing distances.
Overall, ForeFlight is an excellent app for pilots. It offers a wide range of valuable features for flight planning and navigation, and the user interface is intuitive and easy to use. The app is available for iOS and iPad OS. Garmin Pilot is your best choice if you’re looking for an Android-based alternative.
This app is a must-have for any pilot looking for a comprehensive and easy-to-use flight planning and navigation tool.
2. Garmin Pilot
Available on:
- iPhone
- iPad
- Android
Garmin Pilot is a comprehensive flight planning and navigation tool for pilots. It offers many essential features for safe and efficient flights, such as weather data, flight planning, and electronic flight bag capabilities. It is a direct competitor to ForeFlight, and it is available on iPhone, iPad, and Android devices, whereas ForeFlight is only available on the iPhone and iPad.
ForeFlight and Garmin Pilot are very similar and boast many of the same features (often implemented the same way, too).
When it comes to choosing an app to replace paper charts, both options are excellent choices. Both apps offer critical functionality to help you streamline your flight experience. Still, the differences between the two make it worthwhile to evaluate each one individually to determine which one is the best fit for your specific preferences and type of flying.
One of the best things about these apps is that there is no risk involved in making a choice, as both apps offer a free trial period. And even after the trial period is over, the annual subscription for either app is affordable, starting at around $100.
Ultimately, it will be the app that you feel most comfortable using that will be the right choice for you.
3. CloudAhoy
Available on:
- iPhone
- iPad
- Android
- Web Browser (Computer)
CloudAhoy is an aviation app that helps pilots improve their flying skills by providing detailed information on their flight performance. The app is designed to work with a device that can record GPS information (such as a tablet or, for better accuracy, a dedicated GPS receiver), and it offers a wide range of features that are useful for analyzing flight performance and debriefing flights.
One of the standout features of CloudAhoy is its detailed flight analysis. The app allows pilots to review a wide range of data from their flights, including flight path, altitude, and speed. The data can be viewed in various ways, including a 3D visualization of the flight path, making it easy for pilots to see where they flew and how they performed. Additionally, the app features a scoring system, allowing you to debrief your flight and discover weak points in your (or your student’s) performance.
The app also includes a sharing system that allows pilots to share their flights and flight analysis with other pilots and flight instructors, a handy feature for student pilots.
Overall, CloudAhoy is an excellent app for pilots looking to improve their flying skills. The app offers a wide range of valuable features for analyzing flight performance and debriefing flights, and the user interface is intuitive and easy to use.
It’s available for iOS, iPad OS, and Android and is compatible with most major flight data recorders and GPS devices. If you are looking for an app to help you improve your flying skills, CloudAhoy is definitely worth checking out.
4. Sporty’s E6B Flight Computer App
Available on:
- iPhone
- iPad
- Apple Watch
- Android
The Sporty’s E6B Flight Computer App is a must-have for pilots. During flight training, many pilots come to appreciate the handheld E6B flight computer, particularly for its use in helping with flight planning calculations on the FAA written test. However, after the check-ride, many pilots prefer to use an E6B app on a mobile phone or iPad for its convenience and simplicity.
Sporty’s E6B app has been the go-to choice for tens of thousands of pilots worldwide for the past decade. Continuously updated, improved, and redesigned since its initial development in 2010, Sporty’s recently released an all-new version for 2021. The latest version is available as a free update for all existing users and includes 22 aviation functions, 20 conversions, a timer feature, and a weight & balance calculator.
Designed to improve usability and minimize taps when on the go or in the airplane, the new version features a tab-bar menu at the bottom of the screen and allows users to customize the home screen to keep their favorite functions within quick reach. The iPad version supports the latest multitasking features in iPadOS, making it ideal for displaying the E6B side by side with apps like ForeFlight.
The latest update of Sporty’s E6B app also supports iOS and iPadOS Dark Mode, which improves screen visibility in low-light environments such as flying at night. The E6B app for Apple Watch has been redesigned with a user-friendly interface optimized for the watch’s small screen. Pilots can access and use most of the functions and conversions on the watch, with the exception of the timer and weight and balance calculator.
Despite introducing new features, the app is still built on the trusted formulas and algorithms developed by Sporty’s team of over 50 pilots. The app is suitable for pilots of all levels, and it is known for providing accurate and reliable calculations. The Sporty’s E6B app can be purchased for a one-time fee of $9.99, and it is available for iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch and also for Android in the Google Play Store.
5. ASA FAR/AIM App
Available on:
- iPhone
- iPad
- Android
The ASA FAR/AIM app for iPhone and iPad is a must-have for any pilot or flight instructor. ASA is renowned for delivering the aviation industry with the most precise and dependable FAR/AIM products, and this app upholds that legacy.
It contains all of the information from Titles 14 and 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations applicable to pilots, flight instructors, and flight crew, as well as an integrated Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM) and glossary.
The app also allows for easy reading and viewing with profile and landscape viewing options and the ability to increase the text size. Additionally, the app has a study-by-certificate feature, which allows aviators to exclusively study the rules pertinent to their individual certificate and operation. The text search feature helps users find what they’re looking for in the FAR, AIM, or both.
ASA tracks FAA changes daily and updates the app when regulations and AIM changes affect pilot operations. New updates are released as the FAA introduces rule changes.
It’s worth noting that none of the material in this publication supersedes any documents, procedures, or regulations issued by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and ASA does not claim copyright on any material sourced from the FAA.
Overall, the ASA FAR/AIM app is an essential tool for any pilot or flight instructor, providing accurate and up-to-date information in an easy-to-use format. It is highly recommended.
6. LogTen Pro
Available on:
- iPhone
- iPad
- Mac
- Apple Watch
LogTen is a comprehensive and user-friendly pilot logbook app for iOS, iPad OS, and the Apple Watch. It is used by thousands of pilots worldwide to track and manage their flight time, currency, endorsements, duty, rest, and more. The app is designed to be customizable for different types of flying, countries, regions, or companies, allowing pilots to track exactly what they need and generate logbook files that comply with their county’s logbook requirements.
One of the key features of LogTen is its “Fly Now” feature, which enables lightning-fast data entry and makes it easy for pilots to keep track of their flight information in real time. The app also allows pilots to keep all of their devices in sync via iCloud, ensuring that their data is backed-up and safe.
The app’s Dynamic Time Loupe™ is a unique and powerful tool that allows pilots to see all dynamic currencies and limits at any moment in time, including rest and flight duty periods for FAR 117. This feature makes it easy for pilots to identify issues and ensure compliance with regulations.
LogTen also includes a range of other useful features, such as the ability to import airline schedules with RosterBuster, effortless and professional PDF printing of over 100 different reports, and one-tap access to key analytics that pilots need, such as multi-engine, turbine, PIC, SIC, and total instrument time.
The app also includes Smart Groups, which allow pilots to filter their time however they want, tracking anything from tailwheel time to who the relief pilot was on a specific trip.
The app is available for all Apple devices and offers an easy way to keep all devices in sync through the cloud.
