In this day and age, hundreds of aviation apps are available for smartphones and tablets, from in-flight tools to flight training, weather briefings, and even games. Whether you want to transition to a paperless cockpit or plan your flights with better accuracy, here are five aviation apps to add to your digital toolbox.
- The AOPA App
This app is number one in our opinion. If you haven’t downloaded it yet, you are missing out.
The AOPA app is a convenient way to stay up to date with all of the AOPA’s great aviation news and information. Watch the latest AOPA Live This Week, catch up on the latest news, listen to podcasts, and find aviation events near you no matter where you are! Stay up to date with all things aviation, connect with other pilots, manage your membership, participate in the AOPA Pilot Passport, and much more!
Download the FREE app from the App Store or Google Play.
- E6B Aviation Calculator
The E6B Aviation Calculator makes it easy for the student pilot and seasoned pilots alike solve the most common planning and navigating problems related to flying. It is a favorite of some of our student pilots.
“The E6B app is great for knocking out quick calculations in the cockpit,” explains AOPA’s marketing coordinator and student pilot Jake Keister. “The display is set up for ease of use while trying to navigate cockpit management. I’m currently prepping for my check ride, and this E6B app has been great for helping me practice for the divert portion of the test. I can quickly input the info I need, get my arrival time, and get back to focusing on demonstrating my pilotage and dead-reckoning skills for the airport I selected for my divert. The app also allows me to bookmark the calculations I want and displays them at the very top of the app, so I don’t have to go scrolling through and find the right one.”
E6B Aviation Calculator is available for 8.99 in the App Store.
- MyRadar
Radar imagery provides critical information during cruddy-weather days. This free app is simple and easy to use.
Like all weather, radar imagery can be found in many different apps, but you often have to dig around to find the most applicable image. MyRadar provides a clear and current radar image of the area immediately around your current location. You can, of course, pan around on the touchscreen to take a closer look at other areas, but it makes sense for the image to default to your location.
Having been downloaded over 30 million times, MyRadar is one of the most popular weather apps on the market. Download for free here.
- CloudAhoy
CloudAhoy is a great app for flight instruction and post-flight debriefing. When the app is open, it will track all the details of your flight (location, altitude, and speed) before creating an easy-to-read flight log. Pilots can then review their flights in real-time using Google Earth or an aviation chart. Understanding what went wrong during your flight can help you improve your performance in future flights.
Download CloudAhoy for iOS here (free with in-app purchases).
- Takeoff
Takeoff is another iOS-only app that aims to ensure that pilots have access to the latest in aviation technologies and practices. The app delivers fresh content to iPhone and iPad users every day. Users can even customize the app to get content that they’re most interested in.
The app has a plethora of features, such as engaging video tips, educational articles, podcasts, aviation news, and a lot more. It is definitely a must-have for pilots of all skill levels because it offers content that is customizable to the level of the pilot.
Download Takeoff for iOS here (free, with in-app purchases).
Final Thoughts
These apps are not the only ones for pilots, and it was difficult for us to just pick five. Tons of more essential apps are available, all designed to help you improve your overall flying experience.
Aviation apps are created to support pilots so that they can conduct safer flights than ever before. Stay connected on the go with these five great apps and make sure to keep your devices safe with a resourceful bag!
Related Articles
