With an ever-growing list of technological tools put at their disposition, pilots all around the world are offered a great array of applications and programs that can be downloaded and installed in a moment on their iPhones as well as the new Android smartphones available.

Having just myself made the acquisition of an Android-based smartphone, I decided to look into the “App Market” and see exactly what was available. I also did a little bit of researched and pulled out for you the 5 best apps that pilots should get for their iPhones or Androids.

For more information you can visit the Professional Pilots Rumor Network or Airline Pilot Apps websites.

ANDROID APPS
I have never owned an iPhone so I will start with the Android applications.
(The information is a courtesy of AppConsumer)

If you happen to be a pilot or student pilot with an Android phone, there are several useful applications available at the Android Market that can give you a boost. With your Android phone you can log your hours, check the weather and even do some pre-flight planning. I personally love the intellipilot app for keeping track of my everyday flying at work until I refresh my paper logbook.

Intellipilot

IntellipilotIf you are looking for a simple and handy application to log your flight details, then Intellipilot is a definite download. It features a database of more than 9000 airports to log your departure and landing times. Intellipilot allows you to log your flight crew details, type of aircaft, hours summary report, and my favorite, the ability to export your recorded data in CSV format. The application is currently available as a free download, but I suspect as more features get added a small fee may be incorporated.

 

 Aviation Weather from NOAA/NWS

AviationWeatherNOAAHaving a tight grip on current weather conditions is a must have for any pilot. Aviation Weather from NOAA/NWS on your Android phone is a must have tool for your Android aviation arsenal. This application takes the weather data from aviationweather.gov and creates a convenient mobile application to provide you with weather at your fingertips. It includes radar, satellite, high resolution weather graphics and METARs/TAFs/PIREPS with the ability to save your favorite searches. Aviation Weather from NOAA/NWS is available as a free application at the Android Market.

 

AirWx Aviation Weather

AirWxAirWx Aviation Weather is a great preliminary flight planning tool available for purchase at the Android Market. It features the latest weather data as well as several flight calculation tools for your Android phone. Like Aviation Weather, AirWx gives you access to real-time METARs, TAFs, and PRIREPS, but adds in AcCharts and NOTAM alerts. It also includes an E6B flight calculator and many Federal Aviation Administration documents like VFR, IFR and approach FLIP charts. AirWx is available for $4.99.

 

 WingX

WingXWingX is probably the most robust application for any pilot with an Android phone. The feature list is very extensive and the price reflects that. WingX is available at the Android Market for $99 dollars. Features include instant weather access with animated radar, many Federal Aviation Administration documents, a very in depth route planner, the AOPA airport directory, a digital E6B flight computer, IFR charts and many other features. All this information can be stored on your SD card allowing you to access it at any time without the need for phone coverage. The Android version of WingX is continually being improved, making sure the tools are up to par for your flying needs.

 

Avilution E6B Flight Computer

Avilution E6BAvilution E6B Flight Computer is a great way to double check your “whiz wheel” calculations before take-off. Available for $4.95 at the Android Market, Avilution E6B Flight Computer allows you to calculate wind correction, route time, fuel burn and the like. A very simple interface allows you to enter the information you know and the application will calculate the rest. It can also be a great tool for flight Instructors to double check their students calculations!

 

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IPHONE APPS
(The information is a courtesy of BrightHub)

Flaunting iPhone’s ability to boast thousands of applications at the App Store, iPhone has apps for every taste and personality. Some of these applications are designed with pilots in mind. Need to take chances and make critical decisions in the nick of time? There’s an app for that.

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windaidWind Aid

Though there are several applications available for use, some overshadow others. The first of our great iPhone apps for pilots is the Wind Aid application. It helps pilots to calculate the head wind and cross wind. In order to successfully implement this application the pilot has to be familiar with the runway, wind direction and wind speed. When the pilot enters these three values into the Wind Aid application, the app displays the head wind and cross wind information required.

Image Credit: www.airlinepilotapps.com

copilotCo-Pilot

The Co-Pilot is another astounding iPhone app for pilots that acts as a multi-purpose flight planning program for general aviation. In otherwords computations that can only be performed by countless minutes of squiggling denominations, a ruler, a protractor and a highly advanced calculator can now be attained through this unique application. The Co-Pilot application takes your basic flight information and performs distance, time, weight, fuel, heading and balance calculations.

Image Credit: www.airlinepilotapps.com

aeroweatherAeroweather

Aeroweather is another application that helps pilots with their flight preparations. This iPhone app for pilots provides the current  weather conditions accurately, and it gives weather forecasts. The app has a built-in database of worldwide airport weather stations and allows you to select them either by International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) code or name.

Image Credit: www.airlinepilotapps.com

Flight UpdateFlight Update

Among the array of iPhone applications for pilots, one application worth checking out is the Flight Update app, which is described as one of the most useful flight status apps for your device. Providing support to over 1400 airlines from around the world, Flight Update is an international product that can be utilized in almost every country. Flight Update allows you to track any flight’s status and updates related to that flight. In simple terms this unique application allows you to recover the flight status by simply entering any flight along with the day and time of travel. Regardless of what date, time or month the flight is suppose to depart, by combining the seamless power of the best flight scheduling services with the best flight status services this amazing application will make your life more reliable and uncomplicated.

Image Credit: www.airlinepilotapps.com

pilotprepPilotPrep

PilotPrep is quiz software for pilots or students who are studying for any of the five common FAA exams, namely instrumental rating, private pilot, recreational pilot, commercial pilot and sport pilot. The PilotPrep program includes 1100 questions that are from the FAA sample question bank. The questions include graphics, diagrams and well elaborated answers to help you understand better.

Image Credit: www.airlinepilotapps.com

 

I have yet to find some good apps on Blackberry, but I will make sure to update this page as I find them.

Of course, the availability, price and functionality of these apps are always changing and growing. If you have another favorite please post a comment and let us know what you like to use and what platform it is on (iphone vs Android).