The aviation industry has undergone rapid developments in recent years, with advanced technology enabling pilots and crew members to access a wealth of information at their fingertips. One of the most significant advancements has been the emergence of aviation apps, which provide real-time data and advanced features to enhance safety and efficiency. Among the various operating systems available, Android has emerged as a popular choice for aviation apps. In this article, we will explore some of the best aviation apps for Android, highlighting their features and benefits.
The increasing popularity of aviation apps can be attributed to their ability to provide accurate and reliable information to pilots and crew members, enabling them to make well-informed decisions. These apps offer a range of features, from weather information to flight planning tools, that can help improve safety and efficiency. With Android devices becoming widely used in the aviation industry, many app developers have created specialized apps to cater to the needs of pilots and crew members.
We have compiled a list of 8 Best Aviation App For Android for your consideration, which have undergone rigorous testing and evaluation by our team of experts.
Table of Contents
8 Best Aviation App For Android
1. Xradio ADS-B Receiver
The ADS-B on USB receiver software allows users to view real-time weather, traffic, TFRs, and other flight data on their tablet or mobile device. The software requires additional hardware for proper operation, which can be purchased from xradioinc.com or Ebay. The hardware package includes a 978/1090 MHz antenna, DVB-T receiver, SMA to MCX adapter, and a Micro USB Male to USB Female OTG Adapter Converter. The RF-1 is based on a digital video broadcast receiver and is compatible with digitalxradio.com software, which overlays airline traffic on a moving map. The software includes FAA maps and weather products like METARS, TAFs, NOTAMS, and wind direction and temperatures aloft. Graphical weather products like Nexrad, Graphical AIRMETS, and Graphical SIGMETS can be accessed through a popup button. This software can be used as a backup to a certified panel mount ADS-B system and to verify proper operation of installed equipment. The technology has been developed in the Avare project and credits are given to various contributors. The software is provided as is without any warranties, and the copyright holders and contributors will not be liable for any damages arising from the use of the software.
Air Navigation Pro is a flight assistant app designed for VFR pilots. It offers real-time GPS navigation, flight planning, and a database of worldwide airspaces and waypoints. The app features a Moving Map function that displays aeronautical charts as background, interactive waypoints, airspaces, and planned routes. The Flight Planning function allows users to plan and edit directly from the moving map or by searching the waypoint’s database. The app also provides georeferenced approach charts designed for maximum visibility, a worldwide selection of free and paid aeronautical charts, and a Profile View that gives terrain information for better situation awareness.
Air Navigation Pro’s Traffic Awareness feature enhances safety by decreasing the risk of a collision. It also offers live tracking, flight recording, and the ability to replay and analyze your trace. The app includes additional features like Night Vision, Sharing Functions, and support for external modules.
The app requires an internal GPS receptor, which some WiFi only tablets do not include. These devices will require an external sensor. The app offers yearly auto-renewable subscriptions, and users should always use official aeronautical documentation and certified navigation devices when performing a flight. Air Navigation Pro for Android V3.4 is supported from Android version 6.0 (Marshmallow API level 23) to higher versions.
3. Flightradar24 Flight Tracker
Flightradar24 is a popular flight tracker app, available for free download on devices such as phones and tablets, that provides users with real-time flight information and a detailed map of flight paths around the world. Users can easily identify flights overhead and view flight details such as the route, estimated time of arrival, and aircraft type, as well as historical flight data playback. The app also allows users to filter and search for individual flights, and view arrival and departure boards, flight status, and weather conditions at airports. Flightradar24 offers two upgrade options, Silver and Gold, for additional features such as extended flight history and weather layers. The app works by receiving positional data transmitted by aircraft equipped with ADS-B transponders, which is then displayed on the map. The app developer urges users to only use the app for entertainment purposes, and not engage in any activities that could endanger themselves or others.
4. Garmin Pilot
Garmin Pilot is an Android app designed for general aviation and corporate pilots. The application offers an extensive suite of tools including flight planning, filing, charts, interactive maps, weather briefing resources, and navigation capabilities. With an intuitive interface resembling the newest Garmin touchscreen avionics, pilots can easily transition from preflight to inflight. Garmin Pilot offers pilots access to the most comprehensive aviation weather information, including NEXRAD radar, visible and infrared cloud imagery, METARs, TAFs, AIRMETs, SIGMETs, PIREPs, NOTAMs, winds and temperature aloft, TFRs, and lightning data. Pilots can display this data over a VFR sectional or an IFR low or high en-route chart to visualize the weather for their route.
The app enables easy entry of a flight plan using pre-loaded forms for frequently flown routes. Users can file, cancel, or close the flight plan via Lockheed Martin or CSC DUATS. Garmin Pilot provides full en-route navigation capability on its moving map, displaying ETE, ETA, cross track error, distance to waypoint, and current position.
Additionally, Garmin Pilot includes a comprehensive electronic logbook that syncs with flyGarmin. The logbook automatically generates entries based on GPS data collected during the flight, tracks currency, supports manual entries, endorsements, and creates reports.
5. FlightAware Flight Tracker
FlightAware has developed a free, live flight tracker and flight status app for Android devices. This app enables users to track the real-time status of any commercial or private flight worldwide, as well as flights within the United States and Canada. The app provides tracking options such as aircraft registration, route, airline, flight number, city pair, or airport code. The tracking data includes complete flight details and full-screen maps with NEXRAD radar overlay. Users can also receive real-time push notifications for flight alerts, view airport delays, and see nearby flights in the sky overhead.
In order to create a flight alert to be sent to another person, the app requires permission to access your Contacts. However, FlightAware assures that it does not store or transmit your contacts list in any other way. Users are encouraged to send any feedback to support-android@flightaware.com.
6. Sporty’s Pilot Training
Sporty’s Pilot Training app is an innovative platform that consolidates numerous aviation training courses into one location, allowing users to access all aviation-related content on their Android phone and tablet. The app offers interactive FAA practice tests and HD training videos for free.
One of Sporty’s most popular courses is the 2021 Learn to Fly Course, which is designed to save users time and money while earning their pilot certificate. The comprehensive flight-training companion features 20 hours of HD video training, a knowledge test preparation, an interactive flight maneuvers guide, and video-referenced Airman Certification Standards (ACS), among other resources. Upon the completion of this course, users will earn an FAA knowledge test endorsement and FAA WINGS credit.
Another course available on the app is the 2021 Instrument Rating Course, which guarantees users will ace their FAA written test. The course features 13 hours of video training, knowledge test preparation, an interactive instrument maneuvers guide, and video-referenced Airman Certification Standards (ACS), among other resources. The course also covers both glass cockpit and analog gauge systems.
In addition to these courses, Sporty’s Pilot Training app also offers an extensive aviation course library that includes various aviation-related topics such as weather, multi-engine training, flying with ForeFlight, and VFR and IFR communications.
7. Mentour Aviation
The Boeing 737NG app offers a comprehensive learning platform for aviation enthusiasts. It provides users with a range of instructional videos, including immersive 360-degree videos, exclusive YouTube Mentour material, and conventional 2D videos. Additionally, users can interact with other aviation enthusiasts through a chat system.
The app allows users to download purchased instructional videos to their devices, with the playlists being continuously updated based on feedback. The 360-degree videos can be viewed with or without a Virtual Reality headset, and the app has a VR menu system that allows users to switch between videos without removing their headset.
Overall, the Boeing 737NG app aims to be the ultimate resource for aviation enthusiasts.
8. Avare
Avare is a free aviation GPS and EFB app that provides offline moving maps on all FAA charts, including VFR Sectional, IFR lo/hi enroute, Approach Plate, WAC & TAC, A/FD info, Airport Diagrams with GPS Taxi, and Terminal Procedures. It also offers GPS status, Terrain/Elevation Maps, 50 Nearest airports, Obstacles, and more. Some FAA Charts cover Puerto Rico, parts of Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean. The app is not FAA certified for primary navigation but may be used as outlined in FAA documents. Avare is easy to learn and use; made by and for pilots, and runs on most Android devices without any ads or invasive permissions.
Avare installation begins with the small app, and then fetching an aviation Database and at least one chart. Users can choose additional charts and materials for Avare to Download free at any time. However, the FAA occasionally changes their charts, and outdated charts may incorrectly display the user’s location in Avare, so users must update any charts they may use in flight. After installing and launching Avare, users can use the Help feature to learn more.