Flight Training Apps – Recommendations from a CFI
I originally created a TikTok about my four favorite flight training apps not thinking it would be a big deal, but a lot of people liked it so I made a Part 2.
This is the master list from those two videos of all my favorites flight training apps in one place! A lot of these I still use now as a CFI, and the rest I still recommend often to students. Enjoy!
**This post contains affiliate links. I may make a commission from purchases made through these links.
1. Sporty’s E6B
Why I recommend
This digital E6B will save you sooo much time vs. using a manual flight computer. If you’re a student pilot, hold off on using this until after you master the manual E6B; you’ll likely need to know how to use one on your checkride, so it’s better to practice using it the old-school way until that’s behind you.
How I use it
After I passed my PPC, this was my primary tool for creating nav logs in instrument and commercial.
2. ForeFlight
Why I recommend
I don’t want to call ForeFlight a necessity, but it kind of is. This is a subscription-based app. The price is a little steep at $120/year for the basic plan, but I promise you it is 100% worth it. It offers easy flight planning, weather briefings, traffic, weight & balance calculations, airport information, and more. Digital copies of every FAA handbook are pre-loaded into the documents section for easy reference. And there’s a companion app for your passengers to download, which they can use to connect to your flight plan and get non-pilot-friendly information on their own devices!
How I use it
Honestly, what DON’T I do in ForeFlight? I store digital copies of checklists and the POH for easy access; plan my flight route and file it through the app when needed; get complete weather reports for any airport in the country; connect my Sentry Mini for inflight traffic monitoring; write ATIS information and CRAFT clearances on the scratchpad feature; calculate weight & balance; quickly pull up airport frequencies and information in flight. It simplifies so many tasks and reduces my workload. Basically, I’m obsessed.
3. GoodNotes
Why I recommend
GoodNotes is the digital version of all the scraps of paper, notebooks, and documents that accumulate through training, but way more organized and functional. I use it on an iPad Pro with an Apple Pencil and it is absolutely luxurious. I feel like I have my life together when I take notes in there. Their handwriting recognition is the best I’ve experienced on a tablet, and the aesthetic is simple and streamlined. Create folders and notebooks to keep your studies organized, and upload files directly into your workspace for safe keeping.
How I use it
I started using GoodNotes while studying for my commercial multi rating. I found it super easy to take notes during ground school, draw little pictures in the margins (my SMACFUM and PAST drawings are immaculate, if you’re wondering) and organize documents my instructor gave me into folders. Everything is searchable, even your own handwriting, which is just so great when you know you wrote something down somewhere but can’t remember exactly where.
Now as a CFI, my entire binder and all of my lesson plans (I recommend these if you’re looking for good ones) live inside of GoodNotes. I also keep track of endorsements here. 5 stars.
4. Holding Pattern Trainer
Why I recommend
Holds were one of the most intimidating concepts to me as a new instrument student, and this app was a lifesaver. It’s a really simple design but gets the job done. If you struggle with holds, drill this over and over until your brain goes AH-HA! Because it will.
How I use it
I recently returned to this app when I went through CFII training, because even though I had figured out how to enter and fly a hold, instructing someone through it turned out to be an entirely new beast. This app helped me start to figure out how to invent an unpublished hold on the fly and talk a student through it while in the plane. I’ve since become an absolute master at holds, so if this is an area you struggle with, please reach out to me. I should write a Holds 101 post because it is truly that dense of a topic.
5. FAR/AIM
Why I recommend
I discovered this in the beginning of my training and found it superior to the paper version of the FAR/AIM for a few reasons:
1) It only costs about $10, whereas the physical copy is currently listed for $26.
2) It updates annually at no extra cost.
3) It’s searchable.
That’s it, mic drop.
How I use it
See reasons above.
6. LogTen Pro
Why I recommend
While a little pricey (unless you’re a student, then use it for free!), the point I want to make is that a digital logbook is a good idea. Paper logbooks get dirty, messy, or lost. If you plan to go to the airlines, LogTen provides downloadable summaries of any combination of flight hours you could want, including one-click ATP summaries. It’s easy to navigate and keeps all of your data organized. No scratched-out writing, torn pages, or water damage included.
How I use it
Well, I… log my hours. But I also pull really fast updates on my totals any time I’m submitting a resume somewhere, type up notes on flights I take with students, and keep an eye on my currency. LogTen knows everything.
7. FlightRadar24
Why I recommend
FlightRadar24 is fun to use whether or not you’re a pilot, and it’s free! Search for a tail number to see past flight data, or track a flight in real time. If a plane flies overhead, you can whip this out and figure out exactly what it is and where it’s going.
How I use it
I used this in training to look up my flight path after a lesson. Specifically after maneuver lessons, I could see how smooth my steep turns were or what my altitude was on final. I could also use it to count laps in the pattern if I forgot to tally up my landings. And if the tail number I was scheduled to fly in hadn’t returned to the school yet, I could search for it and see where it was in real time.
8. Sheppard Air
Why I recommend
This one is a little different because you can’t just go search for this app and download it. It won’t show up. This app is the companion for written test prep packages bought through sheppardair.com and it will save your life. While the design is far from pretty, Sheppard Air is one of the most popular tools for passing written exams from Instrument on. Unfortunately, there isn’t a package available for the Private Pilot written, but for all higher level written exams, this is what I recommend.
To use it, you’ll have to go to the website to get their phone number and call them up. Tell them which exam you’re preparing for and they’ll take your payment information over the phone. Then they’ll email you a unique login and instructions for setting up the app. It’s a bit of a strange process, but if you follow their method you’re all but guaranteed to pass.
How I use it
I used Sheppard Air to prepare for the CAX, FIA, FOI, and FII exams. All of them I passed with an 85% or better, and I didn’t even do every step of their process. If you do every step perfectly, I’d expect an even higher return.
Do you use any of these flight training apps?
Let me know what you think! Was this list helpful?
For more recommendations on tools to help you in flight training, check out my Amazon storefront. You’ll find all of my favorite books for pilots, private pilot basics, and more in easy-to-navigate lists!
