Aviation Apps: New Features Make Mobile Devices Ever More Useful

In just half a decade since Apple introduced the iPad in 2010, tablet computers have become essential pilot tools, and it’s rare to see a pilot flying today dragging around a heavy bag of printed charts. From basic chart replacement apps to full-fledged electronic flight bag (EFB) and performance apps, the tablet computer–whether running Apple’s iOS, Google’s Android or Microsoft’s Windows operating system–has found a permanent home in every type of aircraft, from helicopters to light general aviation airplanes, business turboprops and jets and even the largest airliners.

The aviation app environment is maturing, and now we’re seeing incremental improvements in many popular apps, rather than major developments.