Aerovie First Aviation App for Apple Watch

EFB and navigation app AerovieReports appears to be the first to market with an Apple Watch aviation app. The Aerovie Watch app is now available on the App Store as part of the latest version of AerovieReports (2.04). Watch apps are bundled with iPhone apps because the Watch requires an iPhone 5, 5S, 6 or 6 Plus.

“It’s designed to be like an external display for your iPhone,” explained Aerovie developer Bryan Heitman. “It’s not apps loaded onto the Watch, but uses the iPhone for processing.” (Some of Apple’s own apps do run on the Watch itself.)

AerovieReports began as a simple way for pilots to submit and view pireps. More recently, Heitman upgraded the app with full weather, flight planning and navigation features, including geo-referenced approach charts and moving map, flight-plan filing with Lockheed Martin and extensive weather information including alerts based on route and departure time. With the Watch features, Heitman’s goal was to add brief interactions (Apple calls these Glances) to provide Aerovie users with pertinent information. This includes Metars for departure and destination, nearest and favorite airport weather and frequencies and a timer. “This is really version one,” he said. “We have a lot of plans. We know there is skepticism about whether the Watch is necessary, but when pilots see [these capabilities], a lot of folks are going to come around and see the need to own one.”