# RunwayHD

> VFR flight planning and navigation tool with global charts and real-time weather. (iPhone/iPad app by Airbox Aerospace Ltd.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/runwayhd/id521642586 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Airbox Aerospace Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/298823997)
- Category: Navigation, Productivity
- Price: Free with in-app purchases
- Rating: 4.13/5 from 15 App Store ratings · 27 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 12.0 · 514 MB
- Languages: English
- Released: 2012-05-10
- Data updated: 2026-06-10
- Monetization: free with in-app purchases
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/runwayhd/id521642586/reviews.md

## What is RunwayHD?

RunwayHD is a sophisticated planning and navigation tool for VFR flying which you can unlock for flight with your Airbox chart subscription*.

Runway HD features:

• Very fast moving map display.
• Grab and drag routes for rapid route planning.
• Always fly with the chart you are most familiar with. Download charts of anywhere in the world to your iPad. Choices include national aviation (ICAO) charts and privately created charts such as Bossy for France and Portolano for Italy (for a full list, please see our website).
• Vector charts available free of charge anywhere in the world which declutter as you zoom out and text rotates as you turn.
• Google Maps in-app integration; perfect for planning approaches.
• >30,000 free vector geo-referenced airfields
• In-flight navigation (requires Navigation/GPS subscription).
• Make perfect approaches every time with detailed approach plates now available for many countries.
• Full airport information.
• Detailed weather displayed on the map (TAF, METAR, rain radar (Europe), winds aloft.
• Visual NOTAM display and active download.
• Side profile including airspace and terrain.
• On-screen ruler for estimating distance and time between points.
• Scratch pad for writing important information directly onto the iPad.
• Automatic flight logging including ability to show flown tracks on the map.
• Dynamic map positioning to show maximum view of way ahead.
• Flight plan filing direct from the app.
• Create custom points of interest.

* Each Airbox subscription is valid for use on up to 2 devices.
* Continued use of GPS running in the background can dramatically decrease battery life.

To request deletion of your runwayHD account, please contact support@airboxsystems.com

## Key features

- Fast moving map display
- Route planning and editing
- Global chart downloads
- In-flight navigation
- Airport information and weather
- Flight logging

## Pricing and in-app purchases

Base price: Free.

**One-time purchases**

| Purchase | Price | Type |
| --- | --- | --- |
| CAA 500k South | $28.99 | one-time |
| CAA 50k London Heli Routes | $49.99 | one-time |
| South Africa Chart Pack with Navigation | $84.99 | one-time |
| IGN 500k France | $49.99 | one-time |
| FAA Chart Pack Area CH-25 | $35.99 | one-time |
| GPS Activation with USA Approach Plates | $16.99 | one-time |
| Airspace Avoider (1 Year) | $74.99 | one-time |
| Euro Unlimited | $229.99 | one-time |
| Open Flight Maps Austria | $4.99 | one-time |
| FAA 125k Heliroutes | $35.99 | one-time |
| CAA 250k Regions 1-4 | $79.99 | one-time |
| UK CAA 500k South with Pooleys & GPS | $109.99 | one-time |


## Recent user reviews (10 of 27)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/runwayhd/id521642586/reviews.md

### 1/5 — Terrible Record for Updates with bugs

*2024-07-08*

The software is reasonably reliable but their updates are terrible for introducing new bugs and then they have to work backwards to fix them. Recently their software needs completely uninstalled manually and then reinstalled which requires to upload all of your extra packs again….extremely time consuming and annoying.

### 5/5 — Historic Army Aircraft Flight & RunwayHD

*2022-11-23*

I’ve had the privilege of using RunwayHD for the last few years whilst displaying with the Historic Helicopters and the RAF Chinook Force. This navigation system is very user friendly and easy to use allowing me to dedicate the majority of my capacity to looking outside the cockpit and flying safely rather than navigating. With many additional applications it helps me plan successfully and brief my team clearly before flying. I cannot recommend this product highly enough. A must for all aircrew, professional and private alike.

### 1/5 — Un-usable if Sky Echo disconnects

*2022-03-28*

If the Sky Echo disconnects the app has a repeated pop-up that has to be acknowledged. This renders the app useless for its PRIMARY function of navigation until you’ve been “heads in” and navigated the menu system to turn it off. This is UNSAFE. 

Yes to a red status bar or even screen surround but nothing that stops you seeing and using the map. So frustrating that it hasn’t been fixed in the latest update despite it being a new “feature” of the last update.

### 4/5 — Almost perfect

*2022-01-29*

I love using this app. It seems to be the most well designed aviation app, especially with the range of different charts, including os maps for the UK. BUT, I wish there was a way to edit the route briefing so I could set different altitudes for different legs - I know I can use the virtual radar to add waypoints and drag them up and down but this feels clumsy. I would also love to be able to add extra frequencies to the route briefing. Overall this app works great, and would certainly be worth 5 stars if you could only edit route briefing.

### 5/5 — Runway HD

*2021-07-23*

I like RunwayHD a lot but it currently does not download weather as it used to. This limits its functionality to an extent.  However still a great flying APP to have on your phone as a backup.

### 4/5 — Great! but app sometimes crashes when doing Aerobatics

*2019-09-03*

Brilliant! Expensive nav aids are things of the past. Sell all that old junk and lighten up your plane. Just use an iPad mini with RunwayHD! It's all you'll ever need. 
It doesn’t seem to like going upside down or pulling hard Gs tho and often crashes to the desktop. Maybe something to do with the gyro in the iPad?

### 5/5 — Most intuitive aviation navigation app

*2019-01-04*

Very intuitive to use... having a choice of maps to download means that I can use the map style I like, including seamlessly transferring from paper to electronic. I also find Runway HD more user friendly than other Apps... for example, the ability to review then hide irrelevant NOTAMs means only applicable information remains in view for Pre-flight briefs and while airborne.

### 2/5 — No longer just right

*2018-12-14*

I use this most days and it's excellent. The only proviso is tablet rather than app related in that you should assume having an occasional device heat shut down even in the UK.

Updated from 5 to 2 stars - there is a consistent new long term problem with NOTAMs, one of the most useful and in practise critical features, in that they appear to update but do not do so reliably. The date needs to be checked. 

The help desk advice to clear the system cache and restart appears to make little difference (or clear the cache).  The suggestions that it’s down to connection speed or a particular personal device are disingenuous - I’m using multiple devices and multiple connections and flying several times every week and the experience is the same across all.  

Bugs happen, they just need fixing. Whatever the small print, not to mention the issue on the website or deal with something as useful (and potentially serious) in a timely fashion is disappointing. 

This working again - it would be back to being incredibly useful and by far the best of the excellent alternatives.

### 5/5 — RunwayHD

*2018-12-05*

Work for a helicopter training and charter company. We use RHD on a daily basis in the planning and execution of flights. It is very easy to use especially when compared to the legacy gps found in most aircraft. The use of CAA charts supports the training process and being able to use it on more than one device speeds planning. Would not hesitate to recommend it. Dont forget though you should always have a plan B!

### 5/5 — RunwayHD Fantastic

*2018-11-17*

What a superb system, brilliant it uses Official Charts, which help navigation if a flat battery or IPad crash happens. It flows and two many functions for me to describe. Have used it in planning and flying trips all around the UK, but makes my French forays so easy and comfortable. Any hiccups I have had have been answered promptly and queries dealt with almost immediately, what more can one ask for rate it 10 out of 10

## Frequently asked questions about RunwayHD

### What does RunwayHD do?

RunwayHD is a sophisticated planning and navigation tool specifically designed for VFR flying. It offers features like a fast moving map, route planning, global chart downloads, in-flight navigation, detailed airport information, and weather overlays.

### What are the key features of RunwayHD?

Key features include a very fast moving map display, grab-and-drag route planning, the ability to download charts worldwide, in-flight navigation, detailed approach plates, airport information, weather data (TAF, METAR, rain radar, winds aloft), visual NOTAM display, side profiles, an on-screen ruler, a scratch pad, automatic flight logging, and flight plan filing.

### How much does RunwayHD cost?

The app itself is free to download. However, certain advanced features like in-flight navigation require a Navigation/GPS subscription, and access to specific charts may be tied to an Airbox chart subscription. Each Airbox subscription is valid for use on up to two devices.

### What devices is RunwayHD compatible with?

The description mentions that charts can be downloaded to an iPad, suggesting compatibility with iOS devices. It also notes that continued use of GPS running in the background can decrease battery life, a common consideration for mobile devices.

### What are common use cases for RunwayHD?

Common use cases include planning VFR flights by easily creating and modifying routes, navigating during flights using detailed maps and real-time weather, preparing for approaches with detailed plates, logging flights automatically, and accessing comprehensive airport information.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 5.5.95 — 2024-08-09

Fix for issue around repeated user log-in requests.

### 5.5.91 — 2024-08-02

Stability improvements around user authentication

### 5.5.75 — 2024-07-11

This release includes important bug fixes and performance improvements

### 5.5.69 — 2024-07-08

This release includes important bug fix regarding crashing on launch for some users

### 5.5.66 — 2024-07-05

This release includes important bug fixes

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-06-10.*