# Tower Drill — ATC Radio & Readback Practice > Aviation radio training app for student pilots to practice ATC communications. (iPhone/iPad app by TXN LLC.) - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tower-drill/id6761797521 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`) - Developer: [TXN LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1832734163) - Category: Education, Reference - Price: Free with in-app purchases - Rating: 5.00/5 from 1 App Store ratings - Age rating: 4+ - Requires: iOS 17.0 · 9 MB - Languages: American English - Released: 2026-04-09 - Data updated: 2026-08-22 - Monetization: free with in-app purchases - User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tower-drill/id6761797521/reviews.md ## What is Tower Drill? Tower Drill helps US student pilots practice ATC out loud before the next flight lesson. If radio calls make you tense, Tower Drill gives you a private place to rehearse. Hear a simulated controller, answer with push-to-talk, and get focused feedback on the runway, frequency, altitude, squawk code, hold-short instruction, and other details that matter. Tower Drill does not stream live ATC or issue operational clearances. START WITH THE HELP YOU NEED • Listen & Shadow lets you hear both sides and repeat without a score. • Training explains the call and shows the expected response. • Coached gives you key items when you need a prompt. • Solo removes the hints when you are ready to test yourself. PRACTICE AT YOUR HOME AIRPORT Choose from 577 US-towered practice airports, based on FAA data. Scenarios use runway and frequency references for the field you select, along with your aircraft details. Airport data is for training only; always verify current official sources before flight. PREPARE FOR FLIGHT DAY Check current weather and official airport sources, choose the operation you expect to fly, then rehearse its radio sequence as a clearly labeled simulation. REVIEW WHAT YOU ACTUALLY SAID • Tape Review replays recent transmissions beside the expected readback. • Practice My Misses builds a short session around weak details. • Taxi Trainer reinforces route order, runway crossings, and hold-short restrictions. • Radio Skills and ACS Readiness show the areas you have practiced. • A CFI-ready PDF summarizes progress for your instructor. 18 LESSONS, 96 SPOKEN DRILLS Practice phonetics, aviation numbers, first contact, ATIS, taxi, takeoff, pattern work, flight following, Class B and C transitions, IFR clearances, approach calls, holds, CTAF operations, and abnormal situations. Details change between sessions so you learn the structure instead of memorizing one script. FREE TO START The first 5 lessons and 24 drills are free. A one-time $8.99 Pro purchase unlocks the complete course, all 577 practice airports, Flight Day mission rehearsal, Radio Checkride, Commute Mode, and the CFI report. No subscription. PRIVATE BY DESIGN No account, ads, analytics, or tracking. Speech evaluation happens on device. Practice recordings and transcripts stay on your device. Optional Apple Intelligence features use Apple's on-device system language model on supported devices; core guided lessons do not require it. Tower Drill is an educational practice aid, not a substitute for a flight instructor, current charts and publications, regulations, or real ATC instructions. ## Key features - Realistic ATC instruction practice - Push-to-talk and readback scoring - Multiple practice modes (Training, Coached, Solo) - 15 structured lessons and 78 drills - On-device AI for varied phrasing - Aircraft placard for reference - Privacy-focused design ## Pricing and in-app purchases Base price: Free. **One-time purchases** | Purchase | Price | Type | | --- | --- | --- | | Tower Drill Pro | $8.99 | one-time | ## Frequently asked questions about Tower Drill ### What is Tower Drill? Tower Drill is an educational training aid designed to help student pilots practice aviation radio communications. It simulates realistic Air Traffic Control (ATC) instructions, allowing users to practice their readbacks and improve their confidence before actual flights. ### How does Tower Drill help with mic fright? Tower Drill addresses mic fright by providing short, repeatable practice sessions. Users listen to ATC calls, hold push-to-talk, and speak their readbacks, receiving scores on key words. This structured repetition builds familiarity and reduces anxiety. ### What learning modes are available in Tower Drill? Tower Drill offers three practice modes: Training mode shows exactly what to say, Coached mode provides key items, and Solo mode hides hints until the user is ready. This progressive approach caters to different learning stages. ### Does Tower Drill require an internet connection? Guided lessons work without downloading the AI model. The optional on-device AI model, which adds more varied ATC phrasing and richer busy-frequency practice, requires a download. Speech recognition runs on the device. ### Is Tower Drill suitable for all pilots? Tower Drill is built for student pilots. It covers essential topics like ICAO phonetics, standard radio phrases, IFR clearances, and emergency communications, making it a comprehensive tool for foundational radio work. ### How much does Tower Drill cost? The first 5 lessons and 24 drills are free to start. Tower Drill Pro, which unlocks all 15 lessons and 78 drills, can be accessed with a one-time purchase. ### Is Tower Drill safe for children? Tower Drill has an age rating of 4+. Its content focuses on aviation radio procedures, which are relevant for pilot training. The app is designed with privacy in mind, with all speech recognition and AI processing done on-device. ### How often is Tower Drill updated? The latest version of Tower Drill is 1.1, last updated on May 1, 2026. While specific update frequency isn't detailed, the recent update suggests ongoing development and support. ## Version history (last 5 releases) ### 2.0 — 2026-08-20 Tower Drill 2.0 is a calmer, more complete radio practice system for the next flight lesson. • Simpler Train, Practice, and Progress tabs • Paged lesson briefings that explain what to say and why • Optional setting to skip briefings once you know the material • Listen & Shadow practice with no score or pressure • Tape Review and Practice My Misses • Interactive Taxi Trainer • Flight Day weather, official source links, and mission rehearsal • Radio Skills, ACS Readiness, and a no-hints Radio Checkride • Smoother automatic progression after successful calls • Rebuilt Listen & Shadow and Commute Mode timing • Clearer response timing and hands-free feedback • Louder, normal media playback through the built-in speaker • More reliable on-device speech recognition and controller audio • Reset Practice Progress in Settings Tower Drill remains private by design, with no account, ads, analytics, or subscription. ### 1.5 — 2026-07-06 Redesigned for iPad: an adaptive two-pane layout puts your lessons in a sidebar with the radio session beside them in landscape. Day VFR and Night Flight: a new light theme to go with the original dark cockpit look, matched across the whole app. NEW FAA field diagrams (Pro): see the real airport diagram right in your home-field and taxi lessons. More IFR: expanded arrival, approach, and holding lessons, with clearance destinations set to real fields within range of your home airport. Also: a cleaner "Listening" indicator while you transmit, and a tip for turning on richer over-the-radio controller audio with a free Enhanced voice. ### 1.4 — 2026-07-03 Train at your home field: pick from 576 real US towered airports with real runways, frequencies, and approach facilities (FAA data). NEW: Commute Mode (Pro): hands-free radio drills for the drive to the airport. ATC calls, you answer, and the controller responds. Works with the screen locked. NEW: Hear Yourself: replay your own transmission next to the ideal readback. NEW: Radio Skills report: per-item accuracy (runways, frequencies, squawks…) plus a one-page CFI progress report PDF (Pro). Also: controller pace settings from relaxed to rapid-fire, realistic "say again" corrections, shareable lesson debrief cards, and major speech-recognition accuracy improvements powered by a custom on-device ATC language model. ### 1.1 — 2026-05-01 V1.1 adds running lesson scorecards, clearer aircraft placard training, startup speech and microphone permission setup, an improved launch screen, refreshed screenshots, and richer optional AI-powered busy-frequency practice. ### 1.0 — 2026-04-09 No release notes. ## More apps by TXN LLC - [Hzera - Tinnitus Relief](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hzera-tinnitus-relief/id6759874575) All apps by TXN LLC: https://appshunter.io/developer/1832734163 --- *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 2026-08-22.*