Planningcharts vs DatCon Dash! Pilot Logbook
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Planningcharts
This navigation tool provides pilots with essential real-time airport data, procedures, and safety information on interactive charts. It offers continuous updates for offline use, enhancing situational awareness and safety during flights. Access to all charts worldwide requires a subscription.
- Interactive 3D Globe chart selection
- Real-time NOTAMs and WX/TAF data
- Offline inflight chart updates
- EASA Threat and Error management
- Airport categorization and approach data
- Common ATC frequencies and procedures
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Planningcharts ia a well-known tool used by thousands of professional long-haul pilots worldwide - New level of situational awareness and therefore dramatically increased safety - latest NOTAMs and WX / TAF to display real-time availability of all airports - EASA Threat and Error management built into every airport symbol All the Pilot's KnowHow you need is on one single chart, such as: - NAT crossing procedures - Common ATC frequencies - Time frame for ATC initial calls - Data Link (FANS/CPDLC) codes - Time frame for Data Link (FANS/CPDLC) log-in - IFBP (IATA Inflight Broadcasting Procedure) Reminder - Unique developed airport symbols, containing: - Airport categorisation - Approach directions and capability at a single glance - List of displayed airports, containing: - RFF (rescue and firefighting) category - Field elevation - Variation - Available runways with related approach and LDA (landing distance available) - Made by professional pilots for professional pilots. Key features: • Select your chart on our new interactive 3D Globe • Continues update of all data and charts for offline inflight use. • Automatic news download, when starting the App. • Feedback directly from chart view to our support. Without a subscription, you only have limited access to the app's functions. You can only view some charts and cannot save them as favorites. Our subscriptions give you access to all charts worldwide. There are different packages for a monthly, half-yearly and yearly subscription. Each package gives you full access to the product for as long as it lasts. Each subscription can be canceled at any time. The subscriptions follow the standard EULA from Apple https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/.
DatCon Dash! Pilot Logbook
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DatCon Dash! is the flight logbook built for helicopter pilots. Tap ENGINE START as the engine runs: the app notes the time and where you are, then opens the camera for the datcon. Zoom in, type the digits you see, and fly. At shutdown, tap ENGINE OFF and do the same. That's the entry done, whether you landed at an airfield or a private site. Your first flight needs no setup at all: just type the registration when asked, and add the rest later. Forgot the app on a flight? Add it afterwards in a few taps. LOG A FLIGHT IN SECONDS • One-tap ENGINE START and ENGINE OFF, times kept in Zulu • Datcon photos kept with every flight, and saved to Photos with their location if you like • Collective and engine datcons, with a check on every reading • Quick past-flight entry: readings, start time and the end worked out from the engine datcon • Captain, persons on board, capacity (P1, PUT, P2), landings, fuel and oil on a big, easy keypad (type the uplift in litres if you like) • Fuel remaining for main and auxiliary tanks, by sliders or a tank dip figure • Departure and arrival places named for you, remembering the places you use; search airfields and heliports worldwide by code or name, or type any site • Night and instrument time in a slide YOUR LOGBOOK AND LICENCE • Home dashboard: totals, currency, hours by year and month, a map of everywhere you've landed • Currency warnings for hours on type and for carrying passengers • Logbook for iPhone and iPad, plus a Tech log view laid out like your aircraft's sector record, to help you complete your aircraft tech log with the data collected in the app • PDF reports: flying summary, pilot logbook, licence and currency, aircraft usage, tech-log sheets • Scan your CAA licence and medical; see every rating's renewal date and get reminders before they run out • A DCD CAA Licence card, with Apple Wallet EVERY AIRCRAFT, ON ONE PAGE • Overview, Setup, Docs and People for each aircraft • Maintenance and document reminders: insurance, ARC, radio licence and next maintenance, by date or hours • Keep each aircraft's documents together in its Docs tab • Share an aircraft with other pilots as Full or View only, and edit it together; everyone is notified when something changes • Joining an aircraft someone already shares? Bring your own records across with you • Book the aircraft on a calendar, with alerts when bookings change PLAN WITH THE WEATHER • Booking weather from the nearest TAF and METAR: green, amber or red, with the reasons • The forecast reads in plain English, so there is no code to decode ALWAYS TO HAND • Live Activity and widgets with a running engine clock • CSV import and export, and a download of all your data • Works offline and saves to your iCloud; Sign in with Apple is only needed for sharing Built for Robinson R22, R44 and R66 pilots, and anyone who logs on a datcon. DatCon Dash! is not endorsed by the UK CAA. Weather is a planning aid only: always get an official briefing before flight. Maintenance reminders are an aid; your aircraft's records remain the authority. Always carry your original licence.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: DatCon Dash! Pilot Logbook at none against Planningcharts's 3. DatCon Dash! Pilot Logbook also leads on update cadence (every 2 days vs every 3 weeks). Planningcharts's advantage is iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.0). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Planningcharts sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $18.49 per month. DatCon Dash! Pilot Logbook asks for nothing beyond the download.
Planningcharts ships an update every 3 weeks, DatCon Dash! Pilot Logbook every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Planningcharts | DatCon Dash! Pilot Logbook |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.4 (5 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 61.1% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 5 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | Every 2 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Subscription | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 — better | 17.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 80 MB | 34 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Apollodor Aviation GmbH | Thinking Fish Ltd |
In-app purchases
Planningcharts
- Monthly Membership3 Days trial$18.491 Month
- Half Yearly Membership3 Days trial$94.996 Months
- Yearly Membership3 Days trial$144.991 Year
DatCon Dash! Pilot Logbook
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Planningcharts free?
Is DatCon Dash! Pilot Logbook free?
Do Planningcharts or DatCon Dash! Pilot Logbook have ads?
Which is updated more often, Planningcharts or DatCon Dash! Pilot Logbook?
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