The Difficult Airway App vs AirCom SIM
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
The Difficult Airway App
This medical app assists clinicians in managing emergency airways by providing rapid drug selection and dosing for RSI. It offers decision-making support with algorithms and mnemonics for difficult airways, along with educational resources.
- Adult and pediatric drug dosing for RSI
- Obesity and hemodynamic adjustments
- Broselow-Luten color system integration
- Difficult airway algorithms and predictors
- Step-by-step RSI guidance
- Customizable drug formulary
- Airway anatomy illustrations
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The Difficult Airway App (v.3.3) The Difficult Airway App™ is an essential tool for clinicians who manage emergency airways in any setting: the ED, ICU, in-patient unit or the many EMS practice environments. THE RIGHT DRUGS, THE RIGHT DOSES, THE RIGHT WAY! This app rapidly and easily selects the right drugs for RSI, automatically adjusting for obesity and hemodynamics. Pediatric dosing and equipment selection is a snap using the Broselow-Luten color system or the child's estimated weight. Stay out of trouble! The Difficult Airway App™ guides the user quickly and easily through important algorithms, predictors of the difficult airway, and the step-by-step approach to RSI taught in The Difficult Airway Course: Emergency™. The Difficult Airway App™ features: EASY, YET SOPHISTICATED ADULT AND PEDIATRIC DRUG DOSING • For adult dosing, a few simple clicks bring you to recommended doses that incorporate patient weight, body habitus and hemodynamics. • The pediatric drug dosing function incorporates the color-coded system created by James Broselow, MD and Robert C. Luten, MD for rapid, safe management of pediatric airway cases. • The option to customize your formulary means that only the drugs you use will appear in the recommendations. DECISION-MAKING SUPPORT • Straight-forward algorithms allow you to quickly determine the best approach to your patient’s airway. • Easy mnemonics walk you through predictors of a difficult airway, including difficult laryngoscopy (LEMON), difficult BMV (ROMAN), difficult extraglottic device use (RODS) and difficult cricothyrotomy (SMART). • Pearls of wisdom, based on evidence and expert opinion, are offered throughout. RAPID SEQUENCE INTUBATION • The 7 – Ps of RSI: a step-by-step guide for adult and pediatric patients. • Adult and pediatric RSI drug dosing. EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES • Richly detailed illustrations of the airway anatomy. • Links to information about The Difficult Airway Courses™. Created by Ron M. Walls, MD, Michael F. Murphy, MD and Robert C. Luten, MD. With significant updates by Calvin A. Brown III, MD.
AirCom SIM
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AirCom SIM is a tool intended for use by emergency first responders and hospitals. An authorized app user can instantly submit a request for patient transport to a communication center utilizing the Flight Vector CAD application. The app sends vital information for a transport request, including GPS location for scene calls, unit and room number for interfacility transports, requesting agency or facility, patient weight and safety information. The information sent will automatically create a request within the dispatch software which improves effiecency and reduces the likelihood of errors. FlightCall provides the user confirmation that assets are en route. The requestor will have up to the minute updates displayed on a Google based map. The graphical display will show asset location, asset identification, enroute time and estimated time of arrival. Registration is required for all users. Only users approved will have access to all features including the ability to request a transport. Additional functions of the app include: - Push notifications - Hospital directory, searchable by name - Landing zone guide
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: AirCom SIM at Free against The Difficult Airway App's $4.99. AirCom SIM also leads on update cadence (every 2 months vs every 10 months) and iOS requirement (11.0 vs 13.0). The Difficult Airway App's advantage is chart position (#124 vs unranked). On ads, in-app purchases 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
AirCom SIM is free to download; The Difficult Airway App costs $4.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
The Difficult Airway App ships an update every 10 months, AirCom SIM every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and October 18, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | The Difficult Airway App | AirCom SIM |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $4.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | 4.1 (22 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 31.3% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 22 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 10 months | Every 2 months — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | — |
| Best chart rank | #124 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 | 11.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 62 MB | 12 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Airway Management Education Center | Softtech, Incorporated. |
In-app purchases
The Difficult Airway App
No in-app purchases
AirCom SIM
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is The Difficult Airway App free?
Is AirCom SIM free?
Do The Difficult Airway App or AirCom SIM have ads?
Which is updated more often, The Difficult Airway App or AirCom SIM?
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