Comparison

Approach Speed Calculator Pro vs Pilot

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Approach Speed Calculator Pro

This tool helps pilots quickly and accurately calculate approach speeds for safe landings, following Boeing's FCTM procedures. It supports all Boeing models and is also recommended for Airbus and other jet aircraft.

Highlights
  • Calculate approach speeds
  • Follows Boeing FCTM procedures
  • Supports all Boeing models
  • Recommended for Airbus and other jets
  • Accurate landing speed determination
Features
Read full description

Good morning, Captain. Join over 6,000 pilots who use this tool to brief the approach speed for every landing, even in gusty, challenging conditions. Set the runway and the wind with one finger on the compass, set your VREF, and the approach speed is there. No mental math, no typing. BUILT ON THE BOEING METHOD The wind additive follows the Boeing Flight Crew Training Manual (FCTM): half of the steady headwind component plus the full gust increment, never less than VREF + 5 and never more than the limit you choose, VREF + 15 or VREF + 20. With a tailwind only VREF + 5 applies. It applies from the 727 to the 787, and the same method is in use on Airbus and other jets. WHAT YOU SEE • Approach speed, with the additive shown as VREF + n • Headwind or tailwind component and crosswind component, each with its gust • Colors that speak: green inside normal values, yellow for caution, red beyond limits • A warning when the approach speed gets close to your full flaps limit speed • Descent rate for a 3 degree path • Ground speed on final • Reference stall speed MADE FOR THE FLIGHT DECK • A compass you drag: outer ring for the wind, center for the runway. Fine tune degree by degree with the buttons • Dark instrument display, easy to read by day and by night • iPhone and iPad, with landscape on iPad • Knots and feet per minute, or meters per second • Works offline. No account, no ads, no subscription For reference only. This app does not replace your aircraft manuals or your company procedures.

About

Pilot

This reference app provides flight crews with fast, offline access to over 14,000 aviation abbreviations and acronyms. It includes organized lists for general terms, datalink messages, airports, aircraft registrations, and airlines, drawing from numerous international sources.

Highlights
  • Offline access to 14,000+ aviation abbreviations
  • Organized lists: general, CPDLC, airports, registrations, airlines
  • Covers FAA, NOTAM, EASA, Jeppesen, and more
  • Fast and intuitive search functionality
  • Created by a pilot for pilots
  • Optimized for flight planning and in-flight reference
Features
Read full description

Pilot-Abbr – Aviation Abbreviations for Flight Crews Pilot-Abbr is a powerful reference app designed for professional pilots, providing fast, offline access to over 14,000 aviation abbreviations and acronyms from international sources. Main Features: Five Organized Lists: • Abbreviations – General aviation terms used by pilots. • CPDLC Messages – Commonly used datalink message elements. • Airports – IATA and ICAO codes, airport name, city, and flag. • Registrations – Aircraft registration codes by country. • Airlines – IATA and ICAO codes, airline name, and country. Sources Include: • FAA Abbreviations • U.S. Aeronautical Contractions • NOTAM Abbreviations • Canadian AIM • Performance-Based Navigation (PBN) • Jeppesen • Boeing Acronyms • EASA Acronyms • Dangerous Goods and Ground Handling codes • And more Whether you're decoding a NOTAM, preparing for departure, or reviewing CPDLC messages, Pilot-Abbr gives you the reference you need — anytime, even offline. Why Pilots Use Pilot-Abbr: • Created by a pilot, for pilots • Fast, intuitive search • Covers operational, regulatory, and airline-specific terms • Optimized for flight planning, briefing, and in-flight reference Subscription Details • $4.99/year, auto-renewable • Subscription renews automatically unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period • Payment will be charged to your iTunes account at confirmation of purchase • Manage or cancel your subscription in your iTunes account settings • No partial refunds Legal • Privacy Policy & Terms of Service: https://villarroel98.wixsite.com/hazmat-pjv/about • Apple EULA (End User License Agreement): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Pilot-Abbr — The most complete aviation abbreviation tool on the App Store. Essential for every flight crew.

Screenshots

Approach Speed Calculator Pro3 screens
Pilot4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Approach Speed Calculator Pro at 80% against Pilot's 33%. Approach Speed Calculator Pro also leads on rating (4.6 vs 4.0) and in-app purchases (none vs 1). Pilot's advantage is price (Free vs $2.99). On ads, device support and iOS requirement 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Pilot is free to download; Approach Speed Calculator Pro costs $2.99 up front. Pilot sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $4.99 per year. Approach Speed Calculator Pro asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Approach Speed Calculator Pro holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Approach Speed Calculator Pro has 34 ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 80% of Approach Speed Calculator Pro's written reviews are positive against 33% of Pilot's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Approach Speed Calculator Pro ships an update every 3 months, Pilot every 31 months. The most recent releases landed on November 10, 2026 and November 4, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
Approach Speed Calculator Pro versus Pilot: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterApproach Speed Calculator ProPilot
Price$2.99Free — better
Rating4.6 (34 ratings) — better4.0 (4 ratings)
Positive reviews80.0% of reviews — better33.3% of reviews
Number of ratings34 — better4
Update frequencyEvery 3 months — betterEvery 31 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaid — betterSubscription
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS14.0 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size20 MB10 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSantiago Borja LopezPedro Jose Villarroel Cuevas

Customer experience

Approach Speed Calculator Pro

All ratings31 ratings
Positive87.1%
Neutral6.5%
Negative6.5%
Written reviews20 reviews
Positive80.0%
Neutral15.0%
Negative5.0%

Pilot

All ratings4 ratings
Positive75.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative25.0%
Written reviews3 reviews
Positive33.3%
Neutral0.0%
Negative66.7%

In-app purchases

None

Approach Speed Calculator Pro

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

Pilot

Subscriptions1
  • PilotAbbr Subscription$4.991 Year

Questions

Is Approach Speed Calculator Pro free?
Approach Speed Calculator Pro costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Pilot free?
Pilot is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Approach Speed Calculator Pro or Pilot?
Approach Speed Calculator Pro is rated higher. Approach Speed Calculator Pro averages 4.6 out of 5 from 34 ratings, while Pilot averages 4.0 from 4 ratings.
Do Approach Speed Calculator Pro or Pilot have ads?
Neither Approach Speed Calculator Pro nor Pilot shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Approach Speed Calculator Pro or Pilot?
Approach Speed Calculator Pro ships an update every 3 months, and Pilot every 31 months. Most recently, Approach Speed Calculator Pro was updated on November 10, 2026 and Pilot on November 4, 2026.

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