SkyTest Heading Trainer vs IFR Holding Pattern Trainer
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
SkyTest Heading Trainer
Practice essential aviation skills for pilot and air traffic control assessments. This app helps you master compass points and degree conversions, offering customizable tasks to suit your learning needs.
- Compass point and degree conversion practice
- Customizable tasks
- Screen or audio task display
- Reference values in degrees or points
- Aviation assessment preparation
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At many airline and air traffic control assessment centers proficiency in handling of compass points and compass degrees becomes inevitable. For instance, a quick conversion between compass points and compass degree values or a determination of fastest turning direction between two course indications might be required. SkyTest® Heading Trainer is designed to practice those and other tasks in a compass oriented approach. To attain sound understanding of compass by working with SkyTest® Heading Trainer you may customize tasks in accordance with your prior knowledge of compass correlations. Reference values may be expressed either in total degree values or static points of compass, whereas tasks may be set either by screen display or audio devices.
IFR Holding Pattern Trainer
This aviation trainer helps IFR pilots and students master complex holding procedures through explanations, visual aids, and interactive learning. It includes a test module and a quick finder map to enhance understanding and preparation for exams.
- Interactive learning system
- Visual illustrations of holding patterns
- Direct, parallel, and teardrop entry explanations
- Test module with feedback
- Quick Finder map view
- Tested by real pilots and instructors
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Holding Pattern (IFR) Instructor is specially designed for IFR pilots and students to better understand how to manage holdings, one of the most complex IFR procedures. This app provides significant insights into holding procedures as an educational method, combining clear explanations, visual illustrations, and interactive practice tools. ALREADY TESTED BY REAL PILOTS AND INSTRUCTORS Holding Pattern (IFR) Instructor has been developed and tested by real pilots and trainers, covering the full range of holding scenarios, including situations that frequently cause difficulties in real operations. This ensures a learning experience that goes beyond any other app available in this area. CONTINUOUSLY IMPROVED AT FLIGHT SCHOOLS The teaching method implemented in Holding Pattern (IFR) Instructor is used at flight schools all around the world, contributing to a higher proportion of successful exams. This achievement makes our app so popular among students and instructors alike. INTERACTIVE LEARNING SYSTEM The built-in interactive learning system guides users through all three holding entry types - direct, parallel, and teardrop - with step-by-step explanations and visual illustrations. The exclusive FlyGo Trick provides a simple six-step method to always select the correct entry type with confidence. TEST MODULE The test module lets users practise identifying the correct entry procedure for any combination of aircraft heading and inbound course, with immediate visual feedback to reinforce learning. TIMING QUIZ A dedicated quiz module to master outbound leg timing. Users practise calculating the required outbound flight time based on observed inbound duration and altitude, and learn to apply the EASA wind correction rule for precise heading corrections. INTERCEPT AND TRACK QUIZ Sharpen your intercept and tracking skills with practical quiz questions: determine the correct intercept angle based on CDI deviation and inbound course, and calculate wind-corrected headings for accurate track following. QUICK FINDER Quick Finder provides an interactive compass and heading control where all critical paths and directions of the holding pattern are visualised in real time. Students can instantly see the correct entry type, standard and non-standard pattern variants, and experiment with any combination of heading and inbound course - with an optional help overlay for guided learning. GAME MODE Put your knowledge to the ultimate test with the gamified map-based practice mode. Compete for the best score and challenge others via Game Center integration. ----- FOR STUDENTS If you are a student, then we wish good luck for the preparation and good luck for the examination! FOR INSTRUCTORS If you are a flight trainer, then we hope you will find useful our app and it helps your students better understand holding patterns! Enjoy our app and FLY SAFE! The FlyGo-Aviation team
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: IFR Holding Pattern Trainer at 40% against SkyTest Heading Trainer's 0%. IFR Holding Pattern Trainer also leads on update cadence (every 3 months vs every 30 months) and chart position (#180 vs unranked). SkyTest Heading Trainer's advantage is iOS requirement (13.0 vs 18.6). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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
SkyTest Heading Trainer costs $5.99 and IFR Holding Pattern Trainer $5.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
SkyTest Heading Trainer ships an update every 30 months, IFR Holding Pattern Trainer every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 7, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | SkyTest Heading Trainer | IFR Holding Pattern Trainer |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $5.99 | $5.99 |
| Rating | — | 2.0 (2 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 0.0% of reviews | 40.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | — | 2 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 30 months | Every 3 months — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Best chart rank | — | #180 — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 — better | 18.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 16 MB | 151 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Aviation Media & IT GmbH | Flygo-Aviation Ltd |
Customer experience
SkyTest Heading Trainer
IFR Holding Pattern Trainer
In-app purchases
SkyTest Heading Trainer
No in-app purchases
IFR Holding Pattern Trainer
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is SkyTest Heading Trainer free?
Is IFR Holding Pattern Trainer free?
Do SkyTest Heading Trainer or IFR Holding Pattern Trainer have ads?
Which is updated more often, SkyTest Heading Trainer or IFR Holding Pattern Trainer?
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