cbta vs SurfaceOps by uAvionix
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side β with what reviewers say about each.
cbta
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CBTA β Competency-Based Training & Assessment CBTA is a professional flight training management platform for airlines and aviation training organizations (ATOs). It digitizes simulator-based CBTA assessments, replacing paper forms with a structured mobile workflow built around ICAO competency standards. For Instructors: Conduct PF and PM role assessments for two trainees per session Grade training items on a 1β5 scale across 9 ICAO competencies Record observable behaviors (OBs) per competency Support for first and second trial grading Export signed assessment reports as PDF. For Trainees: View upcoming and completed simulator sessions Review graded assessment results per session Access training item grades and competency scores Download and share PDF results For Organizations: Multi-airline support with org-scoped data Schedule management and trainee assignment Instructor and trainee role management Cloud-synced records with real-time updates CBTA is designed for airlines, flight academies, and approved training organizations transitioning to competency-based assessment frameworks.
SurfaceOps by uAvionix
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Surface Ops is a free situational-awareness tool for anyone interested in airport surface operations β pilots, students, ramp staff, plane spotters, and the general public β with optional licensed features for professional airport ground-operations teams. Free for everyone, at every US airport: β’ Airport diagrams (runways, taxiways, aprons, hotspots) β’ GPS-based ownship position on the airport surface β’ METAR, TAF, and D-ATIS weather β’ Live ADS-B traffic from a uAvionix skyAlert receiver (a separately-purchased consumer accessory) β’ Runway-incursion alerts: CHECK RUNWAY, TRAFFIC RUNWAY, CHECK FINAL, TRAFFIC FINAL and Aircraft Emergency Alerts β’ Visual highlighting of the runway under alert β’ Offline operation once an airport diagram is cached (weather requires internet) Optional licensed feature, at participating airports: Airports that contract with uAvionix for the professional toolset can issue a one-time activation code to their authorized vehicle operators, which adds the FlightLine ADS-B network traffic feed from the airport's ground-based receivers, no per-vehicle hardware required. No in-app purchase. The app and all consumer-facing features are free. Licensed airports pay uAvionix directly; the end-user operator never pays anything inside the app. What Surface Ops is NOT: β’ Not a certified safety system β’ Not a substitute for ATC instructions or established ground-movement procedures β’ Not a primary means of collision avoidance β visual scanning and radio communication remain primary Privacy Surface Ops collects only what's needed to operate: your activation code, a per-device licensing identifier, andβwith your permissionβyour GPS location to display your position on the airport map. Location data stays on the device; we do not transmit it to our servers. No analytics, no advertising SDKs, no tracking. Terms Use of this app is subject to the Apple Standard End User License Agreement (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeveula/ Published by CAVU Consulting LLC on behalf of uAvionix Corporation.
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Verdict
cbta and SurfaceOps by uAvionix are too close to call on the numbers: across 6 compared parameters β price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases among them β neither pulls far enough ahead to decide it. What separates them is feature set and interface, not measurable difference.
Scored on Price Β· Rating Β· Positive reviews Β· Number of ratings Β· Update frequency Β· Ads Β· In-app purchases Β· Monetization Β· Best chart rank Β· Devices Β· Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
cbta ships an update every 3 weeks, SurfaceOps by uAvionix every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 7, 2026 and October 2, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | cbta | SurfaceOps by uAvionix |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | Every 2 weeks β better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.1 | 15.0 β better |
| Further details β not scored | ||
| Size | 52 MB | 5 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Firm 23 Ltd. | CAVU Consulting LLC |
In-app purchases
cbta
No in-app purchases
SurfaceOps by uAvionix
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is cbta free?
Is SurfaceOps by uAvionix free?
Do cbta or SurfaceOps by uAvionix have ads?
Which is updated more often, cbta or SurfaceOps by uAvionix?
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