Comparison

IFR Holding Pattern Trainer vs ATC Archive

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

Head to head
About

IFR Holding Pattern Trainer

This aviation trainer helps IFR pilots and students master complex holding procedures through clear explanations, visual aids, and interactive practice. It covers all entry types and includes quizzes for timing, intercept, and tracking, plus a gamified mode for real-world scenario practice.

Highlights
  • Interactive learning system for holding entries
  • Step-by-step explanations and visual illustrations
  • Practice quizzes for timing, intercept, and tracking
  • Real-time visualization of holding patterns
  • Gamified map-based practice mode
  • Tested by real pilots and instructors
Features
Read full description

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

About

ATC Archive

Read full description

Original radio. Decisions under pressure. The facts behind the flight. ATC Archive helps you understand documented aviation events on your iPhone. Hear available original recordings, follow a visual case review and explore what the source material and investigations establish. Discover 27 playable reviews within a library of 168 aviation case entries. HEAR THE RADIO. FOLLOW THE STORY. Watch available episodes in 16:9 or open a landscape view. Jump to key events and follow available radio captions. Visual timelines help explain the sequence. Selected radio editions shorten verified quiet sections while keeping the episode timeline aligned. GO BEYOND THE HEADLINE Search by flight, airline or location. Open a case for aircraft and route details, passenger and crew figures, documented conditions and investigation findings where sources establish them. Available photographs, original documents and source links let you explore the evidence further. BUILD YOUR OWN WATCHLIST Save cases and resume playback on your device. Included films and case information work offline, so you can return to the archive without a connection. External source links require internet access. START WITH THREE FREE FILMS Watch US Airways 1549, JFK 2023 with American 106 and Delta 1943, and Southwest 1380 free. One optional, non-consumable in-app purchase unlocks the other available films. No subscription. Apple processes purchases, which can be restored using the same Apple Account. Research entries without films remain freely accessible. UNDERSTAND WHAT THE EVIDENCE SHOWS Every playable case includes original radio, but recording, caption and position coverage varies. Ten newer reviews have partial source or caption coverage, with those limits identified in the app. Separately timed recordings and silent recorded-flight-data sections are labeled. Report summaries are distinguished from radio captions, and missing positions or uncertain timing are disclosed. A research entry does not necessarily contain a playable film. Made for people curious about aviation history and the communication between flight crews and air traffic control. Some cases discuss fatalities, injuries and distressing events; the collection presents them as factual history, with respect for those involved. ATC Archive is a historical information app, not a live flight tracker or an operational aviation tool.

Screenshots

IFR Holding Pattern Trainer4 screens
ATC Archive4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: ATC Archive at Free against IFR Holding Pattern Trainer's $5.99. ATC Archive also leads on update cadence (every 5 days vs every 3 months). IFR Holding Pattern Trainer's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1). 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

ATC Archive is free to download; IFR Holding Pattern Trainer costs $5.99 up front. ATC Archive sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. IFR Holding Pattern Trainer asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

IFR Holding Pattern Trainer ships an update every 3 months, ATC Archive every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
IFR Holding Pattern Trainer versus ATC Archive: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterIFR Holding Pattern TrainerATC Archive
Price$5.99Free — better
Rating2.0 (2 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews40.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings2 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsEvery 5 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaid—
DevicesiPhone, iPad — betteriPhone
Requires iOS18.617.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size151 MB1.9 GB
Age rating4+17+
DeveloperFlygo-Aviation LtdSenol Tastan

In-app purchases

None

IFR Holding Pattern Trainer

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

ATC Archive

One-time1
  • Full Archive$9.99

Questions

Is IFR Holding Pattern Trainer free?
IFR Holding Pattern Trainer costs $5.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is ATC Archive free?
ATC Archive is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do IFR Holding Pattern Trainer or ATC Archive have ads?
Neither IFR Holding Pattern Trainer nor ATC Archive shows ads.
Which is updated more often, IFR Holding Pattern Trainer or ATC Archive?
IFR Holding Pattern Trainer ships an update every 3 months, and ATC Archive every 5 days. Most recently, IFR Holding Pattern Trainer was updated on November 6, 2026 and ATC Archive on October 31, 2026.

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