Comparison

IFR Holding Pattern Trainer vs Holdings

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 explanations, visual aids, and interactive learning. It includes a test module and a quick finder map to enhance understanding and preparation for exams.

Highlights
  • 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
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

Holdings

Practice aviation holding patterns with interactive visualizations. Covers entries, briefings, and actual holding with timing and wind corrections. Ideal for flight students and experienced pilots to maintain proficiency.

Highlights
  • Interactive holding pattern visualization
  • Practice entries with course and timing
  • Complete holding briefings
  • Actual holding practice with wind corrections
  • Altitude assignment decisions
  • Aircraft perspective and overview map
Features
Read full description

Holdings is a great way to practice holding patterns with a visualization unseen on iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch so far. Whether you are a flight student or an experienced jumbo pilot, Holdings keeps you fit for the test or to be able to double check the FMS and to stay ahead of the aircraft! Holdings takes you through all necessary steps, from the type of entry to wind and timing corrections on the actual pattern. Every step is visualized either via the aircraft’s perspective, i.e. an HSI, or a clear, intuitive overview map of the holding and aircraft position / flight path. Holdings lets you practice: ▶ Entries - Type of entry - every course, heading, wind correction angle and timing for the entry ▶ Holding Briefing - complete holding briefing including must-have items as well as additional information ▶ Actual Holding - outbound and inbound course, heading, WCA, timing - by receiving altitude assignments, you will have to decide whether to fly a 1 or 1.5 minute holding pattern Start practicing with Holdings and fly your next one completely by hand! Please note: The procedures depicted in this app may differ from those used by your airline / flight school. There is no guarantee for correct procedures.

Screenshots

IFR Holding Pattern Trainer4 screens
Holdings4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Holdings at 2.8 against IFR Holding Pattern Trainer's 2.0. Holdings also leads on price ($2.99 vs $5.99) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 18.6). IFR Holding Pattern Trainer's advantage is update cadence (every 3 months vs every 12 months) and review sentiment (40% vs 29%). On ratings volume, 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

IFR Holding Pattern Trainer costs $5.99 and Holdings $2.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Holdings holds the better App Store score, 2.8 against 2.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2 and 4 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 40% of IFR Holding Pattern Trainer's written reviews are positive against 29% of Holdings's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

IFR Holding Pattern Trainer ships an update every 3 months, Holdings every 12 months. The most recent releases landed on October 9, 2026 and October 22, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
IFR Holding Pattern Trainer versus Holdings: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterIFR Holding Pattern TrainerHoldings
Price$5.99$2.99 — better
Rating2.0 (2 ratings)2.8 (4 ratings) — better
Positive reviews40.0% of reviews — better28.6% of reviews
Number of ratings24 — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 months — betterEvery 12 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS18.612.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size151 MB3 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperFlygo-Aviation LtdOliver Puetz

Customer experience

IFR Holding Pattern Trainer

All ratings2 ratings
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%
Written reviews10 reviews
Positive40.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative60.0%

Holdings

All ratings4 ratings
Positive25.0%
Neutral25.0%
Negative50.0%
Written reviews7 reviews
Positive28.6%
Neutral14.3%
Negative57.1%

In-app purchases

None

IFR Holding Pattern Trainer

No in-app purchases

None

Holdings

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is IFR Holding Pattern Trainer free?
IFR Holding Pattern Trainer costs $5.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Holdings free?
Holdings costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, IFR Holding Pattern Trainer or Holdings?
Holdings is rated higher. IFR Holding Pattern Trainer averages 2.0 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while Holdings averages 2.8 from 4 ratings.
Do IFR Holding Pattern Trainer or Holdings have ads?
Neither IFR Holding Pattern Trainer nor Holdings shows ads.
Which is updated more often, IFR Holding Pattern Trainer or Holdings?
IFR Holding Pattern Trainer ships an update every 3 months, and Holdings every 12 months. Most recently, IFR Holding Pattern Trainer was updated on October 9, 2026 and Holdings on October 22, 2026.

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