Comparison

Helicopter Pilot Checkride vs Garmin TXi Trainer

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

Head to head
About

Helicopter Pilot Checkride

Prepare for your helicopter pilot practical exam with over 1700 questions and answers covering all essential topics. This app helps identify knowledge gaps and builds confidence for your checkride.

Highlights
  • Over 1700 questions and answers
  • Covers all checkride topics
  • Identifies strengths and weaknesses
  • Flag questions for further study
  • Based on FAA ACS standards
  • Includes FAA references
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

Using a question-and-answer format, Helicopter Pilot Checkride lists the questions most likely to be asked by examiners during the last step in the private pilot helicopter certification process – the Practical Exam – and provides succinct, ready responses. Applicants will find this App an indispensable tool in both planning for what to expect during the helicopter checkride, and mastering the subject matter. Instructors rate them as excellent preparation for students, as well as general refresher material. This Helicopter Pilot Checkride app is based on the popular Helicopter Pilot Oral Exam Guide book by Ryan Dale. It is designed for applicants training for a Private Pilot certificate with a helicopter rating. More than 1700 questions and responses ensure the subjects a helicopter pilot candidate will be tested on during checkrides and review flights are covered. Questions align with the knowledge topics, risk management, and skill tasks including scenario-based training elements in the Private Pilot for Helicopter Airman Certification Standards (FAA-S-ACS-15) and include these topics: preflight preparation, preflight procedures, airport and helicopter operations, hovering manuevers, takeoffs, landings and go-around, performance maneuvers, navigation, emergency operations, night operations, and postflight procedures. Answers and explanations were researched using FAA documents (which are identified so pilots know where to go for further study) as well as interviewing FAA examiners. Questions are supported with the ACS code and FAA references, and can be marked for further study from any subject to build your own collection of flashcards. Compatible with iOS phones and tablets, this app teaches applicants not only what to expect, but also how to exhibit subject mastery and confidence when under the examiner’s scrutiny. It identifies candidates’ strengths, weaknesses, and gaps in their aeronautical knowledge, which increases study efficiency. App features: • More than 1700 questions are included with succinct, ready responses. • Questions from any subject can be flagged for further study into a separate group. • Includes all the questions and answers from the popular book, Helicopter Pilot Oral Exam Guide Third Edition, by Ryan Dale. • Brought to you by a trusted resource in aviation training and publishing, Aviation Supplies & Academics (ASA).

About

Garmin TXi Trainer

Virtually explore Garmin's G500/G600 TXi flight displays and engine information systems on your iPad. Familiarize yourself with simulated touch interfaces, various aircraft configurations, and aviation databases before flying.

Highlights
  • Simulated touch and bezel interface
  • TXi EIS (Engine Instrumentation System)
  • Multiple display configurations
  • Aviation databases (North America, Worldwide)
  • Airport information and approach charts
  • Terrain and obstacle databases
  • Simulated system information (ADS-B, Weather Radar)
Features
Read full description

The Garmin G500 TXi, G600 TXi and TXi EIS Trainer provides an on-the-ground environment to experience these products virtually anywhere you can take an iPad. Easily familiarize yourself with these flight displays and engine information systems prior to flying behind them. The Trainer includes: - Simulated touch and bezel interface – interact with the primary flight and multi-function displays, become familiarized with the new HSI Map one-touch zoom gesture, full- and split-screen PFD/MFD modes, on-screen autopilot controls, and much more - TXi EIS (Engine Instrumentation System) – demonstrates common engine gauge layouts for single-engine piston, multi-engine piston, and single-engine turboprop aircraft - Selection between 10", 7" Portrait, and 7" Landscape configurations for multiple aircraft types - explore the broad range of options available in the TXi series - Garmin North America and Jeppesen Worldwide/Americas aviation databases are available – go to Settings > More to select the database used. - Garmin SafeTaxi and FliteCharts – view detailed airport information and published approach charts on the moving map - High resolution worldwide terrain and obstacle databases, including powerline alerting - Simulated system information for: - ADS-B and TCAS Traffic with TargetTrend™ Relative Motion - FIS-B and SiriusXM Weather - Garmin GWX 75 Weather Radar - Stormscope Lightning Detection * This app contains simulated data and does not receive data from or interact with real Garmin avionics. Content may differ slightly from actual hardware for demonstration purposes or be out-of-date with respect to the latest airborne software and database cycles. This app should not be used for navigation purposes. * Some functionality that requires a navigator or other products, e.g., flight plans from GTN, may be unavailable in this standalone Trainer. * Visit Garmin's web site for additional GTN/TXi Trainer options, TXi flight familiarization and tutorial videos, and to explore our fully-featured training programs.

Screenshots

Helicopter Pilot Checkride4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Garmin TXi Trainer at Free against Helicopter Pilot Checkride's $9.99. Garmin TXi Trainer also leads on update cadence (every 8 months vs every 37 months). Helicopter Pilot Checkride's advantage is rating (2.6 vs 1.9) and chart position (#184 vs unranked). On ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases 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

Garmin TXi Trainer is free to download; Helicopter Pilot Checkride costs $9.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Helicopter Pilot Checkride holds the better App Store score, 2.6 against 1.9. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 5 and 7 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 25% of Helicopter Pilot Checkride's written reviews are positive against 16% of Garmin TXi Trainer's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Helicopter Pilot Checkride ships an update every 37 months, Garmin TXi Trainer every 8 months. The most recent releases landed on November 4, 2026 and November 6, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard8 real differences · 3 level
Helicopter Pilot Checkride versus Garmin TXi Trainer: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterHelicopter Pilot CheckrideGarmin TXi Trainer
Price$9.99Free — better
Rating2.6 (5 ratings) — better1.9 (7 ratings)
Positive reviews25.0% of reviews — better16.2% of reviews
Number of ratings57 — better
Update frequencyEvery 37 monthsEvery 8 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidFree — better
Best chart rank#184 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPad
Requires iOS14.0 — better18
Further details — not scored
Size9 MB2.6 GB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperASAGarmin DCI

Customer experience

Helicopter Pilot Checkride

All ratings5 ratings
Positive20.0%
Neutral40.0%
Negative40.0%
Written reviews4 reviews
Positive25.0%
Neutral25.0%
Negative50.0%

Garmin TXi Trainer

All ratings7 ratings
Positive14.3%
Neutral14.3%
Negative71.4%
Written reviews37 reviews
Positive16.2%
Neutral16.2%
Negative67.6%

In-app purchases

None

Helicopter Pilot Checkride

No in-app purchases

None

Garmin TXi Trainer

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Helicopter Pilot Checkride free?
Helicopter Pilot Checkride costs $9.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Garmin TXi Trainer free?
Garmin TXi Trainer is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Helicopter Pilot Checkride or Garmin TXi Trainer?
Helicopter Pilot Checkride is rated higher. Helicopter Pilot Checkride averages 2.6 out of 5 from 5 ratings, while Garmin TXi Trainer averages 1.9 from 7 ratings.
Do Helicopter Pilot Checkride or Garmin TXi Trainer have ads?
Neither Helicopter Pilot Checkride nor Garmin TXi Trainer shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Helicopter Pilot Checkride or Garmin TXi Trainer?
Helicopter Pilot Checkride ships an update every 37 months, and Garmin TXi Trainer every 8 months. Most recently, Helicopter Pilot Checkride was updated on November 4, 2026 and Garmin TXi Trainer on November 6, 2026.

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