Holdover Calculator vs FBOlink
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Holdover Calculator
This tool simplifies the calculation of aircraft de-icing fluid holdover times. It offers manual input or automatic weather data retrieval for quick and accurate results. The app provides alerts for expired times and includes a pre-takeoff check timer.
- Accurate holdover time verification
- User-friendly input display
- Automatic METAR weather retrieval
- Location-based METAR search
- Active holdover time countdown
- Audible and visible expiration alerts
- Pre-takeoff contamination check timer
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Holdover Calculator is a pre-departure decision tool for pilots facing winter operations. It returns the applicable anti-icing holdover or allowance time from FAA or Transport Canada published guidance, based on the actual weather, the de/anti-icing fluid applied, and your aircraft configuration. DESIGNED FOR iOS 26 Built for iOS 26 and its Liquid Glass interface. The pilot answers a sequence of focused questions; the app shows the matching table cell, the published range, and a continuously interpolated estimate within that range. KEY FEATURES • Holdover and allowance times from the current FAA Holdover Time Guidelines and Transport Canada HOT Guidelines — and if a correction is published mid-season, the app can pick up the new numbers on its own. Settings shows which set you are calculating with. • Live weather autofill via the NOAA Aviation Weather Center — closest METAR or any ICAO you search. • Manual entry always available when stations are out of range or you want to model conditions ahead. • All four fluid types (Type I through Type IV) with both generic-table and specific-brand selections. • Active Frost allowance and Ice Pellet allowance with a 90-minute takeoff-window tracker. • Chart Notes surfaced inline, with active conditions (cold-soaked wing, OAT thresholds, etc.) flagged so you see only the notes that matter right now. • App Estimated time — a continuous interpolation across OAT and precipitation intensity, shown alongside the FAA Recommended low end of every published range. • Countdown timer with Live Activity on the Lock Screen, with the wall-clock "Ends at" time always shown to the second. • Apple Watch companion for the crew member running the timer. • Cockpit Sync — share one running timer across the flight deck. Link two to four devices over a direct local connection; the captain approves every change. No account, no internet, no server. • On iPad and the open iPhone Duo, dock the holdover time and countdown beside your questions, on either side. • Readable on the ramp. Tap any advisory note — or any setting's description — to enlarge it in a comfortable card sized for reading-distance glasses. • Support & Feedback in one tap. Reach the developer from the menu with a note, a screenshot, and a summary of your session. No account required. • FAA or Transport Canada as the global default, with per-calculation overrides. • Local or Zulu time display; 12- or 24-hour clock. PRE-DEPARTURE DECISION ONLY This app is an advisor. The pilot in command remains solely responsible for verifying that the selected time is appropriate for the actual conditions, fluid, and aircraft at the moment of departure. Always cross-reference the current published holdover tables. DATA SOURCES • FAA Holdover Time Guidelines (current revision) • Transport Canada Holdover Time Guidelines (current revision) • NOAA Aviation Weather Center (aviationweather.gov) for live METAR observations SUBSCRIPTION Holdover Calculator is an auto-renewable annual subscription, with a free trial for new subscribers. Pricing is shown in the app before you subscribe. • Payment is charged to your Apple ID at confirmation of purchase. • The subscription renews automatically unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. • Your account is charged for renewal within 24 hours before the period ends. • Manage or cancel anytime in your Apple ID account settings. • Any unused portion of a free trial is forfeited when you purchase a subscription. PRIVACY Location is requested only to identify the nearest weather station; your coordinates are sent solely to NOAA to run that query and are never stored or shared with us. No ads, no analytics, no tracking. Privacy Policy: https://kilolimallc.github.io/legal/holdover-calculator/privacy.html Terms of Use (EULA): https://kilolimallc.github.io/legal/holdover-calculator/terms.html Disclaimer: https://kilolimallc.github.io/legal/holdover-calculator/disclaimer.html
FBOlink
Facilitates direct, real-time text messaging between aircrew and Fixed Base Operator (FBO) Customer Service Representatives. Enables communication of itinerary changes and passenger requests from anywhere globally, including when outside radio range. Includes aircraft details and read receipts for efficient coordination.
- Direct real-time messaging
- Global communication via internet
- Includes aircraft tail number and type
- Read receipts for confirmation
- In-flight itinerary updates
- Passenger request accommodation
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Digital communications between airplane and Fixed Base Operators (FBO) Customer Service Representatives (CSR) Over 1000 FBOs are now available for messaging with FBOlink! FBOlink provides air crew with a direct, real-time communications channel to Customer Service Representatives! Send text messages to an FBO CSR terminal from anywhere in the world via an internet connection! Communicate in-flight itinerary changes or accommodate unique passenger requests during the relative calm of en-route cruise segments when outside of radio range. The airplane's tail number and aircraft type are included with every message so that the FBO CSR terminal can best help the pilot's exact needs. All messages include a Read Receipt for both the pilot and CSR to indicate successful communication.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: Holdover Calculator at 83% against FBOlink's 8%. Holdover Calculator also leads on rating (5.0 vs 3.5) and chart position (#191 vs unranked). FBOlink's advantage is monetization model (free vs subscription) and ratings volume (14 vs 1). On price, update cadence, 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
Both are free to download. Holdover Calculator sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $9.99 per year and FBOlink sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Holdover Calculator holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: FBOlink has 14 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 83% of Holdover Calculator's written reviews are positive against 8% of FBOlink's.
Holdover Calculator ships an update monthly, FBOlink every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and November 2, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Holdover Calculator | FBOlink |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better | 3.5 (14 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 83.3% of reviews — better | 8.3% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 1 | 14 — better |
| Update frequency | Monthly — better | Every 2 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Subscription | Free — better |
| Best chart rank | #191 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 | 15.6 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 24 MB | 13 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Kilo Lima Management, LLC | Send Solutions, LLC |
Customer experience
Holdover Calculator
FBOlink
In-app purchases
Holdover Calculator
- 1 Year Subscription7 Days trial$9.991 Year
FBOlink
- 20 MyTIS Credits2 variants$5.00
Questions
Is Holdover Calculator free?
Is FBOlink free?
Which has better reviews, Holdover Calculator or FBOlink?
Do Holdover Calculator or FBOlink have ads?
Which is updated more often, Holdover Calculator or FBOlink?
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