IFR Flight Trainer Simulator vs ATSim
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
IFR Flight Trainer Simulator
Practice instrument flight rules (IFR) navigation with this simulator. Learn and improve IFR procedures, including VOR, NDB, and holding patterns. Offers cockpit and map modes with adjustable wind and built-in tasks for comprehensive pilot training.
- Cockpit and map modes
- VOR, NDB, DME, HSI, EHSI, RMI instruments
- Approach procedure practice
- Adjustable wind settings
- Holding pattern simulation
- Custom scenario creation
- Built-in training tasks
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Flying by instrument flight rules (IFR) is not an easy task, especially for student pilots. With the IFR Flight Trainer Simulator, students can easily develop and experienced pilots can quickly improve their understanding of IFR navigation. This is the perfect app for learning and practicing IFR procedures, and it is much cheaper than a single flight hour. Try it out if you want to acquire an instrument rating or just want to brush up your IFR skills. IFR Flight Trainer Simulator was designed with simplicity and intuitive operability in mind. The instruments available are: VOR, RMI, HSI, EHSI, DME, Directional Gyro and airspeed indicator. Thanks to a NAV 1 and a NAV 2 modes, you will also be able to train for two NDB/VOR approaches. Main features: • COCKPIT/MAP - Use the cockpit mode to practice and use the map mode to set up a scenario and check you progress. Both the aircraft and ground stations can be easily relocated to a new position by dragging and dropping them. • VOR, DME, HSI, EHSI, RMI - This aviation app is carefully designed to reflect the characteristics of different instruments. Choose between VOR or NDB navigation, select your instruments (HSI/EHSI or RMI) and a speed range up to 400 kts. • APPROACH PROCEDURES - IFR Flight Trainer Simulator will help learn how to track a radial, how to intercept a radial outbound, inbound, how to fly a DME arc, and so on. It is the simplest way to learn the navigation procedures inside out! • WIND - Have you become familiar with all the procedures? Add some wind to spice things up. The wind settings are displayed on separate screen, where you can set its direction and speed to increase the challenge. • HOLDING - Set and practice standard or non-standard holding patterns. Test you skills with VOR or NDB fix holdings. You already know where your next flight will happen? Build a scenario for it in the app to practice what awaits you in real life. This way you can practice your flight in a safe environment before facing the real challenge in the cockpit. If you want to learn the essentials, take a look at the built-in tasks as well. All features: • Use the classic or glass cockpit mode to simulate what you see in a real aircraft • Use the map mode to learn and understand the procedures from a third-person point of view • Choose between VOR and NDB navigation • Use the following, carefully designed instruments: RMI, HSI, EHSI, Directional gyro, DME, Airspeed indicator • Fly your own routes by creating challenging scenarios, using holding patterns and adjusting the wind • Test your knowledge through various built-in tasks • Drag & drop the aircraft or ground station symbols to move them around quickly • Turn the aircraft with 1.5°/s, 3°/s (standard), 6°/s and 9°/s modes, or just simply rotate the compass dial • View your flight path by enabling the aircraft track trail • Simulate winds up to 50 kts • Practice IFR flying procedures by generating random scenarios Download the app to see for yourself whether we can help you learn the essentials of IFR navigation. Try it for free and prepare at home without wasting expensive flight or simulator time.
ATSim
Practice air traffic control radio communication and phraseology with an AI-powered simulator. Learn through repetition and immediate feedback with realistic scenarios covering over 170 airports and various flight types.
- AI-powered pilot interaction
- Voice recognition and speech analysis feedback
- Practice radio communication
- Master aviation phraseology
- Over 170 airports simulated
- VFR and IFR flight control lessons
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The PlaneEnglish Air Traffic Simulator (ATSim) is an interactive air traffic control radio simulator created to enable air traffic controllers to learn and master radio communication and phraseology on their own time. ATSim provides a self-guided means to practice and master the radio through repetition and immediate feedback. AI-based pilots interact with the controller to make requests and respond to instructions. Instantaneous feedback through voice recognition and speech analysis will guide you, the controller, through realistic scenarios toward proficiency in aviation phraseology and communication. You can access more than 170 airports and step through lessons covering airport, terminal area, and in-transit control of VFR and IFR flights. Guided by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) phraseology, standards, and radiotelephony procedures the current version of the simulator focuses on the FAA phraseology standards. Upcoming improvements will enable users to switch between ICAO and FAA standards. Future releases and updates to ATSim will expand the training content, lessons, and scenarios.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: ATSim at none against IFR Flight Trainer Simulator's 2. ATSim also leads on iOS requirement (12.1 vs 18.6). IFR Flight Trainer Simulator's advantage is review sentiment (82% vs 63%) and ratings volume (76 vs 15). On price, rating, ads and device support 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. IFR Flight Trainer Simulator sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. ATSim asks for nothing beyond the download.
ATSim holds the better App Store score, 4.1 against 3.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: IFR Flight Trainer Simulator has 76 ratings behind it against 15, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 82% of IFR Flight Trainer Simulator's written reviews are positive against 63% of ATSim's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.
| Parameter | IFR Flight Trainer Simulator | ATSim |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.9 (76 ratings) | 4.1 (15 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 81.5% of reviews — better | 62.5% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 76 — better | 15 |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | — |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 18.6 | 12.1 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 155 MB | 163 MB |
| Age rating | +4 | 4+ |
| Developer | Flygo-Aviation Ltd | PlaneEnglish |
Customer experience
IFR Flight Trainer Simulator
ATSim
Bugs and requests
IFR Flight Trainer Simulator
Reported bugs
6 issues- App crashes after short usage periods
- Heading indicator gets stuck causing continuous turning
- HSI radials appear to be offset or incorrect
- DME distance calculations may be inaccurate (slant range issue)
- Task completion triggers before reaching waypoints
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- OBS cannot be changed without paid upgrade
Requested features
8 requests- Standard rate turn simulation for realistic intercepts and holdings
- LOC (Localizer) mode for HSI reverse sensing practice
- Fixed-card ADF instrument option
- Adjustable turn rate settings to match different aircraft
- Error feedback display showing incorrect flight paths
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- Bearing and course to station relative to VOR1/VOR2
- Higher difficulty levels for advanced pilots
- Extended free trial period for proper app evaluation
ATSim
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
IFR Flight Trainer Simulator
- IFR Simulator Half Price$11.99
- IFR Simulator Unlock$24.99
ATSim
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is IFR Flight Trainer Simulator free?
Is ATSim free?
Which has better reviews, IFR Flight Trainer Simulator or ATSim?
Do IFR Flight Trainer Simulator or ATSim have ads?
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