Comparison

Pilot Display vs HeliPlates

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

Head to head
About

Pilot Display

This app serves as a companion for ARS and ION devices, offering pilots navigational aid and real-time aircraft information. Passengers can also view live video feeds and data overlays for enhanced situational awareness.

Highlights
  • Live streaming video (up to 3 channels)
  • Customizable data overlays (over 20 fields)
  • Multiple video layout options
  • Gimbal, Marker, Vehicle Follow, and Camera Follow modes
  • User-configurable display fields and text color
  • Support for various measurement units
Features
Read full description

Pilot Display is the iOS companion application for the Shotover Systems ARS and ION devices. Pilot Display is designed to be viewed by the pilot to provide a navigational aid when flying to a location, or a search pattern. The application can also be used by any passengers or crew who may be interested in information about the aircraft or viewing live video. Pilot Display supports live streaming video for up to three channels. You can view what the cameras are recording or what the ARS screen is displaying all in real-time. Flick up or down on the video to switch channels. Tap the screen to show the settings option and configure Pilot Display. Flick left and right to change the view. Video can be turned on or off at any time and viewed in three different layouts: - Thumbnail Video - Full Screen Video - Full Screen Video with Overlays Pilot Display provides lots of data overlays. Over 20 different data fields are available depending on the current system mode. Gimbal Mode provides information about the gimbal and camera: - Aircraft Absolute Heading - Camera Field of View - Camera Slant Range - Camera Target Absolute Heading - Camera Target Relative Heading - Camera Elevation Absolute Angle - Aircraft Altitude (AMSL / AGL) - Aircraft Speed - Orbit Helper Radius - TGT Coordinates Marker Mode provides information about a specific point of interest in addition to all of the Gimbal Mode information: - Marker Address - Marker Absolute Heading - Marker Relative Heading - Marker Estimated Time to Arrival - Marker Estimated Time Enroute - Marker Ground Distance - Marker Coordinates Vehicle Follow Mode provides information about a search pattern, plus most of the Gimbal Mode information: - Offset shows how far left or right of the ideal search pattern the aircraft is - Next Waypoint Estimated Time To Arrival - Next Waypoint Estimated Time Enroute - Distance Remaining in Search Pattern - Distance Completed in Search Pattern - Distance to next waypoint Camera Follow Mode provides information about a camera search pattern including most information from the Gimbal and Vehicle Follow Modes. No offset is provided in this mode. All fields are user reconfigurable - just tap and select to customize your layout. You can even select the color of the text for enhanced visibility. Fields can be viewed in several measurement units. Your mission system will need to be configured to use a WIFI access point if not already installed. Please contact your support representative to discuss updating and enabling the Pilot Display feature. Please note that ION support will require software version 2.X or above.

About

HeliPlates

This app provides detailed information on hospital heliports across California, including navigation coordinates, dimensions, and facility details. Users can view heliports on an interactive map or by hospital name, with aerial photos and approach paths included. Data can be saved for offline access.

Highlights
  • Interactive map of California hospital heliports
  • Detailed heliport information
  • Navigational coordinates
  • Aerial photos with approach paths
  • Offline data saving
  • Search by region, county, or hospital name
Read full description

Caltrans has developed informational dataplates, or "HeliPlates," that provide permitted approach paths and other information for all the permitted Hospital Heliports in California. We hope this information will be helpful to emergency planners, helicopter operators, and other users. The Caltrans HeliPlates app displays a map of Hospital Heliports in California that you can view by Geographic Region or County. You can select a HeliPlate for a specific Hospital Heliport using either the interactive map or by directly choosing the Hospital Name. The HeliPlates include: - Hospital Name - Hospital Heliport Geographic “Nav” Coordinates - Heliport Info and Dimensions - Hospital Facility and FAA Information - Regional Map showing the location of the heliport - Aerial Photo showing the heliport and Permitted Approach Paths Additionally, HeliPlates can be saved for offline use.

Screenshots

Pilot Display4 screens
HeliPlates2 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: HeliPlates at 5.0 against Pilot Display's 4.0. HeliPlates also leads on ratings volume (3 vs 1). Pilot Display's advantage is update cadence (every 2 months vs every 21 months). On price, 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

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

HeliPlates holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1 and 3 respectively.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Pilot Display ships an update every 2 months, HeliPlates every 21 months. The most recent releases landed on June 11, 2026 and June 4, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Pilot Display versus HeliPlates: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPilot DisplayHeliPlates
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.0 (1 ratings)5.0 (3 ratings) — better
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings13 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 months — betterEvery 21 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.0 — better16.6
Further details — not scored
Size3 MB0 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperEarthscapeCalifornia Department of Transportation

Customer experience

Pilot Display

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

HeliPlates

All ratings3 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

Pilot Display

No in-app purchases

None

HeliPlates

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Pilot Display free?
Pilot Display is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is HeliPlates free?
HeliPlates is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Pilot Display or HeliPlates?
HeliPlates is rated higher. Pilot Display averages 4.0 out of 5 from 1 ratings, while HeliPlates averages 5.0 from 3 ratings.
Do Pilot Display or HeliPlates have ads?
Neither Pilot Display nor HeliPlates shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Pilot Display or HeliPlates?
Pilot Display ships an update every 2 months, and HeliPlates every 21 months. Most recently, Pilot Display was updated on June 11, 2026 and HeliPlates on June 4, 2026.

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