Comparison

Pilot Display vs TAK Aware

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

TAK Aware

This navigation app enhances situational awareness for tactical operations. It connects to TAK servers, supporting various data exchange methods for seamless integration into existing workflows.

Highlights
  • Situational awareness enhancement
  • Team Awareness Kit integration
  • Connects to TAK servers
  • Supports Data Packages and DataSync
  • Certificate Enrollment
  • Channels support
Features
Read full description

TAK Aware is a lightweight Team Awareness Kit (also known as the Tactical Assault Kit in the Department of Defense) application designed to enable easy integrations into existing training and operational workflows while still providing the level of situational awareness and interaction you expect from TAK. The application is designed from the ground-up in iOS and connects to your favorite TAK servers with either Data Packages or Certificate Enrollment, and supports Data Packages, DataSync, Channels, Certificate Enrollment and more!

Screenshots

Pilot Display4 screens
TAK Aware4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: TAK Aware at 4.8 against Pilot Display's 4.0. TAK Aware also leads on ratings volume (24 vs 1) and update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 2 months). Pilot Display's advantage is review sentiment (100% vs 86%). 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

TAK Aware holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: TAK Aware has 24 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 100% of Pilot Display's written reviews are positive against 86% of TAK Aware's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Pilot Display ships an update every 2 months, TAK Aware every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Pilot Display versus TAK Aware: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPilot DisplayTAK Aware
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.0 (1 ratings)4.8 (24 ratings) — better
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews — better85.7% of reviews
Number of ratings124 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 2 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.0 — better16.6
Further details — not scored
Size3 MB180 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperEarthscapeFlight Tactics

Customer experience

Pilot Display

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

TAK Aware

All ratings24 ratings
Positive95.8%
Neutral4.2%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews7 reviews
Positive85.7%
Neutral14.3%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

Pilot Display

No in-app purchases

None

TAK Aware

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Pilot Display free?
Pilot Display is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is TAK Aware free?
TAK Aware is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Pilot Display or TAK Aware?
TAK Aware is rated higher. Pilot Display averages 4.0 out of 5 from 1 ratings, while TAK Aware averages 4.8 from 24 ratings.
Do Pilot Display or TAK Aware have ads?
Neither Pilot Display nor TAK Aware shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Pilot Display or TAK Aware?
Pilot Display ships an update every 2 months, and TAK Aware every 2 weeks. Most recently, Pilot Display was updated on September 24, 2026 and TAK Aware on September 23, 2026.

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