SkyCharts LLC released the first available iOS mobile app of FAA navigational charts for helicopter pilots, SkyCharts Heli. This moving map has current aviation charts, including normal sectional & WAC merged charts, TAC & FLY charts and low en route charts. Users simply double tap anywhere on the maps to bring A/FD and instrument approaches. A unique feature of all SkyCharts apps is the ability to download charts and plates for offline usage during flight time. The $49.99 purchase price includes one full year of chart subscriptions.

SkyCharts Heli is the second navigational app for the company; SkyCharts Pro, for general aviation pilots, was introduced in 2008, introducing one of the first iOS apps with the ability to download all the data so the charts work offline when flying. The popular app is currently being used on thousands of devices.

SkyCharts founder Heikki Julkunen got the idea for SkyCharts when he left computer engineering to become a certified flight instructor.

“I realized the time was right for getting aviation charts into a mobile platform,” said Julkunen, “but I wanted to keep it affordable for other flying enthusiasts.”

Additional features of SkyCharts Heli include:

VFR/IFR/LIFR color-coded METARs, with orange TAFs. SUA airspace is also available
Flight plan and navigate using the ICAO airport/navaid database, or manually enter lat/longitude way points
Fast zoom/scroll of charts using standard gestures
Fast download of charts for offline usage. Charts are selection on a region basis, 7 for CONUS and 2 for Alaska. The entire CONUS only takes approximately one hour to download. Downloading all takes about 5GB of disk
Flight planning with fuel and distance. Example: KUAO RAWER UBG MCCOY KSLE
Automatic waypoint sequencing
Navigation computes GS, TRK, DTK, DIS and ETE to current waypoint
Double-tap on airport to select A/FD and TPPs/IAPs to view
Call ASOS/AWOS/ATIS once airport has been selected
Huge built-in navigation database, with all 20,000 airports, 45,000 FAA IFR/VFR navigation fixes and 2,100 FAA VOR/ADF fixes
XPlane flight simulator tracker; you can follow directions: http://www.skycharts.net/?page_id=228
Location tracker. Enable the ‘BreadCrumbs’ setting in the system settings and your friends can check your current location.
See current chart cycle and expiration date
Map in portrait or landscape mode
Toggle track up or north up. If you always use north up please set change the preference for SkyCharts for even faster viewing
Helicopter shows direction of flight when north up is selected

About SkyCharts, LLC:

Started in 2008, Portland, Oregon-based SkyCharts, LLC develops affordable downloadable mobile iOS apps of navigational charts for airplane and helicopter pilots. Contact SkyCharts at Heikki@skycharts.net, or visit www.skycharts.net. For fast response to all support questions, please email support@skycharts.net. All support inquiries are answered within 24 hours. SkyCharts welcomes suggestions from its users to improve new versions of its apps and encourages participation in its forums, www.skycharts.net/forum.