When I’m not writing code, my other passion is flying. I'm not talking about drones or simulators, but actual single-engine, fixed-wing aircraft. I hold an Private Pilot License (PPL), and the journey to get it was one of the most challenging and rewarding things I've ever done.
Anyone here who's a pilot knows that aviation is built on rigorous, standardized procedures. It's what keeps us safe, but man, can it be tedious.
During my training, I felt like I was spending almost as much time on paperwork as I was in the air. Before each flight, I’d be: 1. Spreading out sectional charts on a table, manually plotting my course with a ruler and protractor. 2. Calculating wind correction angles, fuel burn, and weight & balance using a physical E6B flight computer (the circular slide rule thing). 3. Filing a flight plan with Flight Service. 4. During the flight, I’d be juggling the radio, looking outside, and trying to do quick unit conversions in my head.
After landing, the work continued: debriefing, and the most tedious part—meticulously logging every detail of the flight (route, duration, takeoffs, landings) into my paper logbook, making sure it was perfect for my CFI to sign and ready for an FAA checkride.
A few years ago, I started wondering: why isn't there a simple, modern app that automates the boring parts so I can focus on the flying?
So, 777 days ago, I added a new item to my to-do list: "Build a pilot utility app." Today, I can finally check it off.
It started as a tiny utility just for myself, basically a digital E6B for quick calculations. But then the scope creep began in the best way possible. I added a GPS tracker. Then I realized I could use that track to auto-generate a logbook entry. Then came checklists, weather decoders, and more.
That project became Pilot Kit, and it's built around a few core functions:
1. Automatic Flight Logging: Just press start. The app records your flight path, altitude, and speed. After you land, you can review a detailed profile of your flight. It automatically detects takeoffs/landings, calculates cruise time, climb/descent rates, and more. 2. Digital Logbook: It turns those tracked flights into perfectly formatted logbook entries. No more chicken scratch in a paper book. 3. Flight Calculators: A full suite of offline tools, including an E6B for wind correction, density altitude, pressure altitude, and various unit conversions. 4. Customizable Checklists: Create and manage your own checklists for any aircraft you fly. Essential for students and renters who switch between different planes. 5. Live Weather: Pulls and decodes METARs & TAFs so you can read them in plain English. 6. Aircraft Profiles: Manage profiles for different aircraft (I don't own one yet, but this is a lifesaver for renters at a flight school). 7. Data Export: Export your flight data and logbook for backups or official records. 8. Tablet-Optimized: It’s designed to work great on an iPad or other tablets, which is perfect for the cockpit.
You can grab it on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store now:
App Store: https://apps.apple.com/app/pilot-kit/id6749793975 Google Play:https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=club.air.pilot...
I'm fully aware this isn't a ForeFlight or Garmin Pilot killer. It's still a bit rough around the edges, and there's a long runway ahead. But it’s a passion project built to solve my own problems as a pilot, and I'm hoping it can help some of you too.
I’d love to get your feedback, especially from other pilots or aviation geeks in the HN community. Let me know what you think.
Blue skies and tailwinds