Airline pilot and navigation software is increasingly more sophisticated and easier to use compared to previous generations. Navigator software is more precise than ever before, while flight planning software can be downloaded on to a pilot's PC.

Airline piloting and navigation software for flight planning includes GPS connectivity. Navigation software applications can be used in pocket PCs, laptops and as part of the plane.

1. Airline navigation software comes in all kinds of applications to fit laptops, hand-helds, cell phones and pocket PCs.

2. Flight planning books, budget analyzers, weather information and route coordinators are examples of software available for pilots.

3. Log books come in electronic pocket sizes but there are free online log books, too. There are online log books that are free.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Fly with airline piloting software

Airline software for operations gives you information about your crew, miles flown, planes used, fuel, plane maintenance and other information that you need to track costs, maintain your plane in good working condition and run a business. Airline software is necessary for keeping track of costs, parts, crews, weather reports and terminals to name just some of the necessary info required to fly. Good software should be easy to use and maintain all the necessary data of your operations.

I recommend: AeroTrip is designed for charter or corporate plane operations. IBS has five suites of airline and pilot products, including operations, crew training and passenger management.

Locate airline navigation software that does more than navigate

Navigation software is one of the most important tools a pilot has. Increasingly, navigation software is coming with added features that might be helpful to your business.

I recommend: FlyingD's GPS FLIGHT TRACK ANALYZER will track your flight from engine turn on to engine turn off and analyze the efficiency of your flight. CoPilot Live 7 from ALK Technologies has GPS navigation systems for Smartphones, pocket PCs and laptops.

Plan your flight with airline piloting software

Flight planning is one of the most important jobs a pilot has and electronic journals make planning that much easier. Airline pilots can do flight planning on the cell phones with some of the software being used today.

I recommend: Flight Wizard 4 is an easy-to-use flight planner software with all the features a pilot needs to prepare for flight, including GPS connectivity. Destination Direct and its features include calculating weight and balance to analyze fuel costs.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Airline navigation software in the US is based on GPS technology. Maps from airline GPS software are getting better and better. If you invest in this technology, ask if the software company will send updates to maps that become obsolete.