The Aviation WB Calculator app is back

The Aviation WB Calculator app was one of the first weight and balance apps for iPad back in 2011 and was a big hit among pilots. Unfortunately, the app was not updated to keep up with the latest iOS requirements last year and disappeared from the app store in the Fall. We heard from many pilots who were disappointed at the time, but the good news is the app is back and completely redesigned.

Version 2.0 is an update to the existing Aviation WB app, so if you still had it installed and buried in a folder on your iPad, you’ll see an update for the app ready to download in the updates section of the app store (or download it directly here). That’s about where the similarities end, as when you open it for the first time you’ll see a brand new design and interface. Here are a few highlights of the new features:

• Unlimited amount of stations / envelope points
• Automatic sync of aircraft data among user’s multiple devices
• Dynamic envelope results while inputting weights
• Managed template library
• New UI experience for a more effective and easier app usage
• Landscape support for tablets
• Android compatibility

It’s also optimized for all iPhone screen sizes, making it much more useful for quick calculations on larger iPhone screens when you don’t have your iPad handy.

When launching the app for the first time you’ll need to create a free user account, which is used to keep your aircraft profiles in sync among all your devices. Because this is really a brand new version of the app, you will need to recreate any aircraft profiles that you had previously set up in the old version of the app. To save some time, it includes templates for 25 common airplanes, including many of the popular models from Cessna and Piper. There’s also a form included to contact the app developer directly to request a template for a model not currently offered. And as with the previous versions of the app, you can quickly create a custom profile using the included template builder.

When it comes time to perform a calculation, simply enter in the weights and the app takes care of the rest.

There’s also a summary screen that shows all the details of the flight and includes the ability to share it via the standard iOS methods, using Messages, Email, Files app, etc.

The new Aviation WB is a free download and includes a 90-day free trial, but there isn’t any information available yet from the developers as to what the subscription price will be after the free trial expires.