AvID - Aviation Guide
By Jon Heslin
AvID is an aviation reference app for iOS that provides offline access to aircraft registration databases and airshow event calendars.
The App DNA
What makes this app unique?
The app serves users in remote airfields who require aircraft identification tools without cellular connectivity, though the current data staleness limits its utility.
For Aviation enthusiasts, airport managers, and airshow attendees requiring offline registration lookups.
What does it look like?
Key features
Search U.S. and Canadian civil and military aircraft registration data without an internet connection.
Lookup tool for model year, type, registration, and engine horsepower for over 1 million aircraft.
Locate nearby airshows and save event details to the device calendar.
How much does it cost?
The subscription model is anchored at a low price point to maximize conversion, though users report dissatisfaction with gating previously free data.
Velocity
Dormant developmentplatform expansionShow more...
AvID has been inactive for 2,637 days, indicating a complete cessation of development. The project has not received any updates, bug fixes, or feature additions in over seven years. Given the lack of activity, the app is classified as a zombie project with no current development momentum.
Who built it?
User Sentiment
What do users think recently?
The recent review mood reads frustrated. Users appreciate aviation enthusiasts value the ability to identify aircraft by tail number and track local air shows.
How are ratings & reviews evolving?
What users say, by theme
- Aviation enthusiasts value the ability to identify aircraft by tail number and track local air shows
- Database lookup failures for registered aircraft prevent users from finding basic information on common tail numbers
6 of 6 recent reviews analyzed · limited sample · Frustrated overall
Read the full review analysisUnlock 1 more frustration theme, each backed by review evidence.
Access the full report for freeCompetition
Competitive landscape for AvID - Aviation Guide
How's the Reference market?
AvID occupies a niche reference space for offline aviation data, but its lack of updates since 2019 leaves it vulnerable to modern, cloud-connected competitors. With only 27 total ratings across its lifetime, the app lacks the scale to compete with broader aviation platforms.
Read the market outlookThe rivals identified
Unlock the deeper market read.
Access the full report for freeThe Analyst's Read
Key takeaways for AvID - Aviation Guide
Where is it heading?
The aviation reference market is shifting toward real-time, cloud-connected data, leaving AvID's static database model increasingly irrelevant. Without a significant registry refresh, the app will continue to lose users to modern alternatives that provide accurate, up-to-date information.
- The seven-year update gap means the registry database is likely inaccurate, causing search failures that drive users to external competitors.
- Subscription friction on broken core features accelerates churn, as users report that the app no longer provides the value it once did.
The SWOT
- Offline database architecture enables utility in remote airfields without connectivity
- Refresh FAA and Transport Canada registry data to restore core search accuracy
Next best moves
Refresh the aircraft registry database because the current data is seven years out of date → restore core utility
+ 1 more prioritized moveThe counter-intuitive read
The app's offline-first design is a potential retention lever in remote aviation markets…
Read the full takeBottom line
AvID's seven-year development gap has rendered its core registry data obsolete, and gating this broken functionality behind a subscription has severely damaged user trust. A pivot to a free, ad-supported model or a complete registry refresh is required to remain viable.
Unlock 2 critical frictions, 1 market threat, 1 more prioritized move and the analyst’s take.
Access the full report for freeFAQ
Is AvID still updated with current aircraft registration data?
Does AvID work without an internet connection?
Why am I being asked to pay for search features?
Are there better alternatives for aircraft lookups?
Sources
- [1] App Store
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