The pilot’s guide.

01 / GETTING STARTED

Your first five minutes.

Start with a simple goal: connect what you change on the instrument with what the simulated aircraft does on the map.

1. Open HSI and find the aircraft. The instrument shows your heading, selected course and navigation indications; the map gives you the bigger picture.
2. Set a speed above zero. The aircraft moves according to heading, airspeed and the configured wind. Start at normal speed.
3. Move the heading bug. Drag it around the outside of the HSI. Watch the aircraft turn towards the selected heading.
4. Change the course. Rotate the course pointer, or tap the course readout to enter a precise value. Observe how the CDI responds.
5. Try, observe, repeat. Use the map to understand the geometry before hiding it for an instrument-only exercise.

This website explains the app’s controls. Use your instructor and applicable training references for operating procedures and interpretation.

02 / INSTRUMENT CONTROLS

Get hands-on with the HSI.

Unlock the other instrument controls

Open the HSI settings using the gear icon. Enable the relevant Interact controls to manipulate the compass, bearing pointer or CDI bar. These controls can reposition or reorient the simulated aircraft, making a concept easier to demonstrate.

If a needle won’t drag, check its Interact setting first. You can also choose the traditional PC-9 or modern PC-21 instrument style and show or hide individual elements.

03 / MAP & MOVEMENT

Control the scenario.

• Move around the chart: drag to pan, pinch to zoom, or double-tap to zoom in.
• Reposition the aircraft: drag its icon. If it won’t move, turn off the map’s lock control.
• Set the conditions: use the wind control to choose direction and speed.
• Change the pace: select an airspeed and use the speed ramp for normal, 2×, 5× or 10× playback.
• Follow the aircraft: use the tracking control to cycle through the available follow modes.
• Time a leg: use the stopwatch to start, stop and reset your timer.
• Practise without the picture: Hide Map blurs the map for instrument-only work.

Missing map controls?

Tap the eye icon near the top of the map to show or hide the buttons. Map Options also lets you configure the long-press behaviour.

04 / PDF APPROACH PLATES · PRO

Bring your own approach.

Import a PDF chart and configure it so the simulated aircraft and instrument line up with the procedure you want to rehearse.

1. Import the PDF

Open the Plates panel and tap + to choose a PDF from Files. You can also share a PDF to HSI using the iOS share sheet in Files or Safari.

2. Name it and set the basics

In the setup wizard, give the plate a useful name, enter its magnetic variation and set the published localiser inbound course when applicable.

3. Configure the navaids

Select and configure the navaids required by the chart: VOR, ILS, NDB or DME. DME can be standalone or co-located with another navaid.

4. Align the chart and scale

Position the crosshair over the corresponding navaid on the PDF. Pinch to zoom for precise placement. Use the ruler to set the scale; rotate the chart as needed during alignment.

5. Select it and check the picture

Choose the saved plate in the Plates panel. Confirm the instrument and map respond sensibly before beginning the exercise. If radial indications don’t match your setup, recheck the navaid alignment and magnetic variation.

To manage saved plates, swipe left to edit or delete, and drag to reorder. Plate import requires HSI Pro. Charts shown in app artwork are illustrations, not navigation references.

05 / HOLDING PRACTICE

Make the entry picture clear.

1. Tap the target icon on the map and select the Hold tab.
2. Set the fix using its radial and DME. These values are shared with Fix mode.
3. Enter the hold’s inbound course and choose right or left turns.
4. Choose Timed or DME legs and enter the leg value.
5. Enable Sectors to show the entry boundaries. Enable Entry guide to add guidance paths on the map.
6. Set the HSI course pointer to the hold’s inbound course when using the instrument sector overlay.

Understand the overlay controls

Sectors off: no holding overlays are shown. Sectors on: entry boundaries appear. Entry guide on: the map also displays the guidance path.

Automatic entry selection uses the aircraft’s approach to the fix. Where available, you can select Direct, Teardrop or Parallel manually to explore the different guidance pictures.

06 / FIX-TO-FIX PRACTICE

Connect the instrument
to the target.

1. Tap the map’s target icon and select Fix.
2. Enter the target’s radial and DME, or use Random Fix to vary the exercise.
3. Enable the map and HSI overlays to compare the target with your aircraft’s current position.
4. Work through the geometry, then reduce the visual aids and try the exercise again.

What does the HSI overlay show?

The overlay relates the aircraft’s current bearing and distance to the target radial and distance. The direct and transposed track guides help you visualise the relationship between the two positions. Use the in-app Practice Mode guide for the detailed instrument explanation.

Try a challenge

Start Challenge gives you a random aircraft position, heading and target fix. The map is hidden and a countdown begins. Fly using the instruments; the challenge finishes at your closest passage to the fix.

Scores reflect passing distance and track deviation. The global leaderboard is opt-in; open it in the app to choose a username and see current eligibility.

07 / TROUBLESHOOTING

Get back to practising.

08 / HSI PRO

Free to explore.
Pro when you’re ready.

HSI is free to download. Tutorials and basic features let you get familiar with the app, while some advanced features have daily usage limits.

HSI Pro is an optional one-time in-app purchase, not a subscription. It includes PDF approach plate import, removes Pro-feature timeouts, and unlocks additional practice features. Check the app’s upgrade screen for the current inclusions and price in your region.

Already purchased? Use Restore Purchases on the upgrade screen while signed in with the same Apple Account.