Support

We're here to help you get the most out of Tower Drill.

Contact Us

For questions, bug reports, feature requests, or any other feedback, email us at:

support@towerdrill.com

We typically respond within 24 hours.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Tower Drill stream live ATC?

No. Tower Drill generates simulated controller calls for private spoken practice. It does not stream, monitor, or transmit on real ATC frequencies. A Radio Room article discusses independent live-listening services as an optional exercise, but those services are not part of the Tower Drill app.

How do I restore my Pro purchase on a new device?

Open Tower Drill, go to the lesson list, and tap any locked lesson. On the upgrade screen, tap "Restore Purchases" at the bottom. Make sure you're signed into the same Apple ID you used for the original purchase.

Do I need an internet connection to use Tower Drill?

You can use the guided lesson content and speech practice without an internet connection. You need a connection to purchase or restore Tower Drill Pro, load current weather, and open official source pages in Flight Day.

Which devices are supported?

Tower Drill supports iPhone and iPad running iOS 17 or later. Core lessons and spoken practice do not require Apple Intelligence. Optional Apple Intelligence features are available only on compatible devices running a supported version of iOS.

The app isn't recognizing my speech correctly. What can I do?

For best results, use Tower Drill in a quiet environment and speak clearly at a normal pace, just like you would on an actual radio. Make sure you've granted microphone permission in Settings > Tower Drill > Microphone.

Where does the airport data come from? Can I trust the frequencies?

Practice airports come from the FAA's public NASR database: real runways, tower and ground frequencies, and approach facilities for 577 US towered airports, refreshed with app updates. The data is for training only: always verify frequencies against current charts before actual flight operations.

How do I see actual weather and airport status in Flight Day?

Tap Weather and airport status, rather than only reading the row. The detail screen loads the latest available METAR from the Aviation Weather Center and provides in-app links to the official Aviation Weather Center and FAA NOTAM Search. Pull down to refresh the observation. A METAR is only one part of a full preflight briefing.

What happens when I tap Current Frequencies?

The detail screen shows Tower Drill's bundled ground, tower, and approach reference values, their FAA data cycle when available, and links to FAA Chart Supplement Search and NOTAM Search. Compare the values with a current chart or EFB before any actual flight.

What should Airport and taxi plan open?

It opens the selected airport's FAA diagram inside the Flight Day flow. Review the runway layout, published hotspots, and the expected taxi route with your instructor, then mark the step complete. The diagram is a briefing aid; an actual taxi clearance always controls.

How do I reset practice and start over?

Open Settings, tap Reset Practice Progress, review the confirmation, and choose reset. This clears lesson scores, radio-skill history, ACS readiness, Taxi Trainer best score, Tape Review transcripts, and saved practice audio. Your selected airport, aircraft, appearance, and Pro purchase are preserved.

My home airport isn't in the list.

Tower Drill includes US public-use airports with an operating control tower. Non-towered fields are practiced through the CTAF lessons instead. If your towered airport is missing, email us and we'll look into it for the next data update.

How does Commute Mode work? (Pro)

Commute Mode is completely hands-free: ATC issues an instruction, the microphone opens automatically, you answer out loud, and the controller responds. No buttons. Audio keeps running with the screen locked, so it can work with AirPods or compatible car audio. Set up the session before moving, use it only when legal and safely hands-free, and stop if it demands your attention.

What is the "Hear Yourself" button?

After each readback, Tower Drill can replay the transmission you just made, alongside the ideal readback. The recording stays on your device and is overwritten by the next transmission; nothing is uploaded.

Is the phraseology based on real FAA standards?

Yes. All exercises use phraseology from FAA JO 7110.65 (Air Traffic Control) and the Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM). Tower Drill is designed first for US student and private pilots who want realistic simulated radio practice. Beginner learning guides remain available for future pilots and enthusiasts.

What are Training, Coached, and Solo modes?

Training mode shows you the expected response so you can read along. Coached mode gives key items to include when you're stuck. Solo mode is a realistic simulation with no assistance. These help levels sit inside a wider set of practice experiences including Listen & Shadow, Tape Review, Practice My Misses, Taxi Trainer, Flight Day, and ACS Readiness.

Can I use Tower Drill for ICAO / non-US training?

Tower Drill currently focuses exclusively on US FAA phraseology and procedures. While many concepts overlap with ICAO standards, some terminology and procedures differ. We recommend it for US-based flight training.

How do I request a refund?

In-app purchases are processed by Apple. To request a refund, visit reportaproblem.apple.com and sign in with your Apple ID.

I have a feature request or found a bug.

We'd love to hear from you! Email support@towerdrill.com with as much detail as possible. For bugs, please include your iPhone model and iOS version.

System Requirements