PlanningCharts: Pilots' Trustworthy Flight Charts Platform

Idea

PlanningCharts was created by experienced pilots to provide highly detailed charts that help identify suitable airports for emergency landings. The existing mobile app and website were outdated and limited usability, while the product needed to scale across platforms and meet the expectations of professional aviation users.
The goal was to modernize the product, improve the user experience, and make it available across mobile and Windows devices without relying on the website as a usage tool.

Solution

We redesigned the entire product with a clear focus on usability, reliability, and professional workflows. A new cross-platform application suite was developed for Android, iOS, and Windows using a single codebase.
The apps were integrated with the existing backend via improved APIs, while new features such as offline chart access, in-app purchases, and enhanced security were added. In parallel, the website was redesigned to support growth, clearly communicate value, and drive new downloads.

Key components

User registration Chart management Offline access Directional navigation Favorites In-app purchases News Backend integration

Development Process

Step 1

Requirements Analysis

Step 2

Product & Design Concept

Step 3

Implementation

Step 4

Quality Assurance

Step 5

Deployment & Operation

01Requirements Analysis

We analyzed the existing product, user workflows, and safety requirements together with the pilots behind PlanningCharts. The focus was on identifying usability gaps and defining feature priorities for professional aviation use.

02Product & Design Concept

A dedicated design system was created in Figma to modernize the product while respecting existing brand identity. In parallel, the application architecture was prepared to ensure long-term maintainability.

03Implementation

All platforms were developed using Flutter with a shared architecture. Backend APIs were optimized and extended to support new features such as memberships, favorites, and security workflows. Feature development followed a structured sprint approach.

04Quality Assurance

Special focus was placed on offline behavior, caching, and data consistency. End-to-end testing ensured that charts remained accessible and reliable even without network connectivity.

05Deployment & Operation

The applications were released across app stores and the Windows Store. We remain responsible for ongoing support and continuous improvement.

Technology & Integration

Product Design

Figma for product redesign and design systems.

Flutter Apps

Flutter for iOS and Android using a single codebase.

Back-End

Custom back-end development for business logic and integrations.

Integrations

Apple App Store In-App Purchases
Google Play In-App Purchases
Windows Store Distribution
Offline Chart Download, Caching, and Update Mechanisms

Main Features

User Registration and Profile Management

PlanningCharts provides a secure and straightforward registration process using email and password. To ensure account integrity, an email verification workflow with a one time password is integrated. After signing in, users gain direct access to the available flight charts without unnecessary steps.
Within the app, users can manage their personal information, review and control their active memberships, and delete their account if needed. The product supports two user types: free users with limited access and paid users with full access to all available charts and features.

Explore Charts

Charts are presented in a clear gallery view that allows users to browse available content efficiently. Charts can be filtered by region and marked as favorites to support fast access to frequently used information. For each chart, the app displays the current download status and the date of the last update. Free users can preview selected charts to understand the product's value, while restricted charts remain clearly marked until a membership is activated.

View Charts

Charts can be opened both online and offline, provided they have been downloaded in advance. This ensures availability even when network connectivity is limited or unavailable. Each chart is displayed as a high resolution PDF that supports zooming and full screen viewing. An integrated legend explains chart symbols and iconography, helping pilots interpret information quickly and accurately.

Directional Navigation

PlanningCharts supports directional navigation that reflects real flight paths. Since pilots typically travel westbound or eastbound, the app allows seamless navigation between the correct chart segments based on flight direction.
Sub charts with different boundaries can be displayed depending on the direction of travel. This ensures that pilots receive relevant information immediately without manual searching or unnecessary context switching.

News

The integrated news section provides pilots with relevant updates directly inside the app. This includes chart updates, operational changes, and special information that may affect flight planning or safety. By centralizing these updates, the app ensures that important information reaches users without relying on external channels.

In App Purchases

Memberships can be purchased directly within the app using in app purchase mechanisms. The product supports multiple membership durations, including monthly, semi annual, and annual plans. Upgrade and downgrade workflows are fully supported. Purchase status and entitlement validation are handled server side to ensure accuracy across devices and platforms, even when changes are made outside the app store environment.

Landing Page

In addition to the apps, a dedicated landing page was designed and developed to clearly communicate the product's value. The website focuses on explaining the use case, benefits, and target audience of PlanningCharts. Separate sections address private and corporate customers.
Key partnerships, including Lufthansa and other professional aviation users, are highlighted alongside customer feedback to build trust and encourage new downloads.

Main Challenge

The core challenge was integrating a single, reliable membership and payment model across multiple mobile platforms and an existing web based system. Each app store applied different rules for purchases, renewals, and account states, while users expected seamless access across devices. Edge cases such as store side changes, device switches, and account recovery had to be handled without breaking entitlements or user trust.
At the same time, the system needed to remain auditable, secure, and maintainable, requiring clear ownership of subscription state and careful coordination between client apps and backend logic.

What We Learned

We learned that subscription logic must be treated as a core domain problem, not an add on. Clear ownership of user state, server side validation, and consistent entitlement checks are essential to ensure reliability across platforms and devices.

Why This Matters for Our Partners

These learnings help partners avoid fragile monetization setups. They enable scalable, cross platform subscription systems that remain stable under real world conditions while preserving user trust and operational control.

Our Advice

If your product serves professional or safety-critical users, prioritize reliability, offline access, and clarity over feature volume. Trust is built through consistency, not complexity.

Most Special Step

What made this project truly special was the domain itself. PlanningCharts was built by long-haul Lufthansa pilots who translated real emergency experiences into a digital product that has already supported successful emergency landings. Working closely with them meant understanding responsibility at a different level. We did not just improve an app; we helped refine a tool that pilots rely on in critical situations. Translating this responsibility into a reliable, intuitive, and offline-capable product required full commitment and identification with the mission behind it.

Planning Charts

Planning Charts – Pilots' Trustworthy Charts Provider

#1

#2

#3

Uli Schultz

Idea

Solution

Key components

Development Process