What's New on AviationRef
Recent additions and improvements to the aviation reference
March 2026
Phase 5: Content Expansion
Phase 5- Aviation Weather Hub — new comprehensive weather reference landing page
- Cloud Types for Pilots — all cloud families with icing and turbulence significance
- Aviation Icing Reference — structural and carburettor icing with escape procedures
- Turbulence Reference — intensity categories, types (CAT, wake), and PIREPs
- SIGMET & AIRMET Reference — format decoding, examples, and pilot actions
- VOR Navigation — radials, CDI/HSI, errors, and DME
- NDB Navigation — ADF, QDM/QDR bearings, homing and tracking
- GPS & GNSS — RAIM, SBAS, WAAS, approach categories to LPV and RNP AR
- Magnetic Variation — TVMDC, isogonic lines, deviation, worked examples
- Dead Reckoning — wind triangle, WCA, track angle error, ETA calculation
- ILS Approach — localiser, glideslope, Cat I/II/III, plate reading
- RNAV Approaches — LNAV, LPV, RNP AR with SBAS requirements
- Visual Approaches — circuit pattern, BUMFISH, PAPI lights
- Approach Minimums — DA vs MDA, DH vs MDH, RVR, missed approach
- PPL Ground School — massively expanded with 8 full theory sections + 40 exam questions
February–March 2026
Phase 4: Interactive Tools
Phase 4- METAR Decoder — paste any METAR for colour-coded instant decoding
- ICAO Alphabet Trainer — 5 training modes with high score tracking
- Flight Calculators — fuel, ETA, wind component, density altitude
- Emergency Tools — MAYDAY builder, lost comms tree, squawk quiz
- Airspace Comparison Grid — interactive 9×7 table with altitude diagram
January–February 2026
Phase 3: Content Enhancements
Phase 3- Aviation Glossary instant-search — live filter of 200+ terms
- Term of the Day widget on homepage
- FAQPage structured data on key pages
- V-Speeds printable reference card with PPL/CPL/ATPL licence badges
December 2025–January 2026
Phase 2: SEO & Architecture
Phase 2- Schema markup across all pages (DefinedTerm, HowTo, TechArticle, LearningResource)
- Internal linking architecture with anchor IDs
- Start Here learning pathway through core subjects
- Related Pages component on all content pages
- On-page TOC for long pages
November 2025
Phase 1: Foundation
Phase 1- Site launched with core reference pages: ICAO Alphabet, METAR, ATC Phraseology, Airspace, Emergency, Squawk Codes, V-Speeds, Glossary
- GDPR/CCPA compliance — full cookie consent, privacy policy, Do Not Sell My Info page
- Progressive Web App foundation (manifest, icons)
- 500 error page, sitemap generator
What's Coming Next
Phase 6: UX & Design
Visual refresh, improved navigation, and accessibility upgrades.
Weight & Balance Calculator
Interactive W&B tool for common GA aircraft types.
Study Guides Expansion
CPL and ATPL ground school theory sections.
Audio Pronunciation
Spoken pronunciation for each ICAO phonetic alphabet letter.
Airport METAR Lookup
Live METAR retrieval by ICAO airport code.