Product

One sky. Five Apple screens.

MODE 1090 turns nearby live traffic into a calm radar, a precise sky scanner and a personal record of the aircraft you have actually seen.

What is included

The useful parts start free.

Live radar, aircraft details, the sky scanner, your local collection and optional collection sync do not require Premium. Premium adds focused extras without changing the local-first core.

Apple platforms
5Native experiences for each screen, not one stretched layout.
Core access
FreeNo account is required for radar or the local collection.
Premium
OptionalRoutes, always-on Monitor, spoken traffic and personalization.
01Free

A live radar built around your sky.

MODE 1090 centers the live picture on the area that matters to you. Change the range, choose aircraft silhouettes, ATC-style data blocks or simple dots, and keep runways and airspace legible without turning the screen into a cockpit.

  • 10, 25, 40 or 80 NM in the main app
  • Nearby list without leaving the radar
  • Freshness and unavailable states stay visible
  • iPhone
  • iPad
  • Mac
  • Apple Watch
  • Apple TV
Live radar on iPad
02Free core · Premium extras

From a moving blip to the aircraft behind it.

Open a contact for callsign, airline, type, registration, altitude, speed, distance, direction, data source and observation age. Photos appear only when MODE 1090 can match the airframe responsibly.

  • Core identity and live flight values are free
  • Origin and destination routes are a Premium extra in the iPhone, iPad and Mac app
  • Observed data remains distinct from estimates

On Apple Watch and Apple TV, route details are currently part of the ungated companion experience.

  • iPhone
  • iPad
  • Mac
  • Apple Watch
  • Apple TV
Live aircraft details on iPhone
03Free

Point at the aircraft you can actually see.

The sky scanner combines fresh flight tracks with your location, compass and device tilt. Follow the direction guide, hold steady and confirm the visible aircraft yourself.

  • Available on supported iPhone and iPad models
  • The rear camera is a viewfinder, not image recognition
  • No photo is captured, saved or uploaded
  • iPhone
  • iPad
Sky scanner on iPhone
04Free core · Premium extras

A quiet full-screen Monitor.

Expand the radar into a reduced, dark presentation for a desk, stand or second screen. Tap an empty area to hide the remaining controls and bring them back when you need them.

  • Fullscreen Monitor is part of the free core
  • OLED presentation keeps dark installations restrained
  • Keeping the display awake and live traffic running past the five-minute idle pause requires Premium
  • iPhone
  • iPad
  • Mac
Fullscreen Monitor on Mac
05Free

The nearby sky, directly on your wrist.

The native Apple Watch app loads its own live radar, nearby list and focused aircraft details. Turn the Digital Crown to change range and use Handoff when you want to continue with the selected aircraft on iPhone.

  • Ships with the iPhone app for a paired Apple Watch
  • Live radar does not need the iPhone app to remain open
  • Handoff requires the paired iPhone

The Watch app has no account, sync or in-app purchase screen. The radar shown here is part of the included companion experience.

  • Apple Watch
Native radar on Apple Watch
06Free

Let the live sky fill the room.

The native Apple TV app opens directly into a distance-friendly radar and works without a running iPhone. Use the Siri Remote to move through contacts, change range, switch display modes and open aircraft details.

  • Independent native tvOS radar
  • Aircraft, ATC-style labels and dots
  • Full-screen presentation with recoverable controls

The Apple TV app does not contain a Premium purchase screen. The radar and controls described here are the currently included tvOS experience.

  • Apple TV
Native radar on Apple TV

Also included

A complete spotting loop, without an account.

The main app keeps the personal parts local. An account only enters the picture when you explicitly enable free collection sync.

  1. 01

    Personal collection

    Free
    • iPhone
    • iPad
    • Mac

    Keep confirmed sightings with time, place, aircraft, airline and registration. Search and filter your local history.

  2. 02

    Free collection sync

    Free
    • iPhone
    • iPad
    • Mac

    Optionally synchronize privacy-reduced sighting records between iPhone, iPad and Mac. Exact sensor evidence stays on the device.

  3. 03

    Radar controls

    Free
    • iPhone
    • iPad
    • Mac
    • Apple Watch
    • Apple TV

    Choose range, marker style, aircraft classes, runways, airspace and the amount of information shown where the platform supports it.

  4. 04

    Backup under your control

    Free
    • iPhone
    • iPad
    • Mac

    Export the main app's collection as a JSON file through the system share sheet.

MODE 1090 Premium

More context. Longer sessions. Your own signal.

Premium adds optional depth to the iPhone, iPad and Mac app and supports independent development. MODE 1090 loads current plan availability directly from the App Store.

Premium availability is verified in the main app. Apple Watch and Apple TV currently provide their separately shipped companion feature sets and do not expose a purchase screen.

  1. 01

    Routes on every flight

    Premium
    • iPhone
    • iPad
    • Mac

    Resolve origin and destination live from the callsign when a reliable route is available.

  2. 02

    Always-on Monitor

    Premium
    • iPhone
    • iPad
    • Mac

    Keep the display awake and live traffic running for the whole Monitor session instead of following system auto-lock or the five-minute idle pause.

  3. 03

    Spoken traffic

    Premium
    • iPhone
    • iPad

    Hear nearby aircraft in configurable ICAO or FAA-style phrasing. Callouts are generated on the device.

  4. 04

    Radar colors

    Premium
    • iPhone
    • iPad
    • Mac

    Choose amber, sky blue, violet, coral or a high-contrast traffic color.

  5. 05

    Alternate app icons

    Premium
    • iPhone
    • iPad

    Switch between the Paper, Signal, Blackout, Rare Contact and Scope 1090 icon families.

Important

Built for discovery, not navigation.

MODE 1090 is not a certified navigation product, air traffic control system or replacement for official aviation information.