This Is ATSEE -- A Mobile App Still In Its Testing Stages

By Maria Morrison, SNFDD Feature Editor

Amidst the constant chatter at airshows, one vendor is putting it all into words.

A running screen behind the booth shows blue and white messages that look like texts on an iPhone, but the content is not a typical text conversation. Instead, it shows radio calls between N116CD and Tampa Tower, running in a dialogue.

This is ATSEE, a mobile app still in its testing stages for Apple and Andriod products. Designed specifically for pilots, the app captures the communications coming off of your headset and texts it to you on the app.

ATSEE captures all communications between yourself, the tower and other pilots on the frequency, then highlights and shows only those between you and the tower. As the app is used more, it gets better at differentiating your callsign from the rest, improving the accuracy of the transcription.

While the app does not take the place of actively listening, but it helps you the pilot go back in the radio history and refer, said a representative at the Sun 'n Fun booth.

Currently, the user can add different profiles for airplanes they typically fly. After selecting which aircraft will be flown that day, the pilot plugs in their device with the app into their headset.

The app runs in the background, so navigation programs can be used concurrently. As long as the device is plugged into the headset, it will be transcribing communications, allowing pilots to scroll up and see what has been said since the beginning of the flight.

Now, ATSEE is looking for pilots to test the app in its beginning stages, and is welcoming any type of feedback. Beta testers include everyone from flight schools to commercial pilots, and ATSEE is ready to expand or change to adapt to user response.

There is no one type or demographic of pilot that it appeals to in particular, but instead could be of use to anyone. One common example is potential customers who currently fly miles out of the way to avoid the Class Bravo airspace because they don't want to deal with the communications required. Being able to read them on a screen and refer back to them might change that.

The testers will receive the app in four weeks, and the product will arrive on the market once it is ready.

FMI: http://atsee.com/