FlightWatcher is an interesting Marketplace app that will allow you to monitor flights in progress as well as predict any delays that may occur. Twiscon Software has developed this application and has created an algorithm that is based on ten years flight data, combined with weather forecasts, helps predict those annoying little delays.
The $4.99 app allows you to enter the airline, flight number and date of flight. It then collects weather information, FAA alerts, and predicts the probability of any delays. All this information and predictions are then displayed to help figure out when the plane will land. FlightWatcher will display how often the flight is on time, the estimated departure/arrival times, the departure/arrival gates, and any delay factors present (flight traffic, weather, FAA alerts, etc.).
FlightWatcher currently only supports U.S. domestic flights and I can see it being handy if you spend a lot of time at the airport. Sure, you could as a Gate Attendant but you run the risk of getting a boiler plate answer of "We apologize for any delays and assure you the flight will arrive safely and as soon as possible." With FlightWatcher, you can get a more timely prediction when the plane will have wheels down.
In comparing flight actual arrivals at the local airport and the predicted arrivals through FlightWatcher, the results were within five-eight minutes of actual arrival times. More times than not, the FlightWatcher times were earlier than the actual arrivals. For example, Southwest Flight 856 was predicted to land in Birmingham at 6:40pm when it actually landed at 6:46pm.
In running FlightWatcher, I found it to be a stable application with no hang-ups, bugs or glitches. Flight information and predictions were generated quickly and a log is maintained of all your flight inquiries.
If keeping track of flight times is important to you, FlightWatcher is worth considering. Now if we could only get a similar app to predict when our luggage will hit the airport carousel.
