Applications for smartphones are a growing trend among business aviation companies, which are embracing this technology in order to add to the convenience of their services. The most popular of these phone apps are pilot-friendly information databases.

Signature Flight Support has released the iFBO app for the iPhone and iPad. The app can get up-to-date fuel prices and calculate the price breakdown based on the aircraft type. The iFBO app can also find a Signature FBO, provide contact information and show a list of services and amenities available at the location. A location link to Google Maps is also available. The application can be downloaded for free on the iTunes store.

With smartphone apps, pilots don’t need to access a computer with an Internet connection to access flight information. Universal Avionics announced a free phone app for Droid users that can connect right into the cockpit. The Universal Droid app connects the phone to Universal’s UniNet, which provides the customers’ account navigation database, operator assistance and billing information.

The app can access Universal contact information from anywhere in the world and is available to view in the cockpit through the company’s new solid-state data-transfer unit.

West Star Aviation’s new Experience On Call application provides a comprehensive worldwide directory that allows customers to inquire about service needs specific to their aircraft or geographic location.

JetNet is releasing an app that can access its Evolution information network. The data includes aircraft owner records, market summaries, aircraft for sale and aircraft performance specifications. The app is available for iPhone, BlackBerry and Droid phones.

Universal Weather and Aviation’s mobile Web app gives customers access to all of the company’s services from any type of smartphone. Instead of developing software apps for each type of smartphone, the mobile Web allows any smartphone user to access Universal’s data and it also avoids the need to submit apps to smartphone companies’ stores for approval.

Charter operator Solairus Aviation has released a mobile Web app that enables users to view one-way flights as they come available. The mobile app was created in an attempt to occupy empty leg flights and alert potential customers to these discounted flights.