ORKA, a do-it-all management system for flight instructors, recently debuted a new app that aims to redefine how pilots engage with their flights. It opens a space to review lessons, connect with peers, and learn from members of the community.
We first heard from ORKA founder Adriana Barragan at the EAA’s Oshkosh AirVenture airshow in 2024. Though her company was just getting started at the time, its mission was obvious: to support independent flight instructors and their students.
“At the end of the day,” she stated, “we want to be able to strengthen the community of Aviation educators... whether they want to teach for pleasure or to make a living from their flight training business full-time. We want to bring equity back to instructors.”
The first step was building a digital infrastructure for instructors to customize their lesson plans. The software contains integrated tools for scheduling, marketing, and training. As a testament to its value, Barragan also offers her own flight training through the website.
As she made very clear last year, the website was “just the beginning” of her work. Barrigan and her team have now introduced a new app that allows users to review logged flights, track progress, share milestones, and message others for advice -- or just for fun.
The app, called Fly ORKA, is available on both Apple and Android as either a free or subscription version. It uses GPS to record 3D flight paths that can be played back with ground track, altitude, groundspeed, and realistic landmarks.
The playback feature is not only helpful for debriefs with instructors, but also to let peers and aviators from around the world share their insights. The logs can also be shared with family and friends who may not have any idea what they mean -- but will be excited to be a part of the journey nonetheless.
“Looking back at the origins of aviation, we see men and women coming together to enjoy flying, push themselves forward, and have a blast,” Barragan wrote. “It may have looked different in the past, but achievement, exploration, and connection feel the same today…The Fly ORKA app is an invitation to value your time, decide what you want to do with it, and feel accomplished every step of the way.”
