Handheld Aviation Radios for GA Pilots

Check price on Amazon ↗

• Band: COM only (no NAV), with flip-flop active/standby
• Headset: Built-in twin-plug GA headset jacks, so no adapter cable; also a 3.5 mm earbud jack
• Power: 6 W PEP / 1.8 W carrier (PJ2+ operator’s manual) · 6 AA alkaline pack · USB-C powers the radio but does not charge the pack
• Display: Oversized screen, backlit keypad
• Price: $264.95 on Amazon, Oct 25, 2026

• Plug a standard GA headset straight in, which matters when the panel radio has just quit
• No menus or bands to manage: type a frequency and talk (Sporty’s)
• No NAV or VOR
• Twin-plug only; LEMO/6-pin headset users need Sporty’s L6 instead

Choose the Sporty’s PJ2+ when you want a COM backup you can use under stress, with your existing GA headset.

Watch a review: Sporty’s PJ2+ COM Radio: In Flight and Power Test (independent YouTube review) ↗

Check price on Amazon ↗

• Band: TX 118.000–136.99166 MHz; RX 108.000–136.99166 MHz plus NOAA weather receive · 8.33/25 kHz spacing
• Memory: 200 channels
• Battery: 2,400 mAh Li-ion, over 17 hours (Icom), sit-in rapid charger included
• Body: IP67/54, MIL-STD-810G · 1,500 mW loud audio · Bluetooth on the A16B version
• Price: $336.00 on Amazon, Oct 25, 2026

• Icom lists over 17 hours on the 2,400 mAh pack
• Waterproof body suits ramp and flight-line use
• Its screen is smaller than the PJ2+’s 1.5 × 1.63 in LCD and the A25’s 2.3 in LCD
• Needs a headset adapter for twin-plug GA headsets

Choose the Icom IC-A16 when you want a tough, long-running COM radio and do not need NAV.

Watch a demo: Icom A16 aviation radio with Bluetooth - basic operation (Sporty’s Pilot Shop; shows the A16B Bluetooth version) ↗

Check price on Amazon ↗

• Band: TX 118.000–136.992 MHz; RX 108.000–136.992 MHz (VOR NAV) plus NOAA weather
• Power: 6.0 W PEP / 1.8 W carrier (Icom)
• Extras: Built-in GPS, Bluetooth, VOR navigation · 300 memory channels
• Battery / body: 2,350 mAh Li-ion (BP-288) · IP57 · 2.3-inch LCD
• Price: $599.95 on Amazon, Oct 25, 2026

• NAV, GPS and Bluetooth in one handheld
• 6 W PEP, the same peak figure as the PJ2+
• $599.95 on Amazon Oct 25, $214.97 more than the FTA-550L
• Extra features make the menus busier; the GPS has no full aviation database

Choose the Icom IC-A25N when you want VOR and GPS backup as well as COM. The COM-only A25C (ASIN B076C2FHB6) listed at $481.00.

Watch a review: Icom A25N Handheld Radio Bench Eval (AVweb) ↗

Check price on Amazon ↗

• Band: COM only
• Size: The smallest Yaesu airband handheld
• Battery: Rechargeable Li-ion pack included
• Listed price when last checked (Oct 24, 2026): $269.11 on Amazon. Confirm the live price.

• Small and light for a flight bag pocket
• Screen is small next to the FTA-550 series
• Needs a headset adapter

Choose the Yaesu FTA-250L when you want a small COM-only radio and can live with a small screen.

Watch a demo: Yaesu FTA-250L aviation radio - basic operation (Sporty’s Pilot Shop) ↗

Check price on Amazon ↗

• Band: COM plus VOR and ILS navigation display · NOAA weather receive and alert
• Power: 5 W PEP / 1.5 W carrier
• Display: 1.7 × 1.7 in full dot-matrix LCD · 200 memory channels · IPX5
• In the box: Alkaline (AA) tray, 12 V DC cable, antenna, belt clip, headset adapter, USB programming cable · 3-year warranty (Yaesu)
• Price: $229.96 on Amazon, Oct 25, 2026

• $229.96 on Amazon Oct 25, with NAV included
• Runs on AA cells you can buy anywhere
• No rechargeable pack in the box
• Sporty’s buying guide says most pilots found the Yaesu menus harder to use than the Icom or Sporty’s menus

Choose the Yaesu FTA-550 AA when you want VOR/ILS on the screen for $229.96 and prefer AA cells.

Check price on Amazon ↗

• Band: Same as the FTA-550 AA: COM plus VOR/ILS display and NOAA weather
• Power: 5 W PEP / 1.5 W carrier
• In the box: Li-ion battery, 110 V and 12 V charger with cradle, alkaline tray, antenna, belt clip, headset adapter, USB cable · 3-year warranty (Yaesu)
• Price: $384.98 on Amazon, Oct 25, 2026

• Rechargeable pack and an AA tray in one box
• $384.98, which is $214.97 under the A25N
• No GPS or Bluetooth
• Small keypad

Choose the Yaesu FTA-550L when you want VOR/ILS plus a Li-ion pack and an AA tray in one box.

Watch a review: Yaesu FTA-550L Air Band Pro-X Nav/Com aviation radio (LightSport Man) ↗