Frequently Asked Questions

ParaBaro is a wing inflation monitoring system for paragliding. It consists of a wearable receiver unit with a built-in 2.8-inch colour touchscreen, and two sensor nodes — one for the left side of the wing, one for the right. Each node measures differential pressure through the wing fabric in real time, transmitting data to the receiver via BLE 5.0 at 10 Hz. The receiver records IGC flight logs and full sensor data to an onboard SD card.

A vario measures the air around you — altitude and vertical speed. ParaBaro measures the air inside your wing — the differential pressure that determines whether your canopy is fully inflated. The two instruments measure different things and are complementary. ParaBaro connects via BLE 5.0 alongside your existing vario without replacing it.

No. ParaBaro is a companion device. Your Flymaster, Skytraxx, Syride, Air3, or any other instrument continues working exactly as before. ParaBaro adds the one measurement those instruments cannot provide: real-time differential pressure from inside your wing.

ParaBaro is most useful for EN-C and above pilots, SIV students and instructors, XC pilots flying in strong thermic conditions, and any pilot who wants a post-flight pressure record of wing behaviour. EN-A and EN-B pilots can also use it. Beta programme participants in particular should have a technical mindset and be comfortable using pre-production hardware.

No. ParaBaro monitors inflation pressure and alerts the pilot when differential pressure drops on one side of the wing, which can precede a collapse. It is a supplementary awareness tool, not a safety device. Collapse warnings during the beta programme are visual-only — audio alerts will develop as the detection system is validated on real flight data. Always fly within your training and current conditions.

No. ParaBaro is a data collection and monitoring tool for research and training purposes. It is not a certified flight instrument and does not replace any required safety equipment. Always fly with properly certified gear — reserve, helmet, and a certified vario where required.

Each sensor node consists of two modules: an internal module that sits inside a wing cell, and an external module that sits on the outside of the bottom surface directly opposite. The two modules are held together through the wing fabric by magnets — no clips or adhesive involved. The node measures the difference between the pressure inside the cell and the ambient pressure outside. This differential value is the inflation pressure at that point on the wing.

Two nodes — placed at roughly 60% of the wingspan from centre, symmetrically on left and right — give simultaneous left and right readings. The difference between the two sides is the key indicator of asymmetric loading and impending collapse.

Differential pressure is the difference between the air pressure inside a wing cell and the ambient air pressure outside. A fully inflated wing maintains positive differential pressure — the inside is at higher pressure than the outside, which is what keeps the canopy rigid. When that difference drops, particularly on one side, the wing is losing lift at that location. Monitoring this value continuously is the only way to detect an impending collapse before visible deformation occurs.

The main flight screen shows two arcs, one for the left node and one for the right, representing the live differential pressure at each wing side. A full arc indicates normal inflation pressure. As pressure falls, the arc shrinks and changes colour. A significant asymmetry between left and right is an early warning of a developing collapse on the lower-pressure side.

Each flight produces three files on the SD card:

• IGC — GPS track at 1 Hz, digitally signed (SHA-256), compatible with XContest and FAI submissions.
• CSV — Full sensor data at 10 Hz: differential pressure from both nodes, 6-axis IMU (accelerometer and gyroscope), GPS position, and timestamps.
• PBB — Compact binary pressure data at 10 Hz, used for detection system training.

All files are stored locally on the SD card. Upload to the ParaBaro platform is optional and consent-based.

In auto mode, recording starts automatically when the GPS detects sustained flight speed or a significant altitude change indicating takeoff. Recording stops automatically when speed and vertical movement indicate a landing. The pilot does not need to press a record button. Manual mode is also available for pilots who prefer to start and stop recording explicitly.

Each sensor node is a pair of magnetically-coupled modules. To install a node, lay the wing out on the ground, locate the target cell, and slide the internal module into the cell through the open leading edge. Place the external module on the outside of the bottom surface directly opposite. The magnets pull them together through the wing fabric. No clips, adhesive, velcro, or tools are required. The wing fabric is not modified in any way.

Both nodes are positioned symmetrically at approximately 60% of the total wingspan measured outward from the centre — one on each side. They must be placed inboard of the big ears fold line so that big ears manoeuvres do not disturb the sensors. The exact cell number varies by wing size and total cell count. The user manual provides guidance for finding the correct cells on your wing.

First-time installation with the wing laid out on the ground takes approximately 5 to 10 minutes. Once a pilot has identified the correct cells for their wing and is familiar with the process, subsequent installations are faster. The sensors are designed to remain in the wing between flights, so re-installation is rarely needed.

Yes. The sensors are semi-permanent and designed to stay in the wing between flights. You can pack and stuff the wing normally with sensors installed. The sensor modules enter a light-sensing deep sleep automatically when packed in a dark bag, drawing negligible current. Remove the sensors for long-term storage at the end of the season.

Yes. Each of the four sensor modules has its own USB-C charging port. Charge all four modules before your first use. Battery life is expected to last a full flying season on a single charge under normal use, owing to the light-sensing deep sleep mode which keeps consumption extremely low when the wing is packed away. This figure is still being validated in field testing.

No. Installation requires no cutting, sewing, drilling, or adhesive. The internal module slides in through the existing open leading edge of the cell. The external module sits on the fabric surface held by the magnet. Removing the sensors leaves the wing entirely unchanged. The modules are sized to avoid creating pressure points or stress on the fabric.

Yes. ParaBaro is compatible with all paragliding wings regardless of brand, EN class, or size — including tandems, mini-wings, and speed wings. The magnetic coupling system works through any standard wing fabric. No permanent modifications are required.

Yes. ParaBaro uses BLE 5.0 and connects simultaneously alongside your existing instruments. It has been tested with:

• Flymaster — B1 Nav, B2 Nav, B3 Nav
• Skytraxx — 2.1, 3.0, 4.0, 5.0 series
• Syride — Nav V3, Nav XL, Evo
• Air3 — 7.35
• XCTrack Pro / XCSoar — Android

ParaBaro also exposes an open BLE GATT profile for third-party developers.

ParaBaro produces digitally signed IGC files at 1 Hz, valid for XContest and FAI submissions. It does not interfere with any certified flight instrument. Competition rules vary by event — check with your organiser if in doubt.

The planned retail price is £449. The beta programme offers two tiers:

• Starter — £95 upfront. The remaining balance is earnable through flights at £10–15 per hour, with no fixed deadline.
• Professional — £299. Own the device outright at beta pricing. Retail launch price will be £449.

Both tiers earn flight credits from day one. See the Beta Programme page for full details.

The earn-back programme is compensation for contributing flight data to the pressure dataset. It is not a marketing promotion. Credit rates by flight type:

Credits accumulate in your platform account and offset the device cost. The system validates that pressure sensor data was present during the flight.

The beta programme is designed for experienced pilots with a technical mindset — people who are comfortable with pre-production hardware, can provide structured feedback, and understand that firmware evolves. Pilots with 50 or more hours of flight experience are preferred. This is a development partnership, not an early consumer release.

Beta hardware is pre-production. The receiver uses a 3D-printed enclosure — not the final retail case. The 2.8-inch TFT display has limited readability in direct sunlight, which is a known and acknowledged beta limitation. There is no IP rating on the beta case.

What works well: pressure sensing, flight recording, GPS tracking, audio vario, inflation arc display, BLE connectivity, and earn-back credit tracking. What is still evolving: collapse warnings are visual-only while the detection system is validated on beta flight data, and firmware updates require USB or SD card (BLE OTA is not active in the beta).

The retail version is targeting an H2 2026 launch. The beta programme runs through spring and summer 2026 with up to 50 pilots. Beta participants receive pre-production hardware, contribute directly to product development, and receive priority access at retail launch.

ParaBaro records GPS track data (IGC, 1 Hz), differential pressure from both wing nodes, 6-axis IMU data (accelerometer and gyroscope), and timestamps — all at 10 Hz in the CSV file. Everything is stored locally on the SD card inside the receiver. Upload to the ParaBaro platform is optional and requires your explicit action.

No. Aviometrics does not sell or share your personal data with third parties. Anonymised, aggregated pressure and flight data may be used internally to improve the ParaBaro detection system. Your identifiable data — pilot name, location, and personal flight records — is never shared. Privacy Policy for full details.

Credits are calculated from the flight duration and type recorded in the uploaded IGC and CSV files. The system validates that pressure sensor data was active during the flight. Flight type is set on the device or via the dashboard, and determines the applicable rate. Credits appear in your platform account after validation and can be applied to offset the device cost.

The system measures 0 to 200 Pa differential pressure. Typical in-flight values vary by wing class and conditions — an EN-A wing in calm air may show around 30–50 Pa, while an EN-D wing in strong conditions can read 60–80 Pa or more. Alert thresholds are configured per EN class, so a pilot on an EN-A wing and one on an EN-D wing will receive warnings calibrated appropriately for their wing's normal operating range. EN class is set on the device via the Settings screen.

The receiver runs for approximately 4 to 6 hours in active flight with GPS, BLE, display, and audio all running. Each of the four sensor modules is expected to last a full flying season on a single charge, thanks to light-sensing deep sleep when the wing is packed away. Both figures are based on current testing and will be confirmed as field validation continues.

Firmware updates are installed either via USB cable — the receiver appears as a standard drive on your computer when USB mass storage mode is activated from the Settings screen — or by placing an update file on the SD card before booting. BLE over-the-air updates are not active in the beta version.

The system is designed around two complete nodes, each consisting of an internal and external module working as a magnetically-coupled pair. A single module cannot measure differential pressure on its own — both halves of the pair are required. Operating with only one complete node (two modules) is possible but gives only one-sided pressure data, which reduces the asymmetry detection capability that is the core of the system.