The aviation weather gadget that you always wanted!
Discover a device that combines elegant simplicity with powerful functionality. PaperMETAR offers innovative features designed specifically for aviation enthusiasts, student pilots mastering weather interpretation, and experienced aviators who appreciate having real-time METAR and TAF data at their fingertips.
Take your love of flight beyond the skies. PaperMETAR transforms your desk into a mini cockpit with a device purposefully designed to look and feel like a real aviation instrument. It displays live weather data in a stylish, portable form that's lightweight, practical, and undeniably cool for anyone who loves to fly, or dreams of it.
PaperMETAR makes a unique and thoughtful gift for anyone passionate about aviation; from student pilots who can use it to practice METAR decoding, to experienced pilots who want a stylish way to monitor weather, to aviation enthusiasts who will appreciate its distinctive design. Learn more
Unlike phones or tablets that go to sleep, PaperMETAR's ePaper display remains visible 24/7 without consuming power. The crisp, high-contrast display is easy to read in any lighting condition - from bright sunlight to dim rooms. There's no need to wake up the device or refresh the screen - the latest METAR information is always there at a glance, ready when you need it.
Pilot in training? You will love the quiz mode, where you can test your knowledge of METAR coding. The quiz feature presents you with the METAR and challenges you to interpret it. With regular practice using this interactive tool, you can strengthen your METAR interpretation skills and become more proficient at quickly understanding aviation weather reports. Since METAR is refreshed often, you will get plenty of practice!
PaperMETAR connects seamlessly to your WiFi network to automatically fetch the latest METAR information. The device intelligently wakes up at regular intervals to check for updates, ensuring you always have current weather data without any manual intervention.
PaperMETAR is designed with power efficiency in mind, using an ePaper display that only consumes power when updating the screen. Combined with an optimized low-power microprocessor that intelligently manages sleep cycles, the device can run for weeks on a single charge while still ensuring you always have current weather information.
PaperMETAR is designed to look and feel like a real cockpit instrument, giving a familiar and immersive experience. Its layout mimics the dials and displays found in aircraft, with crisp typography and high-contrast visuals that echo the aesthetic of real aviation gauges. This deliberate styling bridges the gap between utility and nostalgia, creating a real connection to the flight deck.
Whether it's at home or sitting on a desk at the FBO, PaperMETAR fits right in. Its compact, analog-style presentation blends seamlessly into aviation-themed environments, making it feel like a natural extension of the pilot's world. The tactile presence and clarity of the display add to the sense of authenticity—like checking the weather on a trusted cockpit instrument before every flight.
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Explore aviation insights, decoding tips, and behind-the-scenes stories from the world of METAR. Whether you're a student pilot, seasoned flyer, or just weather-curious, these posts are your ticket to clearer skies.
I’m making a slight change to the blog by renaming "Airport of the Week" to "Airport Spotlight" to better reflect my current schedule as I focus on the upcoming Kickstarter. While I love researching new airfields, building the PaperMETAR device takes priority, and I have some exciting updates to share on that front; including news about the first prototypes getting into users' hands and the feedback I've received so far.
Read full postCatalina Airport earns its “Airport in the Sky” title the moment you realize the runway sits on a mesa sixteen hundred feet above the Pacific with cliffs dropping away in nearly every direction. Built by blasting and leveling the island’s ridge, KAVX blends dramatic terrain, short-field skills and island weather into one unforgettable destination. With a sloped runway, frequent marine-layer surprises and no fuel on the field, it is an airport that rewards preparation and respect, and one that has become a rite of passage for Southern California pilots.
Read full postJoin the Pre-Release
Please join the pre-release mailing list to show your interest in PaperMETAR. Some perks and discounts may be added as I get closer to the release.
Answers to your most commonly asked questions.
Created by an Aspiring Pilot
Hi, I'm Farhan. By day, I am a technologist, a business owner, and a former tech executive with a career spent building software solutions. By weekend, I'm a private pilot flying out of C29 (Middleton Municipal - Morey Field) in Middleton, Wisconsin, a suburb of Madison. This is also the inspiration behind the company name, Charlie 29'R LLC.
PaperMETAR wasn't born from a sudden flash of inspiration, but from the daily grind of flight training. As I worked toward my Private Pilot License in 2022, I found myself constantly checking METARs on my phone, wishing for a dedicated, "always-on" device that felt like a true aviation instrument. I wanted something that belonged on a pilot's desk, not just another app notification.
Treating this as a passion project allowed me to obsess over the details. I combined my background in engineering with my love for aviation to build the device I wished I had as a student. PaperMETAR is the result: a tool built by a pilot, for pilots, to keep us connected to the skies we love.