Most hangars have power and nothing else.
Zigbee sensors are cheap, small and run for a long time on a coin cell. They still need a coordinator, and most coordinators depend on a home network that a row of T‑hangars doesn’t have. Hangar Buddy gives the coordinator its own cellular link, and we keep it running for you.
What you no longer have to run
- An internet plan for one metal building
- A cellular modem and a separate SIM plan
- A 40-minute drive to plug in the preheater
From the engine cowl to your wrist.
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Zigbee 2.4 GHz
Your sensors
Temperature sensors, a door tilt sensor, a smart plug for the preheater and a relay for the door opener.
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Hub + battery
Hangar Buddy hub
The coordinator. It plugs into any outlet, notices when the power drops, and keeps reporting on battery.
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LTE‑M
Cell network
The SIM comes installed and activated. Data is included in the service. You never see a carrier bill.
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Run by us
Hangar Buddy service
Stores your readings, checks your alert limits, updates the hub, and warns you if the hub goes quiet.
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Push + watch
iPhone & Watch
Check the hangar, get alerts, start the preheater and work the door. Commands travel back the same way.
The app
Is it warm? Is it closed? Has anyone been in?
Try the buttons here and at the top of the page. Every screen stays in sync. Preheat reports On only after the plug confirms it, and the door reports Open only after the tilt sensor sees it move.
The tilt sensor read 34° and nobody sent a command from the app.
Under cowl reached 60°F.
The same answers on your wrist.
No command sent
Example · a cold Saturday
Wheels up at noon, 11°F at dawn.
Here’s how the morning goes when the airplane is 38 miles from your bed.
- You start the preheater from bed
The cowl reads 19°F. The smart plug confirms it’s on, and you go back to sleep.
- The cowl is at 44°F
You check it over coffee and the chart shows it climbing as expected.
- You open the door as you pull in
Two taps on your iPhone. The tilt sensor confirms the door moved, and no alert goes out because the command was yours.
- The cowl reads 64°F, and you shut off the preheater
Your 60°F alert came through while you were on the road.
- You take the sensor and heater out of the cowl
Your preflight still comes first. The app can’t see what’s left under the cowl.
Remove before flight - You close the door from the taxiway
The tilt sensor confirms it from your watch, and door alerts stay on while you’re gone.
- The door moves and you didn’t send a command
Your phone and watch alert you right away. You can see the tilt reading and call the airport.
Use the Zigbee sensors you already know.
Buy sensors wherever you like. Pair them from the app, even if the hub is already at the airport, by opening a pairing window remotely.
| Sensor | Good for | In the app |
|---|---|---|
| Temperature & humidity | Hangar air, under the cowl, the battery shelf | 17.2°F · 48% RH |
| Smart plug | Engine preheater, battery tender, hangar heater | On · 450 W |
| Dry-contact relay | Door openers with a wall-button input | Pulse sent |
| Tilt sensor | Hangar door position and entry alerts | Closed · 0° |
| Door & window | Walk-in doors and storage cabinets | Closed · 3 days |
| Water leak | Roof leaks and floor drains under the airplane | Dry |
| Power (built into the hub) | Outages at the hangar row | Utility · 100% batt |
Built for Zigbee 3.0, including common sensors from Aqara, SONOFF, THIRDREALITY and IKEA. We’ll publish a tested device list before launch.
One hub. One monthly price per hangar.
Cellular data is part of the service, so there’s no separate plan to manage. Sensors are yours, bought from whoever you prefer.
- Cellular data included
- Up to 50 Zigbee devices
- iPhone and Apple Watch apps
- Push, text and email alerts
- One year of reading history
- Shared access for partners and co-owners
Common questions
Do I need internet at the hangar?
No. The hub connects over cellular, so all you need is a power outlet and LTE‑M coverage. Metal buildings can weaken the signal, so check coverage at your field before you order.
Is it safe to run a preheater unattended?
Follow your preheater maker’s instructions, your engine maker’s guidance and your hangar lease. Check the plug’s rating against the heater’s wattage, and set an automatic shutoff. Some airports limit unattended heaters, so ask yours first.
Will it work with my hangar door?
It works with electric openers that have a wall-button input, using a Zigbee relay wired across those terminals. Manual sliding doors can still use the tilt sensor for alerts. Your opener’s own safety sensors stay in place. Have an electrician or the door’s installer wire it if you’re not sure.
Can I open the door when I’m not there?
You can, but we recommend only opening it when you’re on the way. The app asks for a second tap, and the door stays open until someone closes it.
Exactly what does the tilt sensor detect?
It detects the door moving, which covers most ways in through that door. It can’t see someone using a walk-in door, so add a contact or motion sensor there. It’s a notification, not a monitored alarm, and it won’t call anyone for you.
What happens if the hub loses power?
It alerts you and keeps reporting on its internal battery for about 24 hours. The preheater and door opener lose power too, so they won’t work until it returns.
What if the cell connection drops?
The hub stores readings and sends them when the connection returns. If it misses its check-ins, the service alerts you that the hangar has gone quiet.
Is there an Android app?
iPhone and Apple Watch come first. Join the waitlist and tell us if you’d like Android.