News

CHRISTCHURCH, NEW ZEALAND – June 28th, 2022 –
Kea Aerospace, a New Zealand-based solar-powered stratospheric aircraft developer, today announced that it has joined the HAPS Alliance, a non-profit association dedicated to building a high altitude platform stations (HAPS) ecosystem that brings digital connectivity to everyone, everywhere.

As the first New Zealand member of the HAPS Alliance, Kea Aerospace will collaborate with world-leading telecommunications, technology, aviation, and aerospace companies to accelerate commercial adoption, safety and regulatory standards, and a cooperative HAPS ecosystem.

Kea Aerospace is developing solar-powered, remotely piloted stratospheric aircraft able to fly continuously for months, collecting aerial imagery for uses including environmental monitoring, maritime domain awareness and disaster management.

“We see the development of stratospheric aircraft platforms as one of the most compelling and exciting aerospace opportunities this decade,” said Mark Rocket, Chief Executive Officer of Kea Aerospace. “Being a member of the HAPS Alliance enables us to support and collaborate with other members, and to play a role in the global effort to develop HAPS technology.”

The HAPS Alliance members collaborate with other organisations to influence regulatory direction while promoting the benefits of HAPS in the stratosphere. The HAPS Alliance working groups bring together industry leaders to develop product specifications and promote standardisation in the following ways:

• Telecom: Advocate for global harmonisation of HAPS spectrum at ITU and national level; influence emerging commercial standards, including 3GPP non-terrestrial networks.
• Aviation: Promote industry-managed cooperative separation in the upper airspace, including collaborative testing, simulations, and pilot programs.
• Commercialisation: Demonstrate the industry’s viability to potential customers and build a cooperative haps ecosystem.
• Interoperability: Develop product specifications and promote the standardisation of interoperable haps network elements.

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