Skykraft
High precision air traffic control everywhere
At a glance
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Development stage
Scaling operations
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Investment stage
Series B
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UNSW affiliation
Spinout - staff led
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Technology readiness level
TRL-7
Falling satellite costs and maturing Low Earth Orbit satellite capabilities have shifted space revenue from launch and imagery to communications services, creating a new commercial layer that didn't exist five years ago.
Skykraft is extending air traffic control coverage by moving ground-based radio systems into space.
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Air Traffic Control is based on ground radio sites. Over oceans and in remote areas, these do not work, so more expensive and less effective systems are used. These limitations have an outsized impact in nations with infrastructure challenges, such as Papua New Guinea.
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Skykraft replicates the ground-based radio systems in space by designing, building, and operating its own constellation of satellites. Skykraft sells this service directly to the national Air Traffic Control organisation in each country, which already bills airlines for its Air Traffic Control service.
Ancillary services are provided to airlines and other adjacent businesses.
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The core customers are the Air Navigation Service Provider (ANSP) in each country, such as Airservices in Australia.
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- Agreement signed with Nuisky for space-based VHF and ADS-B in PNG.
- ICAO Space-Based VHF SARPs applicability in November 2028.
- Collaboration agreement with Airservices Australia.
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