Working Groups

HAPS Alliance Working Groups enable our eligible members to deepen their participation and enhance their influence on the development and deployment of HAPS ventures. Whatever your area of expertise, as a leader in your industry, our working groups enable you to have a direct and tangible effect on the future of high altitude platform stations (HAPS).  

 HAPS Alliance Working Groups cover several critical areas: marketing and communications, aviation, and telecommunications. 

Aviation

Working together to accelerate technical growth of safe, reliable HAPS systems to unlock the worldwide services potential of the stratosphere.

We do this by sharing a HAPS Alliance-centric concept of operations with our regulators and stakeholders to find the best route forwards.

Telecommunications

Working to advance the global HAPS ecosystem for telecommunications use cases through education, research, regulatory advocacy, and technical standards.

Currently focused on standards contributions to multiple groups and regulatory guidance in support of HAPS solutions.

Marketing

Supporting the creation of HAPS ecosystem by supporting Alliance goals in driving awareness, safety and regulatory alignment and commercial adoption.

Currently working on educating stakeholders about the value of stratosphere and hybrid networks; building credibility and establishing authority in HAPS operations and bridging the divide between aerospace, teleco and regulatory by facilitating cross-industry collaboration.

Andy ThurlingChair of the Aviation WG

Consultant, HAPS Airworthiness and Airspace Integration

SoftBank
Shiro FukumotoVice-Chair of the Telecommunications WG

Standardization Department

SoftBank
Fatema HamdaniChair of the Telecommunications WG

Co-Founder and CEO

Kraus Hamdani Aerospace, Inc.
Matthew NicholsonChair of the Marketing & Communications WG

Manager, Promotion Section, HAPSMobile Inc.

Deputy Manager, Corporate Media Relations Department SoftBank Corp.
Stephanie LuongoVice-Chair of the Aviation WG

Chief of Mission Operations

SCEYE, Inc.
Jeff SmithVice-Chair of the Marketing & Communications WG

Head of Connectivity, Zephyr Programme

Airbus Defence and Space
Jaroslav HolišChair of the Telecommunications WG

Senior R&D Manager

Deutsche Telekom AG