The Backbone Aviation Should’ve Had Years Ago


Skybound Ops - Episode 6

Conversation with Mark Roboff, Co-Founder at SkyThread

You know the story: aviation is packed with brilliant tech — AI, blockchain, predictive maintenance, digital twins — but we still lose deals, waste hours, and burn trust because the basics break down.

In my latest Skybound Ops episode, I sat down with Mark Roboff, co-founder and Chief Vision Officer at SkyThread, to talk about what actually needs fixing. Mark’s not just another guy with slides — he’s built real systems at IBM, SparkCognition, SAE International, and he knows where the gaps live.

SkyThread’s big idea?

A neutral, permissioned data-sharing backbone that’s of the industry but not owned by any single player.

✔️ Parts traceability you can’t fake
✔️ Data you don’t lose behind someone’s paywall
✔️ Trust that stays with the people doing the work

It was genuinely good to trade ideas with Mark and hear why he believes neutrality is the only way to scale real trust. He put it best:

“I’m stoically optimistic. Things will get better — and when they’re really bad, that’s just for now.”

If you care about how aviation actually moves forward — and what it takes to get trust right — you’ll want to hear this one.

🎙️ Catch the episode here

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Aviation doesn’t fail because we lack tech — it fails when we ignore the trust gaps underneath.

Mark Roboff and SkyThread are building a neutral data backbone to fix that, one part trace at a time.

If you care about doing it right — not just talking about it — this episode is worth it.

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Ralph Merhi, CEO @ERP.ero

Practical insights for aviation suppliers, distributors, brokers, and manufacturers who refuse to settle for inefficiency. I believe in cutting through the noise—delivering real strategies to make things better. No fluff, no wasted time—just the knowledge, both business and personal, and tools to help you succeed. If you want my newsletter, drop your email below 👇 or feel free to look as much as you want.

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