When it comes to aviation technology, the spotlight often shines on faster jets, stronger engines, or stealthier designs. Yet sometimes the most impactful innovations solve problems that have quietly plagued aviators for decades. This year, for the 2025 Airforce Technology Excellence Awards, Vermont-based Omni Defense Tech was recognized with both the Innovation and Safety awards for addressing one of aviation’s most overlooked but consequential challenges: in-flight bladder relief.
The company’s flagship solution, the SKYDRATE® system, is the only in-flight bladder relief device certified Safe-to-Fly and airworthiness approved on every U.S. military aircraft. It has also secured approval on numerous allied aircraft, making it a game-changer for aircrew around the world.
Why Bladder Relief Matters in the Cockpit
For most jobs, bathroom breaks are routine. For a fighter pilot strapped into an ejection seat at 30,000 feet, they are a matter of safety and survival.
Traditional solutions have been inadequate:
- Piddle packs force pilots to unstrap and remove hands from the controls.
- Adult diapers are uncomfortable, unsanitary, and can cause infections.
- Tactical dehydration—restricting fluids to avoid urination—weakens performance and increases medical risks.
These stopgaps create serious consequences. SKYDRATE® eliminates the need for dehydration, protecting pilots from:
- Urinary tract infections
- Chronic bladder damage
- Dehydration-induced G-LOC (loss of consciousness during high-G maneuvers)
By safeguarding health, SKYDRATE® also enhances mission endurance. Pilots can fly longer, think clearer, and recover faster—without compromising safety.
“It sounds like a small issue until you realize it can cost lives, equipment, and billions of dollars,” said Mark Harvie, CEO and Lead Engineer of Omni Defense Tech. “Our team has worked for more than 26 years to solve this challenge in a way that puts safety and performance first.”
Omni Defense Tech: A History of Innovation
Founded in 1998 in Vermont, Omni Defense Tech has built a reputation as a leader in life-support and mission-critical technologies. Its founder, Mark Harvie, has spent the last 26 years of his career dedicated to inflight bladder relief innovation. Mark holds 36 patents and patent applications with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
The company’s portfolio includes:
- SKYDRATE® System — In-flight bladder relief for military aviators.
- OTFD® Flotation Devices — In use by U.S. Army parachutists and field operators.
- OWMS Space Suit Waste Management System — Supporting NASA’s Artemis and Orion missions.
The Birth of SKYDRATE®
Omni Defense Tech drew inspiration from an unlikely source: space exploration. Having worked on NASA’s Orion and Artemis programs, the company had deep expertise in waste management under extreme conditions. That knowledge was adapted to the cockpit, where reliability, comfort, and hands-free operation are mission-critical.
What truly sets SKYDRATE® apart is its automatic and hands-free operation. Smart sensors detect urine instantly and activate the pump only when needed. The system conserves battery power, minimizes noise, and keeps the pilot’s hands on the controls and mind on the mission.
The system’s disposable parts are modular, simplifying supply logistics and making training quick and straightforward.
A Collaborative Effort
Omni Defense Tech engineers worked closely with male and female aviators, medical experts, and aerospace specialists throughout the design process. Feedback was incorporated at every stage, leading to refinements that ensured the system worked across the full spectrum of users and aircraft types.
“This wasn’t about a one-size-fits-all solution,” said Harvie. “It was about listening to aircrew, understanding their operational environments, and creating something that worked equally well for everyone who straps into a cockpit.”
That iterative approach continues even after SKYDRATE® reached the field. Omni Defense Tech maintains an active R&D pipeline, gathering input from active-duty personnel to ensure the system evolves with future operational requirements.
Earning the Safe-to-Fly Stamp
Military technology faces some of the world’s toughest certification hurdles — and rightly so. To be approved for operational use, SKYDRATE® underwent extensive U.S. Military testing. It is Safe-to-Fly and airworthiness approved across the entire spectrum of U.S. military aircraft, from fighters, bombers, and tankers to transports, helicopters, and trainers.
That blanket approval is rare for a life-support device, emphasizing the system’s reliability under varied and demanding conditions.
Safety First: Reducing Operational Risk
The Airforce Technology Excellence Safety Award recognized SKYDRATE® for directly improving aircrew physiological safety. The risks of outdated methods were real: dehydration, distraction, and delayed relief all threatened mission performance and survival. Pilots attempting manual relief during flight have lost focus at critical moments, with catastrophic results.
By automating the process and keeping pilots hydrated without distraction, SKYDRATE® mitigates those risks. It also reduces the long-term health issues tied to dehydration or urinary retention, problems that have sidelined aviators in the past.
Another benefit is compatibility with ejection seat readiness. Pilots no longer need to unstrap at critical moments, ensuring survival equipment functions as designed if the unthinkable happens.
Looking Ahead
For Omni Defense Tech, SKYDRATE® is both a breakthrough and a foundation for future innovation. By addressing a problem as fundamental as hydration and relief, the company has freed aircrew to focus on what matters most: the mission.
As Harvie put it, “In-flight bladder relief may not make headlines like a new aircraft, but when it comes to saving lives, protecting equipment, and keeping missions on track, it makes all the difference.”
About Airforce Technology Excellence Awards: Airforce-Technology.com delivers the latest on military aviation and emerging technologies. This UK based platform is trusted by defense professionals worldwide, it’s a go-to resource to track innovations shaping airpower and mission readiness. Each year, the site hosts the Airforce Technology Excellence Awards, recognizing outstanding achievements and innovations in the defense industry. These awards highlight excellence across various categories, providing a platform to celebrate the individuals and organizations driving advancements in military aviation.
