The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) published the world’s first guidance for the design of vertiports, the ground infrastructure needed for the safe operation of Urban Air Mobility services.
The Prototype Technical Design Specifications for Vertiports offers guidance to urban planners and local decision-makers as well as industry to enable the safe design of vertiports that will serve these new types of eVTOLs aircraft.
One notable innovation is the concept of a funnel-shaped area above the vertiport, designated as an “obstacle free volume”. This concept is more suitable for an urban environment than conventional heliport operations.
This guidance was developed under the leadership of EASA, working in cooperation with the world’s leading vertiport companies and VTOL manufacturers, and with the support of experts from European Member States. The next step is a full-scale rulemaking task during which EASA will develop the full spectrum of regulatory requirements to ensure safe vertiport operations.
“With the world’s first guidance for safe vertiport operations, EASA’s ambition is to provide our stakeholders with the ‘gold standard’ when it comes to safe vertiport design and operational frameworks. By harmonising design and operational standards for vertiports we will support European industry, who are already starting to embark on exciting projects in Europe and around the world to make new urban air mobility a reality.”
Patrick Ky, Executive Director of EASA.