Definition

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) defines a vertiport as "an area of land, water, or a structure used, or intended to be used, the support the landing, takeoff, taxiing, parking, and storage of powered-lift aircraft or other aircraft that vertiport design and performance standards . . . can accommodate." A vertiport can include specialized equipment such as charging stations.

European Union Guidance on Vertiports

In 2022, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) published what the trade press described as the world's first vertiport design specifications.

The document covers physical characteristics such as safety areas, downwash protections, taxiways, clearways, and aircraft stands. It also describes markings, lighting, and other visual aids. The EASA website says, "One notable innovation is the concept of a funnel-shaped area above the vertiport, designated as an 'obstacle-free volume.' This concept is tailored to the operational capabilities of the new VTOL aircraft, which can perform landing and takeoff with a significant vertical segment."

EASA also says the next step is full-scale rulemaking, during which the agency will develop the full spectrum of regulatory requirements for vertiports.

U.S. Guidance on Vertiports

According to an article on the FAA website, initial powered-lift aircraft operations will use existing infrastructure such as airports and heliports. However, regulators and others in the aviation industry envision dedicated vertiports and vertistops in the near future. 

The FAA's Office of Airports, along with the FAA's Airport Technology and Development Branch, has created design and safety standards for vertiports. These standards are outlined in Engineering Brief 105A, Vertiport Design, Supplemental Guidance to Advisory Circular 150/5390-2D, Heliport Design. The Engineering Brief (EB), dated December 27, 2024, provides standards and guidance to support initial infrastructure development for VTOL operations.

The EB covers a range of considerations. They include vertiport design and geometry, taxiways and parking, marking and lighting, electrical infrastructure, and safety issues such as firefighting.

This FAA plans to update this guidance as the technology matures. "There is currently limited demonstrated performance data on how VTOL aircraft operate," the EB says. "Research efforts are underway to better understand the performance capabilities and design characteristics of emerging VTOL aircraft." The document adds that the FAA will develop a performance-based advisory circular on vertiport design in the future, as additional performance data becomes available.

Further Reading

•  Engineering Brief 105A, Vertiport Design, Supplemental Guidance to Advisory Circular 150/5390-2D, Heliport Design, FAA, December 27, 2024.