Vertiport Design 

Standards for 

Advanced Air 

Mobility 

Airport REDAC 

Jonathan Torres 

September 8, 2021 

Presented to: 

By: 

Date: 

Federal Aviation 

Administration 

Federal Aviation 

Administration 
Urban Air Mobility 

• Urban Air Mobility (UAM) 

concepts and technologies 

are set to revolutionize 

transportation systems. 

• Major component of the 

UAM ecosystem are the 

landing sites and facilities to 

service vertical takeoff and 

landing (VTOL) aircraft. 

• Advisory Circular (AC) 150/5390-3 “Vertiport 

Design” was cancelled on July 28, 2010 due to 

lack of compatible aircraft use. 

Federal Aviation 

Administration 
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A - Minimum TLOF Width: l .ORD 

B - Miu,mum TLOF Length: 1.0 RD 

C-Miuimum FATO Width: 1.5 OL 

D - Minimwl1 FA TO Lt'ngth: 1.5 OL 

TLOF 

FATO 

f 

A 

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7 

I 

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E-Miuimum separn11ou between the perimeters oftbe TLOF and die FATO: (0.5 (1.5 OL- 1.0 RD] 

F - Mirumum afery Nea \ idtb: 

RD: Rotor diameter of the design helicopter 

OL: Overall length of the design helicopter 

NOTE see AC 150/5390-2 for further guidance 

 

 

 

Vertiport Design AC Goals 

• The operational requirements of these 

facilities will include: 

• Landing area design and layout/geometry 

• Approach/departure paths 

• Load bearing requirements 

• Electric propulsion and charging stations 

• Safety requirements for batteries and other 

hazardous materials 

• Noise requirements 

• The dimensional requirements of the landing area will 

depend on an aircraft’s Critical Dimensions (CD) and 

maximum gross takeoff weights. 

• For certain aircraft designs, the CD needed for 

their aircraft will be less or equal to the current 

heliport design regulations. 

Federal Aviation 

Administration 
Vertiport Design AC Goals 

• A minimally developed facility is required to be 

defined for the boarding and discharging of 

passengers and cargo by VTOL aircraft. 

• Not One Size Fits All - These facilities may have a 

variety of configurations depending on the level of 

throughput that is expected at that facility and the 

characteristics of the aircraft they plan to support. 

Federal Aviation 

Administration 
 

Research Path 

• Industry Request for Information (RFI) 

• NASA National Campaign (NC) 

• Aircraft Manufacturer Outreach 

• Research Studies 

– Literature Review and Gap Analysis 

– Conceptual/Operational Testing and Simulation 

– Vertiport Electrical Infrastructure Study 

Federal Aviation 

Administration 
National Air Trans ortation Association 

~

~ cal Flight Society 

 

Industry RFI 

• From April 3, 2019 to October 31, 2019, the FAA 

posted an RFI seeking information from industry 

regarding VTOL aircraft design and specifications, 

concepts of operations, infrastructure design, and 

takeoff and landing profile. 

• The RFI was in mentioned by: 

– NATA’s “Urban Air Mobility: 

Considerations for Vertiport 

Operation” Whitepaper 

– Vertical Flight Society 

• Only nine responses to the RFI, some incomplete. 

Federal Aviation 

Administration 
rcraft Concept of Inf1·astructure 

Takeoff and 

Design and Landing Operations Design Specifications Profile 

RFI Responder # 1 ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 

RFI Responder #2 ✓ ✓ 

RFI Responder #3 ✓ 

RFI Responder #4 ✓ ✓ ✓ 

RFI Responder # 5 ✓ ✓ 

RFI Responder #6 ✓ ✓ 

RFI Responder #7 ✓ 

RFI Responder #8 ✓ ✓ ✓ 

RFI Responder #9 ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 

RFI Results 

Federal Aviation 

Administration 
NASA National Campaign 

• ATRD has been a participant of the 

NC by input to NASA in the creation 

of a baseline design of landing 

areas that will be used during 

evaluations. 

• Vehicle performance data collected 

through the NC will aide in the 

development of vertiport guidance. 

Federal Aviation 

Administration 
 

 

 

Literature Review and Gap 

Analysis 

• Over 90 AAM related documents compiled regarding 

relevant information on aircraft design groups (ADG), 

environmental impacts, safety considerations. 

• Gaps analysis looked at areas where research needed to 

focus. 

– Gap analysis highlighted the need for vehicle performance data to 

address many of the design parameters. 

• Gap analysis and manufacturer data will be used to develop 

a first round of recommended design categories for vertiport 

infrastructure. 

Federal Aviation 

Administration 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Vehicle Performance Data and 

CONOPS Inquiry 

• Coordination with FAA Aircraft Certification 

Group. 

– Contacted a group of aircraft manufacturers with an inquiry of 

data needs for infrastructure considerations. 

• 10 manufacturers contacted as of today. 

• As newer entrants become more mature we will continue 

communications with the Aircraft Certification Group for introductions. 

– A second inquiry was sent to aide with the development of 

interim guidance. Information was provided by July 31, 

2021. 

– Responses from the manufacturers have provided 

researchers a good idea of the maturity of each vehicle. 

Federal Aviation 

Administration 
 

Conceptual/Operational Testing 

and Simulation 

• Initial recommendations developed through gap analysis 

will be tested through conceptual vertiport simulations, 

and modeling of a vertiport in multiple infrastructure 

environments and for different use cases. 

• Simulations will be improved as additional vehicle 

performance data from aircraft manufacturers and NASA 

NC is provided. 

Federal Aviation 

Administration 
 

Vertiport Test Bed 

• Final design specifications 

from modelling will be used 

to convert FAA’s research 

heliport to a research 

vertiport. 

• Research vertiport will be 

used to conduct 

performance testing. 

FAA Research Heliport at the FAA Technical Center 

Federal Aviation 

Administration 

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Vertiport Electrical Infrastructure 

Study 

• ATRD established an agreement with the 

National Renewable Energy Laboratory 

(NREL) to conduct an 18-month vertiport 

electrical infrastructure study. 

• Study will focus in areas that include: 

– Vertiport charging needs 

– Cybersecurity concerns 

– Hazards evaluations 

Federal Aviation 

Administration 

13 
 

 

Federal Aviation 

Administration 

Vertiport Electrical Infrastructure 

Study 

• FAA has coordinated communications 

between NREL and aircraft manufacturers 

• FAA is initiating communication with 

landing sites that could be part of the study. 

• NREL is developing inquiries for both the 

aircraft manufacturers and site owners. 

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Federal Aviation 

Administration 

Vertiport Guidance Timeline 

• Vertiport Interim Guidance- June 2022 

– Engineering Brief with comment period starting 

February 2022. 

• End of Research Effort- September 2023 

• Vertiport Advisory Circular- September 2024 

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Federal Aviation 

Administration 

Questions? 

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