Overview
Electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft are emerging and will certainly revolutionize urban and regional mobility in the coming decades.
Vertiports will be a crucial enabler for Urban and Advanced Air Mobility. However, applicable regulations for vertiport design and operations are still under development (e.g. by EASA and FAA). At the same time, it is of high interest for potential vertiport operators to conduct initial feasibility and site selection studies, assess the proposed vertiport infrastructure and operations, and to obtain approval from the competent civil aviation authorities.
airsight, as a world leading aviation consultancy, is a pioneer in vertiports planning, design and operations. We assist numerous stakeholders in planning vertiport ground infrastructure and developing associated concept of operations.
Furthermore, the operation of unmanned aircraft systems (drones) is getting more and more common in professional environments and business applications, e.g. to conduct cargo missions and manifold inspection and calibration services at aerodromes. Again, airsight assists drone operators and infrastructure developers in setting up concepts of operation including risk assessments as well as the planning of required ground infrastructure.
airsight Services around vertiports and eVTOL operations
Feasibility and site selection studies
Initial appraisal of future vertiports viability and compatibility with aviation regulations and technical requirements
Vertiports air and ground infrastructure layout
Infrastructure planning and design, including lighting, marking and signs under consideration of air-navigation requirements
Vertiports flight procedure design
Planning of arrivals and departures procedures and airspace integration from a certified flight procedure design organisation
Vertiports and eVTOLs concept of operations
Definition of future conceptual operational procedures for safe vertiport operations in local context (CONOPS)
Safety Assessments for vertiports
Assess and validate that levels of safety are not compromised using a risk-based approach to specific eVTOLs operations.
Support in vertiport’s certification or approval
From initiation application incl. liaison with aviation authorities up to final verification of compliance and audits
Vertiport Planning and Design
airsight supports vertiport operators in the planning and design of vertiport ground infrastructure
Based on a wide experience in airport and heliport planning, airsight assists vertiport operators in the development of related ground infrastructure. This might include:
- Site selection and feasibility studies taking into consideration the given (urban) environment and the vertiport components to achieve the required capacity of eVTOL operations
- Planning and design of take-off and landing areas (FATO and TLOF), the taxiway system as well as apron areas and parking positions for the ground handling of eVTOL aircraft considering the size and number of eVTOL aircraft to be accommodated as well as operational aspects like air and ground taxi manoeuvres
- Design of vertiport visual aids needed to allow for manned operation of eVTOL aircraft, i.e. markings, lighting and signage to support an eVTOL approaching the vertiport and when manoeuvring on ground
- Definition of approach and departure procedures as well as application and verification of obstacle limitation surfaces
- Provision of related training courses
Vertiports Certification
airsight supports operators in complying with organisation, operation requirements and infrastructure requirements
airsight can look back on extensive experience with supporting airport operators with regulatory challenges connected with the management and operation of airports. It is expected that soon there will be new requirements adopted for the management, maintenance and operation of Vertiports. Considering airsight's experience and valuable expert network our team is ready to support you. airsight will remain your strong partner for everything related to Management Systems, Safety Management, Compliance Monitoring and any operational challenges your Vertiports may face.
Vertiport Management System
airsight is your partner for
A) Management System Certification Support:
Like in other aviation domains vertiport operations will be subject the oversight of a Safety Management System. Most-likely such a management system will be subject to a certification process with the Competent Authority. airsight is well-experienced in supporting aerodrome operators with certification procedures.
B) Internal Audits as a Service:
airsight as renowned aviation audit service provider is ready to support Vertiport Operators with their internal audits.
C) Safety Management and Compliance Support:
Using over 20 years of experience in Safety Management and Compliance Monitoring airsight is ready and capable to support Vertiport Operators.
D) Vertiport Manual and Documentation:
To standardise Vertiport Operations a well-founded documentation structure is required - not only to satisfy the Competent Authority but also to cater for safe and effiicent operations.
Vertiport Operations & Maintenance
A) Vertiport Data:
airsight’s resident experts on aerodrome data will proficiently support you with any challenges you are facing regarding data quality, interfaces, NOTAMs and other requirements.
B) Vertiport Operational Services, Equipment & Installations
Our very own “Safety & Operations” Department will support you with any projects related to the operational challenges of Vertiports.
C) Vertiport Maintenance:
Vertiport operators should implement a comprehensive and robust maintenance programme covering the airside infrastructure, fixed and mobile equipment and especially the aeronautical ground lights and markings. airsight supports you with the setup of a maintenance programme down to the last detail.
Vertiport Training Programme
A) Vertiport Training Programme:
airsight’s consultant team can look back on numerous projects related to the creation of training programmes. As a training organisation itself airsight is in the best position to support Vertiport Operators with setting up a comprehenive training programm for their personnel.
B) Proficiency Check Programme
The journey doesn't end with a final test after the course. Proficiency must be proven on by everyone working in the operational context. airsight supports operators in settgin up a comprehensive Proficiency Check Programme.
C) Competency-based Training Programme
Want to take the next step in Training? Let us support you in creating a tailored Competency-based Training Programme for your Vertiport Personnel.
Drone Operations
airsight assists drone operators and infrastructure developers in setting up concepts of operation including associated risk assessments as well as the planning of required fixed ground infrastructure
The operation of drones is getting more and more common in professional environments and business applications. This includes for example cargo use cases including the transportation of blood samples and time-critical medicine to or from hospitals. Furthermore, drones are applied within a wide range of inspection and calibration services; at aerodrome this is especially the case for pavement and surface inspection (incl. FOD detection), NAVAID inspection and calibration as well as wildlife management.
Having a strong competency in aerodrome planning as well as airport operations and safety, airsight assists in fostering the set-up of drone operations and development of related fixed ground infrastructure. This might include:
- Set up of drone operations and associated risk assessment for the integration of UAS into an aerodrome environment by conducting, specific operations risk assessments (SORA)
- Layout of ground infrastructure for the operation of drones including physical characteristics and visual aids
- Layout of fixed shelter infrastructure required for loading/unloading, charging, maintenance and weatherproof storage of drones
- Provision of related training courses
Do you have a project that you'd like to discuss with us?
Send us a message, we will review your request and get back to you!
Why airsight?
airsight broad capabilities enables us to be the perfect partner for organisations involved in advanced air mobility or vertiport planning and operations
airsight is an airport and heliport planning and operations expert, a flight procedure design and airspace integration organisation, and a world leading aviation safety consultancy.
Established in 1999, with more than 700 projects successfully conducted, airsight is the preferred one-stop-shop for vertiport projects and eVTOL aircraft (and also Unmanned Aerial Vehicles).
We assists our clients in understanding and applying cost-efficiently complex aviation regulations. Our expert-network within the international airport community and our worldwide collaboration with the aviation authorities serves greatly our clients, to get the necessary approval realise their projects.
To cover all challenges and services regarding the planning and design of Vertiports we cooperate with external partners (see below).
