CASA today published a draft Advisory Circular (AC) on the design of vertiports to service the emerging urban air mobility (UAM) industry.
UAM envisages fleets of electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft shuttling passengers around Australia's major cities, requiring new infrastructure for points of departure and destinations.
The CASA AC aims to provide a flexible framework for developers to enable vertiports to be built with safe approach and departure paths, taking into account the types of aircraft that may be introduced in the future.
Joe Hain, CASA Team Leader Future Aerodromes says Australia is at the forefront of the global effort to introduce vertiports.
"We’ve started the ball rolling by examining and outlining what vertiports could look like, where and how they might operate, as well as the safety requirements needed," he said.
"The aim is that vertiports can be built where they are needed, whether it’s on top of a skyscraper in a high-density city, or in an open space in a regional town."
The draft AC is for piloted aircraft only and covers the fundamental aspects of vertiports, including:
- obstacle clearance
- downwash
- final approach and take-off (FATO) areas
- touch-down and lift-off areas (TLOF)
- VTOL-capable aircraft (VCA) taxiways
- transitional surfaces
- markings
- allowable weights
- lighting including VASI.
As part of the consulation process, CASA has scheduled four webinars to provide more information, beginning on 8 December. The seminars will cover the introduction to vertiports, physical characterisitics, obstacle limitation surfaces and visual aids.
As this is the very first AC on vertiports, CASA is seeking industry feedback on whether the content and structure of the guidance is clear and sufficient, and whether the AC is fit for the purpose of supporting the development of infrastructure necessary for vertiports.
CASA will hold the consultation open for four months, closing it on 31 March 2023. The AC and webinar details are on the CASA Consultation Hub.