EASA Issues ‘World’s First’ Design Specs on eVTOL Vertiports
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) issues the “world’s first” design guidance for electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, as the FAA lags behind.
EASA’s new prototype technical design specifications are specific to emerging electric, urban air mobility, and advanced air mobility aircraft. [Courtesy EASA]
Key Takeaways:
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has issued the "world's first" official design specifications for vertiports, which are essential ground infrastructure for electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) air taxis.
This guidance is crucial for the nascent eVTOL air taxi industry, as safe and effective vertiports are key to enabling widespread operations, with significant investment and planning already underway by major developers.
EASA's 179-page document provides detailed technical design specifications, including unique "obstacle-free volume" (OFV) zones, to guide urban planners and the industry in ensuring safe vertiport operations in congested urban areas.
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has issued what it calls the “world’s first” official guidance for building vertiports for air taxis and other electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft.
It’s the first publication of its kind, coming three weeks after the FAA published a draft engineering brief on the topic asking for industry input.
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Thom is a former senior editor for FLYING. Previously, his freelance reporting appeared in aviation industry magazines. Thom also spent three decades as a TV and digital journalist at CNN’s bureaus in Washington and Atlanta, eventually specializing in aviation. He has reported from air shows in Oshkosh, Farnborough and Paris. Follow Thom on Twitter @thompatterson.
