Guidelines for vertiport design - Draft Advisory Circular 139.V-01 v1.0

Overview

We would like your feedback on the draft advisory circular (AC) for vertiport design. Vertiports are a new type of aerodrome designed to service next-generation vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) capable aircraft (VCA). Vertiport sites can be in urban and regional locations as well as on existing aerodromes.

Draft Advisory Circular 139.V-01 v1.0 - Guidelines for vertiport design, is intended to provide guidance and information to people designing and constructing vertiports in support of advanced air mobility (AAM) operations. The guidance may support those who are in the early stages of vertiport development. The draft guidance covers the design specifications for vertiports supporting pilot-on-board VCA flying visual operations only.

With AAM evolving rapidly, these specifications for vertiports have been prepared to support the progress of necessary aerodrome infrastructure. The guidance provided is structured in such a way that it will evolve with the industry.

This draft AC provides guidance on:

• site selection including downwash protection
• physical characteristics
• obstacle limitation surfaces
• visuals aids including markings, markers and lights.

This draft AC will be of interest to:

• vertiport developers and designers
• potential vertiport owners and operators
• VTOL-capable aircraft manufacturers
• potential VTOL-capable aircraft operators and pilots
• AAM consultants and proponents
• local and state planning authorities
• aviation safety regulator staff.

Why your views matter

We recognise the valuable contribution that community and industry consultation makes to the regulatory development process. Your feedback will increase our understanding of your needs and whether the draft AC provides adequate guidance on vertiport design considerations.

As this is the first AC relating to vertiports and AAM, we are seeking feedback as to whether:

• the content and structure of the guidance provided is clear and sufficient for this emerging industry
• it is fit for the purpose of supporting the development of infrastructure necessary for vertiports.

A copy of the draft AC is provided below with specific details appearing on the designated page of the survey.

Related documents

All documents related to this consultation are attached in the ‘Related’ section at the bottom of the overview page. They are:

• Draft AC 139.V-01 v1.0
• MS Word copy of online consultation for ease of distribution and feedback within your organisation.

Please submit your comments on the draft AC through the Consultation Hub using the survey provided. If you are unable to provide feedback this way, please email us at regulatoryconsultation@casa.gov.au.

Please read the AC document before providing your feedback.

What happens next

At the end of the response period for public comment, we will review each comment and submission received. We will make all submissions publicly available on our website, unless you request your submission remain confidential. We will also publish a summary of the consultation which summarises the feedback received, outlines any changes, and details our plans for the AC.

Events

We have scheduled 4 webinars over the consultation period to provide background and explanatory information to anyone who is interested. Details on the dates and topics of upcoming webinars are in the ‘Events’ section below, and you can register or watch the recordings of previous webinars under ‘Related links’ on this page.