The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has released updated draft design standards for vertical lift infrastructure supporting advanced air mobility (AAM) operations. These draft standards are an initial proposal for industry feedback and are intended to help airport and heliport owners, operators and infrastructure developers design facilities for vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft.
The design standards include essential facility elements such as touchdown and liftoff areas, final approach areas, safety areas and approach surfaces as well as guidance for markings, perimeter lighting, glideslope indicators and visual aids for pilots. Requirements for aircraft fuelling and electric charging systems for aircraft fleets are included as are standards for integrating vertical flight infrastructure at existing airports without disrupting current operations. In addition, the new draft standards cover touchdown and liftoff areas built on suitable rooftops and elevated building structures.
The new guidance combines previous design guidance for heliports and vertiports.
The FAA will collaborate with industry partners and solicit public feedback on the draft before publishing final design standards in summer 2027.
For more information
Draft design standards for vertical lift infrastructure at the FAA [PDF]