Australian vertiport developer Skyportz has released a new iteration of its vertipad patent that ameliorates downwash and outwash at a private briefing for airport operators in Australia this week.
“The ability to bring the aircraft to ground level after touchdown will enable it roll off the pad and proceed to charging bays, leaving the vertipad available for the next aircraft in high throughput vertiports,” said a company press release. “In the unlikely event of a fire, this patent enables vertiport operators to extinguish any battery fire conclusively and quickly through full immersion in water (all water is contained to prevent environmental contamination).
“With all landing surfaces dropped to the lowest point in the pit below, it can be flooded to fully immerse a burning aircraft and extinguish a battery fire – enabling airport operations to recommence immediately. The only alternative at the moment is to wait until the battery thermal runaway concludes – which could leave an airport shut down for a day or more.”
The international patent application reserving all rights globally was filed on 6 June 2025.
“The modular vertipad patent addresses two of the stand out issues for Advanced Air Mobility in urban locations – amelioration of downwash and outwash and fire suppression,” said the company in a press release. “Downwash and outwash have been highlighted by the FAA in January in their Engineering Brief 105A where the American air regulator indicated that vertipads will need to have a wind safety zone beyond the landing surface. This safety zone has been defined as where the windspeed exceeds 34.5 mph.
“The new design released this week is tailored for airport usage with higher throughput than the original single elevated landing pad design being offered to the property industry.
“With multiple height settings for the FATO landing surface and surrounds and an adjustable blast screen, this new design will enable airports to adjust the settings for particular aircraft types to maximise the downdraft amelioration features. Reduced wind speeds means smaller footprint requirements for safe operations, enabling multiple pads side by side.
Skyportz opened a retail fundraise this week to support the further research and development to be conducted by Swinburne Univerisity and Sophrodyne Aerospace, the global leader in eVTOL downwash and outwash modelling.
https://www.birchal.com/company/skyportz
The Skyportz vertipad is protected by patent number PCT/AU2025/050601 with all international rights reserved.
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