Engineering Brief No. 105A provides updated design standards and guidance for vertiports, which are facilities serving vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft. The brief applies to VTOL aircraft with 3+ propulsors, pilot on board, operating under visual flight rules. It aims to support initial vertiport infrastructure development as the FAA transitions to performance-based design criteria. The guidance will be updated as more data on VTOL aircraft performance becomes available.
Key features include:
- Specifications for touchdown and liftoff areas (TLOF), final approach and takeoff areas (FATO), and safety areas
- Guidance on markings, lighting, and visual aids
- Requirements for charging and electrical infrastructure
- Considerations for on-airport vertiports
- Safety elements like firefighting, security, and weather information (NEW LINKE) Updates Include:
1) CLASSIFICATION: Vertiports will be a subclass of heliports
2) MARKING: Broken Wheel and EASA “V” are out, and the traditional H is in. The letters “VTL” on the TLOF will designate it as a vertiport.
3) GEOMETRY: “RD”, i.e., Rotor Diameter, will now be a subset of “D” where RD = the smallest circle enclosing just the propulsion units.
4) PARKING: Parking positions using hover and/or air taxi ops to be no smaller than the FATO and be dynamic load-bearing.
5) DOWNWASH AND OUTWASH: Added a downwash/outwash caution area (DCA).
The FAA’ will be incorporate this information into the Heliport Design Advisory Circular AC 150/5390-2D, which, according to the U.S. Congressional mandate must be accomplished by the end of 2025.
