The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued a proposed advisory circular (AC) that sets out design standards for vertiports and facilities intended to serve powered-lift aircraft, including electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) types.
The draft AC, published last Friday, is described in the FAA notice as a comprehensive, performance-based package. It runs to hundreds of pages and contains diagrams and detailed guidance on subjects ranging from downwash protection areas to ramp markings. The FAA says the document advances guidance for both helicopters and powered-lift aircraft and will supersede existing heliport standards where appropriate.
Timing and stakeholder engagement
The FAA has scheduled an online industry day on 10 November to present the draft to stakeholders and to take questions. The agency will accept written comments on the draft AC until 11 January 2027 via the address provided in the notice, vertiports@faa.gov.
| item | date / detail |
|---|---|
| industry day | 10 November (online) |
| comments deadline | 11 January 2027 |
| comments email | vertiports@faa.gov |
The draft is presented as a milestone in the FAA’s work to integrate new vertical-flight types into the National Airspace System (NAS). The package moves beyond helicopter facilities by reflecting research the agency has carried out into the performance of various vertical-flight aircraft.
“Based on FAA research into the performance of various vertical flight aircraft, the draft AC advances performance-based guidance for facilities serving helicopters and powered-lift aircraft,” the letter to stakeholders says.
Technical coverage
According to the FAA’s notice, the advisory circular includes diagrams and specifications covering a broad set of facility elements. The material on which the FAA is seeking feedback includes:
- protected areas for rotor or propeller downwash
- ramp and taxiing surface markings for vertical-flight craft clearances and obstacle considerations for take-off and landing operations
- facility layout recommendations to accommodate a range of vertical-flight performance characteristics
The FAA’s publication of the draft AC follows industry and government focus on advanced air mobility and vertiport planning. The agency’s move to gather stakeholder comment provides an opportunity for airports, manufacturers, operators and local planners to influence the final guidance ahead of regulatory adoption.
Russ Niles, editor-in-chief of AvBrief.com, noted the detail of the package in his reporting. The FAA’s engagement process includes the formal online event and the written comment period that closes on 11 January 2027.
