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The air taxi vertipad design developed by Skyportz has won the Blue Sky Innovation Award at the recent Australian Avalon International Airshow, reports a press release.
Innovation Awards Convenor, Dr Gregor Ferguson, said that the Skyportz entry “was very strong” and “spotted a problem with down-wash velocities; anticipated that it could become significant; then presented a solution that was clearly the result of significant thought.” He added, “The Judging panel was impressed by all of the entries, but the Skyportz vertipad was a worthy winner in a very strong field of entrants.”
The release explains, “The issue of downwash and outwash safety has been highlighted by the FAA in January in its 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 Swinburne University (SU) research conducted by Professor Jutin Leontini concluded that the Skyportz modular vertipad may dissipate energy up to 250 percent faster than an air taxi landing on a flat tarmac, thereby safely shrinking the land size required for vertiports.
SU’s Technology AIR Hub’s expertise spans from concept through to prototype, undertaking testing and evaluation of all things that fly. With a multidisciplinary network, the AIR Hub provides industry with unparalleled access to experts in deep tech, aerospace, robotics, AI and materials science to drive innovation in aviation and aerospace.
Clem Newton-Brown, CEO of Skyportz, commented, “Our vertipad patent has some very real applications as cities move to establishing vertiport networks outside of existing airports and helipads. It means that with our vertipad you can safely use less land or fit more vertipads onto smaller plots. We are now in discussions with potential partners to licence our technology in all emerging markets so we can make our vertipad available to all”.
Skyportz says it aims to break the nexus between aviation and airports and enable commercial and industrial property developers to host vertiports.
Newton-Brown continued, “The vertiport infrastructure is the missing piece of the puzzle for this industry. It is only with a multitude of new vertipad landing sites in places people want to go, that the industry will be able to deliver on the promise of aviation on demand.”
The Australian air regulator, CASA recently released vertiport guidelines, signalling a commitment to facilitate Advanced Air Mobility in Australia. EASA and FAA have also released vertiport guidelines, signalling the wide policy support for new landing sites globally.
