AAM breakthrough: Latest vertipad design gives Skyportz the edge
June 6, 2025
Australian vertiport developer Skyportz has released a new iteration of its vertipad patent designed specifically for busy airport environments.
With the timeline for commercial electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) services remains uncertain, one thing is clear: their successful entry into service is dependent on infrastructure capable of supporting safe operations in high-traffic environments.
Australia-based Skyportz aims to provide what it has previously termed the “missing piece” in this emerging urban air mobility ecosystem with its patented aircraft-agnostic vertiport design. The latest iteration of its design, according to Skyportz CEO Clem Newton-Brown could solve two of the biggest safety challenges facing the AAM sector: downwash, outwash and fire suppression.
“There are some significant issues for airports to address if they plan to join the Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) network and our patent solves the major issues in a highly affordable product,” said Newton-Brown. He explained that the new design is tailored for airport usage with higher throughput than the original single elevated landing pad design that was offered.
Addressing the FAA’s warning to manage high-speed airflows
Revealed at an industry briefing this week in Australia, the iteration addresses recent guidance from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) which warned in January that vertipads must incorporate wind safety zones to manage the high-speed airflows generated by electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. In its Engineering Brief 105A, the FAA defined this threshold as areas where wind exceeds 34.5 mph – a major hurdle for densely packed urban and airport environments.
Filed under an international patent application, Skyportz’ updated modular vertipad design, features a multi-height landing surface (FATO) and an adjustable blast screen. The reduced wind speeds mean smaller footprint requirements for safe operations, enabling multiple pads side by side.
How does Skyportz’ latest design differ?
Unlike traditional static pads, the Skyportz vertipad enables aircraft to taxi off the landing area post-touchdown, freeing it for the next arrival. Crucially, in the event of a fire – a risk associated with lithium battery thermal runway – the landing surface can be lowered and flooded, fully immersing the aircraft in water and firefighting chemicals.
Newton-Brown explained the water is contained to prevent environmental contamination. He also pointed out that the current alternative is to wait out a battery fire, which could significantly impact operations and potentially result in an airport having to close for more than a day.
Additionally, Newton-Brown has previously pointed to his design addressing the FAA’s call to manage high-speed airflows. He noted the primary challenge of eVTOL landings and take-offs as being the downwash and outwash from rotor blades, with hurricane-force winds necessitating larger ‘caution areas’. Using computer flow dynamic modelling, Skyportz believes it can dissipate this power by up to 250%; leading to a smaller size pad.
A chamber underneath the landing surface is designed to draw in wind, with air currents circulated rather than shooting across the landing surface. This, said Newton-Brown, is achieved with various apertures, valves, shapes and sizes of deck, as well as mechanical devices below the deck.
A design that sets it apart
Skyportz’ design has drawn praise from experts in eVTOL aerodynamics. Dr Richard Brown of Sophrodyne Aerospace, a global authority on downwash and outwash modelling, said: “Skyportz’ willingness to proceed with their design through a proper sequence of scientifically-validated steps sets them well apart and above their competitors – particularly in terms of the trust that I would place in their product and the faith that I would attach to their technical and business plans.”
Skyportz has partnered with Sophrodyne Aerospace for continued research and development.
Once global patent protections are in place, Skyportz plans to license manufacturing and distribution internationally as markets for AAM infrastructure mature.
