FAA Releases Draft Design Standards for Vertical Flight Facilities

WASHINGTON - As part of its ongoing work to safely and efficiently integrate Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) aircraft, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) today released updated draft design standards for vertical lift infrastructure supporting their operations. These draft standards are an initial proposal for industry feedback and will help airport and heliport owners, operators and infrastructure developers design facilities for vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft, which can take off, hover, and land vertically without a runway.

"The next generation of aircraft is here, and we are ensuring we have the infrastructure built to support safe takeoffs and landings for them across the National Airspace System," said FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford. "These aircraft have tremendous potential to generate new jobs, connect communities, and strengthen American leadership in aviation."

Vertical flight encompasses operations by rotorcraft and helicopters, special class rotorcraft, powered-lift aircraft and other VTOL vehicles.

The design standards include:

• Core Layout and Operating Space: Standards for essential facility elements, including the touchdown and liftoff areas, final approach areas, safety areas, and approach surfaces.
• Lighting, markings and visual aids: Guidance for markings, perimeter lighting, glideslope indicators and visual aids for pilots.
• Power and Charging Systems: Requirements for aircraft fueling and electric charging systems for aircraft fleets.
• Airport Integration: Standards for integrating vertical flight infrastructure at existing airports without disrupting current operations.
• Elevated and Rooftop Facilities: Design guidelines for touchdown and liftoff areas built on suitable rooftops and elevated building structures.

In alignment with President Trump's Unleashing Drone Dominance Executive Order, these updated design standards help ensure the United States leads the world in aviation innovation. Operational insights and real-world data gathered from the eVTOL Integration Pilot Program (eIPP) will help inform and refine future standards.

The new guidance combines previous design guidance for heliports and vertiports.

The FAA will collaborate with industry partners and solicit public feedback on the draft before publishing final design standards in summer 2027.