Skyportz vertipad patent wins the Blue Sky Innovation Award at Avalon International Airshow

The air taxi vertipad design developed by Skyportz has taken out the Blue Sky Innovation Award at the Avalon International Airshow in Australia. Innovation Awards Convenor, Dr Gregor Ferguson, said Skyportz' entry was very strong: it spotted a problem with down-wash velocities, anticipated that it could become significant (as it would affect the social license of all air taxi operators by endangering their passengers), then presented a solution that was clearly the result of significant thought. 

Dr Gregor Ferguson commented: “The Judging panel was impressed by all of the entries, and the Skyportz vertipad was a worthy winner in a very strong field of entrants." 

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 actual required physical dimensions of the safety zone will differ between aircraft, but will no doubt result in significant additional footprint requirements.

The Swinburne University research conducted by Professor Jutin Leontini concluded that the Skyportz modular vertipad may dissipate energy up to 250% faster than an air taxi landing on a flat tarmac, thereby safely shrinking the land size required for vertiports. Swinburne University of Technology’s AIR Hub is a leader in applied research and advanced development and integration of Uncrewed Aerial Systems and Advanced Air Mobility. The 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.

Skyportz CEO Clem Newton-Brown stated: “The Skyportz 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. 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."

Skyportz says it aims to break the nexus between aviation and airports and enable commercial and industrial property developers to host vertiports. 

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. Skyportz vertipad is protected by Australian provisional patent number 2024901767 with all international rights reserved.