Innovative Modular Vertipad Design Garners Strong Interest from Air Taxi Industry
Skyportz has secured more orders for more than 1,000 units for its new modular vertipad solution, following its release at the Farnborough International Airshow last month. The innovative design aims to support the growing air taxi industry by addressing key concerns such as passenger safety, environmental impact, and operational efficiency.
The patented vertipad solution, developed by Skyportz, offers a comprehensive approach to the challenges faced by the emerging air taxi industry. The design tackles issues including downwash, outwash, battery fires, power generation, and debris capture. It also addresses noise, environmental impacts, and insurance risks—all in an affordable package. These vertipads can be placed on airport tarmacs or new vertiport sites, making them versatile and accessible for a range of applications.
Industry Response and Initial Orders
Skyportz CEO Clem Newton-Brown highlighted the strong industry response to the vertipad design. “The patented design has not been released publicly as we are still tweaking our prototype,” he stated. “However, we have been happy to share the design with industry colleagues under Non-Disclosure Agreement, and the response has been incredible. You can actually see the light bulbs going on as people realise we have cracked the nut of mass production of a vertipad product that is a vast improvement on a circle painted on a slab of concrete.”
The company has already received initial orders from an aircraft Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) and infrastructure investors. Skyportz expects that, in addition to the aviation sector, property and infrastructure investors will also be interested in their product. The company anticipates becoming a key supplier for other vertiport companies looking to enhance safety and comply with performance-based standards set by air regulators.
Benefits of the Skyportz Vertipad Design
The design of the vertipads allows for operations from smaller footprints, providing significant benefits for both airports and property owners planning vertiports. “With our product, you will be able to establish operations safely on tighter sites or, on larger sites, fit more landing pads,” Newton-Brown explained. “Profitable operations are going to need low capital costs and high throughput. You can do the sums on any site to calculate the capex savings utilising our product.”
Skyportz continues to offer its terminal designs in collaboration with Contreras Earl Architecture. However, the company also recognizes the need for a more accessible, entry-level package to broaden its market reach. This new approach aims to decouple aviation infrastructure from traditional airport settings, creating new opportunities for property partners.
Future Prospects and Global Expansion
According to Newton-Brown, the mass deployment of vertiport infrastructure is essential for the air taxi industry to reach its full potential. “The mass vertiport infrastructure is the missing piece of the puzzle for this industry. Without new vertiport landing sites in places people want to go, the aircraft will never fulfil their potential,” he said. “The elephant in the room is that no-one wants to pay millions of dollars for each vertiport. We have got the message and responded with this patent.”
Skyportz is currently in discussions with investors interested in licensing and producing the vertipad product on a global scale. The company’s focus on affordability, safety, and scalability positions it as a key player in the future of urban air mobility.
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