Volocopter and Bayards announce VoloPort design handbook

Volocopter, in collaboration with Bayards Vertiport Solutions, unveiled a comprehensive VoloPort handbook for the physical infrastructure supporting electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft operations. This detailed handbook is a valuable resource for Volocopter partners building UAM infrastructure that guides readers through the design, construction, material use, infrastructure adaptability, and facility operations. The knowledge shared stems from Volocopter’s numerous and direct collaborations with authorities, air operators, institutions, partners, and internal expertise as an eVTOL aircraft designer.

Urban vertiport concept

Volocopter’s VoloPort solution is a ready-made, compact, and functionally independent urban vertiport concept. It can be used to accelerate the development of urban eVTOL infrastructure, expediting the public adoption of UAM and expanding its ecosystem in megacities. The VoloPort can be time- and cost-effectively modified to various business sizes, target customer groups, and aircraft operations, requiring minimal infrastructure footprint, especially in densely populated urban settings.

Its modular design featuring a combination of prefabricated materials allows construction to start as small as 25m x 25m (625 sq m (about twice the area of a tennis court)) while ensuring a safe and accommodating space for both eVTOL operators and passengers. Additional landing pads and workspace can be implemented as required.

Highlights

• Cost-efficient, modular, and flexible construction design adaptable to available land, sea, or above infrastructure spaces.
• Optional configurations for single level or stacked structures. Structures can be prefabricated and quickly dismantled, if required.
• Fully operational as a stand-alone vertiport equipped with a state-of-the-art regulatory framework. Compliant with eVTOL aircraft design, performance data, and ground handling needs (e.g., charging, firefighting and rescue, and maintenance).
• Smooth and safe customer journey with a consistent brand presence in the designed space.

The VoloPort handbook is based on a thorough assessment of the infrastructure and its operational concept. Parties interested in partnering with Volocopter to build and operate UAM infrastructures, such as cities and municipalities, investors, businesses, or construction companies, are eligible to request this handbook from Volocopter.

Florian Reuter, CEO Volocopter: “Thanks to the collaboration with our partners and our internal expertise, I am delighted to demonstrate once again how we are leading the space by offering a tangible solution on the infrastructure side of the UAM ecosystem. We are looking forward to partnering with interested parties around the globe to hasten the development of a sustainable UAM vertiport network, and I am excited to soon see our VoloPorts in operation.”

Adaptable to any building

Bayards Vertiports has designed the take-off and landing platform with a high friction surface and ensured the structural engineering of the aluminium support structure, including outfitting solutions such as firefighting and lighting systems. Due to the low weight of the landing area and support structure limits the forces on buildings, and the skid is designed to adapt to any building.

Dies Mackintosh, CEO Bayards Group: “This cooperation is another important step towards the emergence of Urban Air Mobility in the most traffic-congested cities in the world. We are delighted to be part of this team and to leverage our expertise in urban heliports, as it has the potential to lead to safely unlocking electric aircraft accessibility in cities sooner than previously anticipated.”

Standardization

For a sustainable UAM ecosystem, a network of ground-based infrastructure is as critical to its success as the development of eVTOL aircraft. Volocopter has always pursued the completion of the ecosystem from both sides: the aircraft and the infrastructure. Since highlighting its full-scale first vertiport concept in Singapore, 2019, Volocopter has worked closely with the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) to give and receive guidance on UAM infrastructure development. Additionally, Volocopter is working with several Civil Aviation Authorities (CAA), as well as the European Organisation for Civil Aviation Equipment (EUROCAE), ASTM International, and General Aviation Manufacture’s Association (GAMA), to proactively drive the development of standardized vertiports around the world.

Furthermore, to arrive at this VoloPort design and functionality, Volocopter collaborated with trusted aviation industry-leading partners and architects:

• Arup B.V.: technical infrastructure planning, drawing on aviation expertise and sustainability concept.
• Bayards Aluminium Constructies B.V.: designing and ensuring the structural engineering of the take-off and landing platform, including related systems such as firefighting.
• GRAFT Gesellschaft von Architekten mbH: architecture and customer journey design.