AP to Build Vertiport Network Across State!

The Andhra Pradesh government has focused on the establishment of vertiports. A committee has been constituted under the leadership of the Managing Director of the Andhra Pradesh Airports Development Corporation for Advanced Air Mobility (AAM). It is well known that regular aircraft require large runways for takeoff. Vertiports are set up for the operation of air taxis. These aircraft take off vertically from designated locations and also land vertically. For this, along with landing pads, passenger terminals and charging infrastructure are required. Especially in major cities, there is a possibility of setting these up on top of large buildings. These can be used for faster travel from one place to another within key cities, and also for cargo transportation. The Managing Director of the Andhra Pradesh Airports Development Corporation has been appointed as the single point of contact for the Vertiports Planning Committee.

The committee will include senior officials from various government departments, along with the Airport Director and two members from the private sector. The main objective of this committee is to focus on the development of infrastructure required for electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. The GO stated that the focus should be on establishing a network of vertiports on the ground as well as on rooftops. It also mentioned that the feasibility of converting existing heliports into vertiports should be examined. It was further directed that strict adherence to DGCA guidelines must be ensured, particularly in matters related to design, safety, and other standards.