Standards Development

Scope

This document specifies the minimum requirements of infrastructures and equipment necessary for “vertiports” to support VTOL electrically powered cargo UAS of no more than 150 kg (Class A). This document applies to both vertiports that are open to public use and those that are not open to public use (i.e. private vertiports).

The structure of the document will be discussed considering the following (exceptions, annex, or categorization may be created for some items depending on the risk): - Many logistics experiments with light weight UAS are conducted. - Various usage of vertiports (e.g. aerial work or public interest operation) may be assumed. - Various type of vertiports (e.g. portable type) are developed.

Vertiport operations and services are covered by ISO/TC 20/SC 16 (UAS), including ground handling and interface with UTM SPs, and the safety and quality of vertiport operator. 

Purpose

There is a market need. In SC20/TC16 WG3, a New Work Item Proposal on "Unmanned aircraft systems -- Part 2: Operation of vertiports for unmanned aircraft (UA)" is progressing. And the necessity of its corresponding standard was confirmed in London and Nanjing Plenary Assembly. In ASTM, a standard for Vertiport (ASTM WK5937New specification for vertiport design) has been developed. The needs for a standard on the vertiport are high.

The Zoom meeting of SC17 held in March 2020 was attended by the experts of UAS from TC16, which shows a high interest in this issue. We think that we will obtain a sufficient number of experts.

A research by Blue Innovation in 2019 confirmed more than 30 vertiports had been developed. Therefore, a wide variety of these drone ports need an international standard as a norm.

Proving tests for logistics using vertiport have been conducted in Japan and other countries. There are also cases where commercial operations have started. In 3 years, logistics using drone will be more developed.

The vertiport is an equipment which supports the takeoff and landing, considered to be the most difficult for UAS operation. It supports the logistics using the safe usage of UAS. As various UAS will share the vertiport, it is necessary to standardize it.

It will make it easier for vertiport manufacturers to consider safety when they develop it. It will make easier for drone manufactures to consider the connection with vertiport.

The number of entrants to the UAS industry will increase due to the clear definition of what drone ports should be. Thereby, the UAS industry including vertiport developers will increase. The spread of vertiport will also contribute to the expansion of the UAS industry.

We will obtain energy-saving logistics. We will provide the means of shopping for disadvantaged shoppers in mountainous areas, remote islands and underpopulated areas.

In countries with a declining birthrate, it becomes easier for drones to be used as a delivery method.