Air taxi vertiport demonstration shows possible future of transportation

A Bell 505 helicopter lands in the parking lot of the Davis Conference Center. The simulated air taxi launch was to demonstrate how aircraft
can take off and land with minimal impact to homes and businesses nearby. Photo courtesy of UDOT.

A UDOT/UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY COLLABORATION

Becky Ginos
Davis Journal

Wouldn’t it be nice to be above the traffic rather than caught in the middle of it down below? The Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) in collaboration with Utah State University (USU) successfully launched the state’s first air taxi during a demonstration recently from a “vertiport” in the parking lot of the Davis Conference Center using a Bell 505 helicopter. The simulated air taxi launch was to demonstrate how aircraft can take off and land with minimal impact to homes and businesses nearby.

The demonstration comes after years of in-depth research to find locations for vertiports along the Wasatch Front, a UDOT release said. Those can be on the tops of office buildings, in parking lots and at airports.

“A vertiport is an area where [operators] can take off and land electric air vehicles,” said Brent Chamberlain, USU associate professor in landscape architecture and environmental planning. “Our main objective was to identify locations for air taxis and air package delivery that minimize impacts to homes and businesses while balancing safety and opportunity.”

There are three phases to the project that is funded by the UDOT research division, he said. “Phase 1 is to identify suitable areas for potential vertiports.”

Phase 2 is to develop a guidebook, partnering with community planners, councils and other decision-makers, said Chamberlain. “We want to help them think about the future of new transportation and infrastructure.”

Phase 3 is just getting started, he said. “We’re trying to highlight vacant lots that are not fully used, like state-owned parking lots. This project is based on a legislative push to find ways the state could facilitate the wave in air technology.”

The demonstration was part of Phase 2, Chamberlain said. “It’s simulating using a vertiport space and getting feedback and information for the guidebook.”

Folks in the industry and government have a vested interest in aviation and they’re sensitive to opportunities and challenges, he said. “The demonstration simulates sounds to show how quiet the vehicles really are.”

There are air vehicle requirements and laws around space needed for takeoff and landing, said Chamberlain. “This project is to facilitate ground transportation and a transition zone for ground and air connection to cars and the air taxis idea. It’s in the very, very early stages.”

“We’re doing a live demonstration on the use of a vertiport,” said Paul Damron, UDOT advanced air mobility manager. “A helicopter uses a heliport to take off and land. We’ve adopted that for the future of aviation eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) operated like helicopters to move through air space. It brings in a new era of aviation for the public.”

Imagine going to downtown Salt Lake, said Damron. “A nearby vertiport can get you there. It allows for a transition to driving on roads to getting there much quicker. It is also good for the carbon footprint because it’s electric.”

Society has developed ride-sharing, scooters, etc., he said. “This allows you to get to the area you want to go to, then get around. It’s a new, innovative way of transportation. We want to make sure the price of flying is just a little more than what you’re paying for an Uber ride. Wouldn’t you rather fly over the top of traffic than drive through the congestion?”

It’s another mode of transportation, said Damron. “UDOT is in the business of moving people.”

There are already industries delivering small packages, he said. “We want to build the infrastructure to support larger air taxis by learning from the delivery of small packages by drones that we see today.”

The FAA is developing certain locations in the U.S. for small operations by 2025, he said. “‘Innovate 28’ goes on line with the Olympics in L.A. They’re going to try to have them by 2028. In Utah it will not be until after 2028. We’re going to try to have the infrastructure for the Olympics in 2034 for a large operation.”

UDOT is partnering with the FAA and industry experts on the project, Damron said. “We don’t want to be on the bleeding edge of innovation, but the cutting edge.”