CC21 Optimal Locations for Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) Vertiports

Realization of practical, generally accessible AAM is dependent upon having a sufficient number of "vertiports"?i.e., takeoff and landing locations for AAM aircraft. These vertiports are like airports or heliports today, but will be designed specifically for AAM missions and new vehicles and are likely to be located in many more places than existing airports or heliports?particularly in urban areas. NASA has done substantial research around the technical aspects of locating vertiports, including analysis of airspace, and is also building tools that will ingest local data (e.g., local zoning maps) into a model suite that can simulate AAM operations in a specific area. NASA has also performed demand modeling studies, which have often had to assume potential vertiport locations based upon existing heliports, existing transportation hubs, top levels of parking garages, or emergency pads on the roofs of high-rises. What NASA has not done is to obtain broad public input on (1) where they would like to see vertiports located and (2) how they would like to use this new mode of transport. Several, but not all, aspects of the problem are 1) how to ask the public, 2) how to capture both a local preference and information that can inform multiple localities, 3) what are the factors people consider when they consider where vertiports should be.
Realization of practical, generally accessible Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) is dependent upon having a sufficient number of "vertiports"?i.e., takeoff and landing locations for AAM aircraft. These vertiports are like airports or heliports today, but will be designed specifically for AAM missions and new vehicles and are likely to be located in many more places than existing airports or heliports?particularly in urban areas. NASA is seeking to obtain broad public input on the optimal location of these vertiports and how they would like to use this new mode of transport. Realization of practical, generally accessible AAM is dependent upon having a sufficient number of "vertiports"?i.e., takeoff and landing locations for AAM aircraft. These vertiports are like airports or heliports today, but will be designed specifically for AAM missions and new vehicles and are likely to be located in many more places than existing airports or heliports?particularly in urban areas. NASA has done substantial research around the technical aspects of locating vertiports, including analysis of airspace, and is also building tools that will ingest local data (e.g., local zoning maps) into a model suite that can simulate AAM operations in a specific area. NASA has also performed demand modeling studies, which have often had to assume potential vertiport locations based upon existing heliports, existing transportation hubs, top levels of parking garages, or emergency pads on the roofs of high-rises. What NASA has not done is to obtain broad public input on (1) where they would like to see vertiports located and (2) how they would like to use this new mode of transport. Several, but not all, aspects of the problem are 1) how to ask the public, 2) how to capture both a local preference and information that can inform multiple localities, 3) what are the factors people consider when they consider where vertiports should be.

This is a mature technology (TRL 7+) — the realistic path in is usually NASA's Technology Transfer Program: licensing an existing NASA patent, or a Space Act Agreement to use NASA facilities/expertise directly. NASA also runs a startup licensing program with no upfront fee for companies formed to commercialize a specific NASA technology.

None of these are guaranteed paths for this specific project — TechPort itself doesn't have an "apply" button. Reaching out to the contact(s) above with a specific question is usually the fastest way to find out what's actually open.