[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 41 (Wednesday, March 2, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Page 11804]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-04351]



[[Page 11804]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Notice of Availability, Notice of Industry Day Meeting, and 
Request for Comment on the Draft Engineering Brief 105 for Vertiport 
Design

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of 
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Notice of availability, notice of industry day meeting, and 
request for comment.

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SUMMARY: The FAA's Office of Airports is announcing the availability of 
and requesting comments on the draft Engineering Brief (EB) 105 for 
Vertiport Design. This draft EB provides interim safety standards for 
aviation facilities that electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing (eVTOL) 
type aircraft utilize for take-off and landing. These types of aviation 
facilities are commonly referred to as `vertiports'. Draft EB 105 is 
posted on the FAA website at: https://www.faa.gov/airports/engineering/engineering_briefs/drafts/. A comment matrix is also posted at this 
website for members of the public to utilize to submit written 
comments.

DATES:  Comments on the draft EB 105 for Vertiport Design must be 
received on or before April 18, 2022.
    The FAA will hold a virtual industry day meeting on the draft EB 
105 on March 29, 2022 at 11:00 a.m. ET.

ADDRESSES: Please submit comments or questions regarding the draft EB 
105 by email to the Federal Aviation Administration at 
[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Robert Bassey, Office of Airports, 
Federal Aviation Administration, 800 Independence Ave. SW, Washington, 
DC 20591, phone: (202) 267-7605, email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FAA developed draft EB 105 to provide 
interim safety standards for the design and operation of aviation 
facilities that electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing (eVTOL) type 
aircraft utilize for take-off and landing. These take-off and landing 
facilities for eVTOL aircraft are commonly referred to as 'vertiports'. 
The agency is aware of a variety of eVTOL aircraft designs currently 
under development within the aviation industry. These new types of 
eVTOL aircraft, as well as vertiports utilized by these aircraft, are 
often referred to as components of a new and emerging sector of the 
aviation system known as Advanced Air Mobility (AAM). For additional 
general information on AAM, see: https://www.faa.gov/uas/advanced_operations/urban_air_mobility/ and https://www.faa.gov/uas/programs_partnerships/advanced_aviation_advisory_committee/.
    The draft EB is based on research conducted by the FAA on the 
performance characteristics of various aircraft designs, currently 
under development, that will utilize vertiport facilities. The draft 
guidance contains a discussion of a composite aircraft (or reference 
aircraft), and the recommended safety standards contained in the draft 
guidance are only applicable to vertiports used by this composite 
aircraft or by any aircraft within the range of performance 
characteristics as this composite aircraft. The draft safety standards 
are not applicable for vertiport facilities that will be utilized by 
other types of aircraft outside the performance characteristics of this 
composite aircraft.
    The FAA will hold a virtual industry day meeting on the draft EB 
105 on March 29, 2022 at 11:00 a.m. ET. During this meeting, the FAA 
will provide an overview of the draft EB 105, discuss some critical 
aspects of the draft currently under consideration and provide an 
opportunity for attendees to ask questions about it. Interested parties 
who wish to participate in the industry day meeting will need to 
register and can access information on how to register on the web page 
where the draft EB is posted. Requests for accommodations to a 
disability must be received by March 18, 2022.
    The FAA is seeking public comments on the draft EB for Vertiport 
Design to help inform the development of the final EB. The draft EB is 
posted on the FAA website at: https://www.faa.gov/airports/engineering/engineering_briefs/drafts/.
    Members of the public should utilize the comments matrix provided 
at the above website to submit comments on the draft EB. Completed 
comment matrices should be submitted to the email address listed in the 
ADDRESSES section. The FAA will not accept comments during the industry 
day meeting.
    The FAA would like to publish a final EB 105 for Vertiport Design 
later this year, following the adjudication of comments received during 
the public comment period. The FAA may update this EB as necessary to 
reflect the continuing development of eVTOL aircraft and as the agency 
learns more about these new types of aircraft. Additionally, the FAA 
intends to publish a new Advisory Circular (AC) on Vertiport Design in 
the future to provide additional guidance in this area. The FAA 
cancelled the previous Vertiport Design AC (AC 150/5390-3) in 2010 due 
to a lack of compatible aircraft use. See: https://www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/advisory_circulars/index.cfm/go/document.information/documentID/23096.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on February 24, 2022.
John Dermody,
Director, Office of Airport Safety & Standards.
[FR Doc. 2022-04351 Filed 3-1-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P