Skyportz offered its IP at no fee to companies in the USA seeking to tap into the Trump initiative to dominate the electric air taxi market globally. The award winning modular vertipad patent addresses two of the standout issues for Advanced Air Mobility in urban locations – amelioration of downwash/outwash and fire suppression. Downwash and outwash have been highlighted by the FAA in January in their Engineering Brief 105A where the American air regulator indicated that vertipads will need to have a wind safety zone beyond the landing surface. This safety zone has only been defined as where the windspeed exceeds 34.5 mph.
With multiple height settings for the FATO landing surface and surrounds and an adjustable blast screen, this new design will enable airports to adjust the settings for particular aircraft types to maximise the downdraft amelioration features. Reduced wind speeds mean smaller footprint requirements for safe operations, enabling multiple pads side by side.
In the unlikely event of a fire, this patent enables vertiport operators to extinguish any battery fire conclusively and quickly through full immersion in water in a pit below the vertipad (all water is contained to prevent environmental contamination). The alternative at the moment is to wait until the battery thermal runaway concludes - which could leave an airport shut down for a day or more.
Clem Newton-Brown, CEO of Skyportz commented: “We are very keen to be able to offer this patented vertipad solution to innovative companies in USA looking at introducing electric air taxis to their sites. There are some significant issues to address, and our patent solves the major issues in a highly affordable product.”
Skyportz opened a retail fundraise this week to support the further research and development to be conducted by Swinburne University and Sophrodyne Aerospace, the global leader in eVTOL downwash and outwash modelling.
https://www.birchal.com/company/skyportz
Dr Richard Brown from Sophrodyne Aerospace said: “What impresses me about Skyportz is their willingness to engage with the science. Skyportz’ willingness to proceed with their design through a proper sequence of scientifically-validated steps sets them well apart and above their competitors - particularly in terms of the trust that I would place in their product and the faith that I would attach to their technical and business plans."
Dr Brown has been working with industry bodies such as the FAA and CAA to model the effects of downwash from eVTOL aircraft such as Joby and Archer.
“We intend to licence manufacturing and distribution of the vertipad into all global markets as they emerge, but for now we are excited at the prospect of developing our intellectual property in partnership with USA”, said Newton-Brown.
The international patent application reserving all rights globally was filed on 6 June 2025.
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