Skyways to the Future 2024

Scorecard for decision-making on vertiports in India Taking a structured and quantitative approach is important while planning to set up a vertiport in India. India’s Aerodrome Advisory Circular sets the necessary preconditions to set up a vertiport while providing guidelines for designing, operating and authorizing.10 As India is characterized by highly complex transport patterns, high population density in urban areas, vast rural areas and established transport infrastructure, a scorecard may help determine key candidate cities or towns in urban and rural India. Priorities for urban India Safety is crucial in areas that have a high population density. Vertiports must be located in areas that allow aircraft to easily navigate high-rise buildings and designated landing funnels around airports. This positioning greatly impacts public safety, ensuring that no uninvolved parties are affected by AAM operations. Locations prone to congestion, such as business districts and intermodal hubs like intercity stations, could be prioritized for vertiport placement, aligning with demand. However, noise mitigation must be seriously considered in areas near residential locations.Space utilization is paramount in an urban setting. Vertiport planning with local decision-makers and municipalities must incorporate this to ensure swift passenger turnover. Priorities for rural India In rural India, areas requiring essential transport access should be prioritized. For example, it is important to link remote areas to urban centres in nearby towns, use air ambulances to connect community health centres to district hospitals and create corridors to transport agricultural goods from farms to markets. While some areas of rural India are sparsely populated, vertiport positioning must be determined based on the terrain, ease of accessibility and travel expense through traditional means of transport. Vertiports in rural India should be able to handle diverse operations, ranging from heavy-lift cargo delivery to passenger transport. Rural areas may benefit from additional regulatory support in developing a skilled workforce, infrastructure and efficient operations. These economies can be revitalized as they gain access to broader markets, creating more job opportunities. Additionally, tourism can be boosted through AAM connectivity. Ensuring that all Indian vertiports are sustainable FIGURE 4 2. Energy-efficient infrastructure Use energy-efficient lighting, heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems and other electrical appliances to reduce overall energy consumption.5. Green landscaping Design green spaces with native and drought-re- sistant plants to reduce the need for irrigation and enhance biodiversity.8. Noise mitigation Design the vertiport with noise-reducing materials and layout to minimize noise pollution in surrounding areas. 3. Green building materials Use sustainable and recycled building materials in the construction of the vertiport facilities.6. Waste management Establish comprehensive recycling and composting programmes to manage waste efficiently and reduce landfill use.9. Sustainable transport links Ensure good connectivity with public transport systems and encourage the use of bicycles and electric shuttles for last-mile connections.1. Renewable energy Install solar panels, wind turbines or other renewable energy sources to power the vertiport. 4. Water conservation systems Implement rainwater harvesting, greywater recycling and low-flow fixtures to minimize water use.7. Electric vehicle (EV) charging stations Provide EV charging stations for ground transport vehicles to encourage the use of electric cars and reduce emissions. Vertiports in rural India should be able to handle diverse operations, ranging from heavy-lift cargo delivery to passenger transport. Skyways to the Future: Operational Concepts for Advanced Air Mobility in India 13