The Civil Aviation Safety Authority yesterday opened consultation on guidelines proposed for vertical flight facilities at airports built for fixed-wing operations.
CASA was in the process of designing guidelines for eVTOL operations at airports, when they realised that some of the risks when operating in conjunction with aeroplanes also applied to helicopters, prompting them to develop guidelines for all vertical flight.
"With the emergence of advanced air mobility (AAM) the aerodrome industry may soon start to see new vertical flight capable aircraft operating at their facilities," CASA states.
"When considering the introduction of AAM aircraft at aerodromes designed to be used by aeroplanes, it became clear that many of the hazards and risks associated with AAM aircraft are also relevant to helicopter operations.
"[The] guidelines for vertical flight aircraft facilities at aerodromes designed for aeroplanes [are] intended to provide guidance to aerodrome and aircraft operators in the planning, design, and operation of both helicopter and vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) capable aircraft (VCA) facilities on an aerodrome that may have only been designed for fixed-wing aeroplanes."
CASA has produced a draft copy of the proposed AC 139.10, which provides guidelines for:
- defining intended vertical flight operations
- aerodrome-specific downwash and outwash hazards
- arrival and departure procedures
- physical characteristics
- vertical flight aircraft on taxiways designed for aeroplanes
- OLS for vertical flight operations
- visual aids for vertical flight aircraftÂ
- published information for vertical flight facilities.
CASA is seeking feedback from the aviation community to ascertain if the AC content and structure is clear and sufficient, fit for the purpose of helping operators to address the hazards associated with integrating vertical flight facilities, and provides aircraft operators with the tools to consult with aerodrome operators about intended vertical flight operations.
The draft AC and feedback papers are on the CASA Consultation Hub website. Consultation will remain open for submissions until 8 July.