CASA Vertiport Design Standards: What Operators Need to Know in 2026
A plain-English walkthrough of CASA's vertiport design framework, Part 139 alignment, and the certification path Australian operators are taking.
Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) is finalizing its vertiport design specification, drawing heavily on ICAO's Advisory Circular on vertiports and EASA's Prototype Technical Specifications.
Physical characteristics
FATO (Final Approach and Takeoff area) and TLOF (Touchdown and Liftoff area) sizing scale with the largest expected aircraft's controlling dimension. Safety areas add a further margin for wind exposure and obstacle clearance.
Airspace integration
Vertiport airspace integrates with existing controlled airspace via Letters of Agreement with Airservices Australia. Low-altitude corridors are being defined for the Sydney basin.
Fire, rescue and charging
Battery thermal event response is a new discipline — traditional Jet A foam response is not appropriate for lithium chemistry. Purpose-built response protocols and infrastructure are required.