ORLANDO, Fla. – A new way of flying could be on the horizon at Orlando International Airport as aviation leaders prepare for electric aircraft that can take off and land vertically without using a traditional runway.
The Greater Orlando Aviation Authority is moving forward with plans for a temporary vertipad, a designated takeoff and landing area for electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft, also known as eVTOLs.
The proposal is among the items on the aviation authority board’s agenda for Wednesday, Oct. 21, at 2 p.m.
According to the board’s agenda packet, the vertipad would be located in the existing Atlantis Surface Parking Lot near Terminal C and the Brightline train station.
The site would allow aircraft manufacturers and operators to conduct demonstration flights, operational testing and activities related to Federal Aviation Administration certification.
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While the technology could eventually support passenger and cargo transportation, the temporary vertipad would not be used for commercial passenger service at this stage.
The airport’s proposal also outlines flight paths and operating procedures designed to accommodate the aircraft alongside existing airport operations.
Operators would be required to obtain prior approval, coordinate with airport personnel and maintain communication with the FAA air traffic control tower. Flights would also be limited to daytime conditions with adequate visibility.
The proposed agreement would establish safety procedures, insurance requirements and operational guidelines for companies seeking to use the site.
Airport considers more than $500,000 in ground safety technology
As airport leaders prepare for new aircraft in the sky, they’re also considering technology to improve awareness of what’s happening on the ground.
The board is reviewing a $501,525 project to purchase and install Vehicle Movement Area Transponders at Orlando International Airport.
The devices would help track airport vehicles operating in areas such as runways and taxiways, where aircraft also move.
The technology is intended to improve real-time awareness of vehicle movements on the airport surface, helping air traffic controllers better monitor activity in those areas.
According to the agenda, the project includes purchasing, delivering, installing, testing and commissioning transmitter units that comply with FAA standards for airport-surface surveillance.
The funding would include $376,143 from the federal government, $62,691 from the Florida Department of Transportation and $62,691 in local matching funds.
A separate $55,725 transponder project is also proposed for Orlando Executive Airport.
Both the temporary vertipad agreement and transponder funding are scheduled for consideration during Wednesday’s Greater Orlando Aviation Authority board meeting.
The meeting is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. at Orlando International Airport.
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