Australian vertiport developer Skyportz today released an animation by Florida-based Vertiport Simulations of its award-winning patent that ameliorates downwash and outwash, for the Paris Air Show.
The modular vertipad patent addresses two of the standout issues for Advanced Air Mobility in urban locations: amelioration of downwash and outwash, and fire suppression.
Downwash and outwash have been highlighted by the FAA in January in its Engineering Brief 105A, where the U.S. air regulator indicated that vertipads will need to have a wind safety zone beyond the landing surface.
This safety zone has been defined as where the wind speed exceeds 34.5 mph.
The new design animation released this week shows how an airport such as Paris-Le Bourget could accommodate multiple vertipads in close proximity.
With dynamic height settings for the FATO landing surface and an adjustable blast screen, this new design will enable airports to adjust the settings for particular aircraft types to maximize the downdraft amelioration features.
Reduced wind speeds mean smaller footprint requirements for safe operations, enabling multiple pads side by side.
The ability to bring the vertipad to ground level after touchdown will enable the eVTOL to roll off the pad and proceed to charging bays, leaving the vertipad available for the next aircraft in high-throughput vertiports.
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 (all water is contained to prevent environmental contamination).
With all landing surfaces dropped to the lowest point in the pit below, it can be flooded to fully immerse a burning aircraft and extinguish a battery fire — enabling airport operations to recommence immediately.
“The Paris Air Show has been a showcase for the emerging Advanced Air Mobility industry. This animation of our patent in action helps people to understand how important it is to have intelligent design for vertipad operations that go beyond simply painting a circle on a tarmac. Our vertipad patent solves some of the biggest issues facing the industry,” said Clem Newton-Brown, CEO of Skyportz.
“We will be making our IP available to any airports globally that want to collaboratively develop our patent prototype.”
Skyportz closed a fundraise last week with 461 new investors supporting further research and development to be conducted by Swinburne University and Sophrodyne Aerospace, the global leader in eVTOL downwash and outwash modeling.
Dr. Richard Brown from Sophrodyne Aerospace said: “What impresses me about Skyportz is their willingness to engage with the science. Skyportz’s 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.”
The Skyportz vertipad is protected by patent number PCT/AU2025/050601, with all international rights reserved.
Skyportz intends to license manufacturing and distribution of the vertipad into all global markets as they emerge.
The international patent application reserving all rights globally was filed on June 6, 2025.
This press release was prepared and distributed by Skyportz.
