b'22 Partner News Winter 2022EnterpriseThe first vertiportThe economics of a typical vertiport will not be able to support on site operations and maintenance (O&M) services strategy often found at airports, instead they will need to virtual control room rely on remote control and monitoring of their systems from a centralised operations room that supervises multiple Vertiports. Along with the apparent operational similarities with the existing aviation sector, there are also close comparisons with the rail sector. Vertiports will act much like a By Firstco rail network in terms of size, operation and scheduling. Lessons can be learnt from both sectors to develop an optimal solution bespoke for vertiport needs.The emergence of the advanced aeriallocated at existing transport terminals suchFirstco have been tackling this challenge mobility and urban air mobility (UAM)as airports or rail stations, others will befrom two fronts.sector has been rapidly gaining traction, thesmaller, standalone operations at inner city or realisation of this seemingly far reaching idearural destinations. First, by designing scalable back-end will likely become a reality within a few years. control and monitoring systems suitable for Aaron Erwin, System Engineer at Firstco,vertiports of different sizes. These are built There are multiple electric Vertical Take-offsaid: We believe that the typical vertiportaround commercial off the shelf technology and Landing (eVTOL) manufactures designingbusiness case cannot support on siteand to be interoperable with different front and testing aircraft with various range,services often found at airports, instead,of house devices such as security and load and driver vs autonomous pilotagevertiports will need operations like that ofpassenger information systems. capabilities. This new mobility sectorrail stations. They will need to rely on remote promises significantly shorter journey timescontrol and monitoring of their infrastructureSecond, by developing a centralised with zero emissions. To enable this new formsystems from a centralised operations roomVertiport Management System that enables of mobility, in addition to the eVTOL aircraftthat supervises multiple vertiports. the remote control and monitoring of design and required legislation for these tomultiple vertiports from a single centralised be able to take flight, a network of vertiportsVertiport remote control and monitoring platform.will need to be developed. Due to the geographically disbursed nature of vertiports and that they will need to beTo take a virtual tour of theVertiport designs will come in various formsrolled out at scale, a fresh approach will needFirstco vertiport control room andin accordance with location and purpose.to be taken to vertiport design, operationsread more information, visit:Some will be part of large transport hubsand maintenance.https://vertiports.firstco.uk.com'