The FAA is asking for feedback on a proposal that brings heliport and vertiport design guidance into one document, covering facilities for helicopters, powered-lift aircraft and other vehicles that take off and land vertically.
Released October 22, the proposal addresses the infrastructure beneath those aircraft: landing and approach areas, lights and markings, fueling and charging, integration with existing airports, and rooftop facilities. Written comments are due January 11, 2027.
What would change
Draft AC 150/5390-4, Vertical Flight Aircraft Infrastructure Design, would replace AC 150/5390-2D, Heliport Design, and Engineering Brief 105A upon final publication, according to the FAA's October 22 industry letter. The draft has not itself replaced those documents.
The letter highlights proposed changes to landing-area geometry, approach paths and the relationship between on-airport landing facilities and runways. It also identifies a caution area for aircraft downwash and outwash, the air pushed downward and outward by lifting devices. The article does not prescribe dimensions or a safe operating distance; those details require the applicable technical guidance and project-specific review.
Another change is how the guidance is organized. The draft's introduction separates design standards, recommended practices, design considerations and requirements arising from existing law or regulations. Readers comparing versions should not assume every recommendation is a new mandatory rule.
For airport communities, the proposal offers a more concrete discussion than an aircraft rendering alone. Where would the aircraft land? How would the facility fit alongside existing operations? What ground infrastructure would it need? Those are project-specific questions; a national design proposal does not answer them for a particular location.
How to follow the review
The FAA's industry letter sets out three dates:
- November 2, 2026: submit advance questions for the agency's industry discussion.
- November 10, 2026: a virtual Industry Day runs from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. The letter links to registration.
- January 11, 2027: written comments are due using the FAA's Excel comment matrix. The letter cautions against submitting a PDF version or marking up the draft itself.
Attending Industry Day does not replace submitting written comments. Use the current draft listing and its linked documents to check instructions before participating.
The FAA expects final design standards in summer 2027 after considering feedback. That remains its announced timetable, not a guaranteed publication date or approval of a particular aircraft, facility or passenger service.
Sources checked October 30, 2026, Pacific time. AI-assisted reporting and editing based on official FAA documents. This news summary is not operational or engineering guidance.
