VPorts has initiated the certification process for its vertiports as part of the world’s first AAM integrator centre at the Mohammed bin Rashid Aerospace Hub (MBRAH) in Dubai South. Construction of the vertiports will start in 2024.
“We are extremely proud to embark on the certification process for our vertiports in Dubai,” said Fethi Chebil, CEO and Founder, VPorts. “We are making history today as we are the first infrastructure company in the world to initiate a vertiport certification process. By adhering to regulations of the UAE General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), we are taking a proactive approach to ensure all our vertiports meet and exceed industry standards, providing a secure and efficient environment for the operation of electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft.”
The certification process, developed by the GCAA, aligns with regulation CAR IX-HVD Part III, which outlines the requirements and guidelines for the certification and operation of onshore vertiports within the UAE. The process will start with the design approval phase; VPorts plans to obtain design approval for the world centre within six months, a key step in the construction phase. The certification of the Ras Al Khaimah (RAK) vertiport will follow shortly.
Tariq Bin Ghalaita, General Aviation Director, Mohammed Bin Rashid Aerospace Hub, said: “We are pleased to see VPorts engaging in the certification process of its vertiports as part of the world integrator centre. This certification process signifies a substantial step in our pursuit to cement Dubai’s status as a global powerhouse of aviation and innovation. MBRAH is more than an aerospace hub.”
VPorts is planning to establish its Vertiport Operation Control Centre (VOCC) as part of the AAM integrator world centre in Dubaiwith the capacity to manage air traffic integration and set up communication protocols between eVTOLs, vertiports and Air Navigation Service Providers (ANSPs).