NUAIR (Northeast UAS Airspace Integration Research Alliance, Inc.), a New York based non-profit organization that provides expertise in unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) operations, aeronautical research, safety management and consulting services, held an all-day virtual conference for more than 70 Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and industry professionals to further develop a strategic plan that supports NASA’s advanced air mobility (AAM) efforts.
NASA awarded Oneida County this critical contract in August 2020 to conduct research in automation technology to support high-density vertiport operations that facilitate the vertical take-off and landing of large-scale unmanned aircraft across populated areas.
A vertiport is a collective term referring to areas designed specifically for AAM aircraft to take off and land, much like a heliport is a designated area for helicopters.
NUAIR manages the $897,000 task order for AAM and vertiport development on behalf of the New York UAS Test Site at Griffiss International Airport. The project team includes Deloitte, Boeing, Crown Consulting, Mosaic ATM, 5-Alpha LLC, Helicopter Association International (HAI) and the General Aircraft Manufacturers Association (GAMA). After eight months of work, the team made three reports of the project: a trade study, the concept of operations (ConOps), and the software architecture requirements for vertiport automation.
The FAA and NASA meet regularly with the AAM industry for open collaboration in building the future of public air transportation.
Air traffic will be a mix of piloted, semi-automated, and fully automated aircraft with multiple vertiport configurations depending on the location and type of operation.
