Insights
FAA Vertiport Requirements Explained
Published 2026-03-08 · 10 min read
How the FAA engineering brief on downwash and outwash translates into real-world pad sizing, and why 34.5 mph matters.
The 34.5 mph threshold
Regulators treat rotor and propeller outwash as a safety issue at the edge of the landing surface. Meeting wind-speed limits typically drives pad diameter and obstacle clearance.
Surface technologies that diffuse outwash can reduce the effective hazard zone, shrinking the land you need while staying inside published guidance.