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Can air taxis use helipads?

By Air Taxi Landing

Not automatically. The FAA says early air taxi flights can use existing airports and heliports, but those sites need modifications to meet vertiport design guidance. A plain helicopter pad is not, by itself, an approved vertiport. Every fact below comes from the FAA or EASA. We checked them on November 5, 2026.

Last updated November 5, 2026.

What’s the short answer?

Air taxis that the FAA calls VTOL aircraft — powered-lift or special-class rotorcraft with three or more propulsors — land at vertiports. The FAA says a vertiport is a type of heliport. Its current design guidance is Engineering Brief 105A, dated December 27, 2024. That brief covers new sites and the modification of existing helicopter and airplane landing facilities. It does not say an unmodified helipad is ready for those aircraft. Sources: FAA EB 105A, FAA Advanced Air Mobility Infrastructure (page last updated October 23, 2026).

What does Engineering Brief 105A say?

EB 105A is supplemental guidance to Advisory Circular 150/5390-2D, Heliport Design. The AC covers heliports for helicopters with one or two main rotors. The brief covers vertiports for aircraft with three or more propulsors. For its reference aircraft, the FAA assumes a pilot on board, visual meteorological conditions, and a maximum takeoff weight of 12,500 pounds or less. Source: FAA EB 105A.

The brief sets pad geometry (TLOF, FATO, and safety area), a “VTL” marking, parking, charging notes, and a downwash and outwash caution area. Conformity with the brief is voluntary in its own right; the FAA says it recommends the practices for an acceptable level of safety. What is a vertiport? walks through those pad sizes and markings. Source: FAA EB 105A.

Can an existing heliport become a vertiport?

Yes, with work. The FAA’s Advanced Air Mobility Infrastructure page says that if a heliport built for conventional helicopters will serve emerging VTOL aircraft, the proponent should follow EB 105A and mark the facility as a vertiport — unless the site already meets the brief’s load-bearing area sizing, includes an appropriately sized downwash caution area, and meets the site safety elements for VTOL aircraft. Source: FAA AAM Infrastructure FAQ.

A conversion also needs a new FAA Form 7480-1 so the right FAA offices can review the change. On a federally obligated airport, the change starts with an Airport Layout Plan update. The FAA says dual-use facilities that serve both helicopters and powered-lift aircraft will depend on aircraft performance, and that research on those standards is still underway. For now, it says a vertiport may accommodate helicopters that fit within the design VTOL’s controlling dimension and maximum takeoff weight. Source: FAA AAM Infrastructure FAQ.

What about early commercial flights?

The FAA says initial Advanced Air Mobility operations will leverage existing airports and heliports, with modifications, while new vertiports and vertistops are also built. That is not the same as flying from every helipad as it stands today. Named sites cities and operators have announced are on the planned and announced vertiports list. Which cities have announced first air-taxi routes? covers the city end. Source: FAA AAM Infrastructure.

Is EB 105A still current?

Yes, as of November 5, 2026. The FAA has released draft Advisory Circular 150/5390-4, Vertical Flight Aircraft Infrastructure Design (date issued October 22, 2026). Once that AC is finalized and published, the FAA says it will cancel both AC 150/5390-2D and EB 105A. Until then, EB 105A remains the published vertiport design brief. Comments on the draft AC are due January 11, 2027. Sources: FAA AAM Infrastructure, FAA draft AC 150/5390-4.

What does EASA say in Europe?

EASA published Prototype Technical Design Specifications for Vertiports (PTS-VPT-DSN) on March 24, 2022. That document is non-regulatory design guidance for VFR vertiports serving manned VTOL-capable aircraft in the enhanced category. EASA says a later rulemaking task will write the full regulatory package. It does not say a conventional heliport automatically meets those prototype specs. Source: EASA Prototype Technical Design Specifications for Vertiports.

Things you should know

  • This page summarizes public FAA and EASA documents. It is not legal advice, and it is not an FAA determination for any site.
  • Status and approvals change. For named places, prefer the vertiports list and the primary source linked there.
  • Company plans for a city landing site are claims until a primary regulator or airport authority page confirms them. We label those “says.”

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