Skyportz has announced a landmark partnership with Austrian manufacturer FlyNow Aviation to co-develop landing infrastructure for the company’s compact electric air taxi, the eCopter.
The agreement makes FlyNow the first aircraft maker to work directly with Skyportz and its research partner, Swinburne University of Technology, on adapting vertipad designs specifically for its aircraft.
Under the deal, the two firms will create an integrated landing pad system that can be offered alongside FlyNow’s zero-emission eCopter fleets.
The turnkey package aims to help operators rapidly deploy urban and suburban air taxi and cargo services by providing both the aircraft and the necessary ground infrastructure.
The bespoke pads will be tailored to FlyNow’s performance and safety needs, including pad size, load capacity and markings, as well as enhanced downwash and outwash management to allow installations on smaller sites.
The pads will also use a modular flat-pack design for fast assembly and transport.
Skyportz has established itself as a leading developer of vertiport concepts, with patented designs addressing fire safety and airflow challenges.
FlyNow’s lightweight, cost-efficient eCopter is being pitched as a scalable solution for both passenger and cargo transport in crowded urban centres and underserved regional markets.
The collaboration marks the first in a series of planned OEM-specific partnerships by Skyportz, which said it hopes to accelerate the roll-out of infrastructure to support the growth of urban air mobility.