Integrating vertiports into Australian airports - A comparative literature review of regulatory frameworks from CASA, FAA, and EASA

Abstract

This paper systematically evaluates the regulatory frameworks for integrating vertiport infrastructure to support Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) within Australia's airport ecosystem. Unlike the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which have issued detailed vertiport regulations, including emergency procedures and infrastructure compatibility for battery-powered AAM, the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) approach remains high-level. It is still largely derived from helicopter regulations. By conducting a comparative analysis of CASA, the FAA, and the EASA, the study identifies specific regulatory gaps in CASA's framework, particularly concerning vertiport design, operational safety, and infrastructure for emerging propulsion technologies like hydrogen power. To address these gaps, the paper recommends that CASA (i) adopt scalable vertiport layout and design standards, (ii) introduce performance-based criteria for infrastructure compatibility with battery-electric and hydrogen propulsion systems, and (iii) establish clearer integration protocols for AAM within existing commercial airport environments. The findings further highlight that, while CASA has expressed a commitment to regulatory innovation, the pace of implementation remains slow in comparison to the urgency of AAM deployment. Accelerating the adoption of international best practices from the FAA and EASA would allow CASA to address the challenges of vertiport integration and strengthen itself as a global leader in aviation regulatory reform.