Performance Based Navigation Concept for Vertiports

Abstract

This thesis aims to develop an initial Performance Based Navigation concept for vertiports. Developing versatile and robust navigational concepts for UAM is key for safe and efficient operations within urban areas. A vertiport and its geofences and the airspace as well as routes through it were designed. Codes were written to make distance and timing estimations to ensure safe operations and make a capacity statement. The concept includes placing navigational points in the terminal airspace, which can be combined to offer individual and flexible route planning for the VTOL. To calculate a capacity for the airspace a safety distance calculation was performed to determine the minimum distance between two VTOLs. This was done by modelling two normal distributions and a target safety factor of 5*10-9 collisions per flight hour. One takeaway is that a VTOL needs to keep 247.15 m of distance during the approach and departure. A complete approach through the airspace takes 151 seconds with a flight path length of 1076.1 m. The calculated vertiport capacity with this configuration is 38 VTOLs per hour. The development of a PBN concept for vertiports is not only influenced by navigation accuracy and the safety distance that needs to be kept, but also by considerations like passenger comfort. VTOL manufacturers and operators, vertiport operators, and regulators need to work together to achieve a safe and optimal solution for the navigation of VTOLs during approach and departure.