AutoFlight Aviation Technology has unveiled a water-based vertiport system for electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft operations.
The company demonstrated the Water-based Green Vertiport at Dianshan Lake in Kunshan, China, on November 22. A 2-ton-class eVTOL aircraft took off from the vertiport, showcasing operational capabilities of the water-based facility.
The vertiport integrates eVTOL landing platforms, photovoltaic energy storage and charging systems, an intelligent dispatch system and communication facilities. The facility can be deployed across rivers, lakes and seas.
The vertiport deck serves as a landing pad covered with solar panels, while the cabin functions as a departure area and technical room. The facility supports takeoff, landing and charging for eVTOLs, while enabling data sharing and coordination with aircraft.
According to AutoFlight, the vertiport is compatible with several of the company’s eVTOL models including the White Shark, the 2-ton-class cargo aircraft CarryAll and the six-seat passenger model Prosperity. The company stated the solution addresses challenges such as site selection, deployment and takeoff and landing operations.
AutoFlight demonstrated a multi-aircraft formation flight in which three 2-ton-class eVTOLs flew in formation and performed airdrop missions including deploying supplies and life rafts. The demonstration illustrated application potential in emergency response and logistics.
The company identified use cases including energy platform maintenance, emergency rescue, high-frequency commuting, marine-aerial tourism and mobile vertiport clusters. For offshore oil rigs or wind farm operations, AutoFlight stated the solution improves transport efficiency of personnel and spare parts.
The system can enable air transit within cities, between coastal city clusters, across bay areas and to islands. AutoFlight cited an example of deploying an eVTOL water vertiport on Shanghai’s Huangpu River to facilitate travel from Hongqiao airport to Lujiazui without disrupting existing infrastructure.
AutoFlight developed the solution in collaboration with CATL, integrating batteries and energy systems into the eVTOLs and water vertiports. Multiple mobile water vertiports can be networked within a water area to form a vertiport cluster supporting coordinated operations.
AutoFlight Aviation Technology is based in Shanghai, China, and develops electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft. The company focuses on eVTOL technology for commercial applications.
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