The ANAC vertiports sandbox

ANAC, the National Civil Aviation Agency of Brazil, has big plans for vertiports. Tara Craig looks at its new sandbox, designed to help develop operational regulations for eVTOLs

Eve Air Mobility, Brazilian start-up VertiMob Infrastructure and PRS Aeroportos –a consortium comprising Italian vertiport developer UrbanV and Pax Aeroportos, concessionaire since 2023 of Campo de Marte and Jacarepaguá airports – have joined forces to drive advanced air mobility (AAM) in Brazil. The companies are among those operating within the regulatory sandbox for vertiports organised by the National Civil Aviation Agency of Brazil (ANAC). The initiative marks a pivotal step towards establishing operational regulations for electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, the partners said.

Set to run for 24 months, the sandbox project will be based at Campo de Marte Airport in São Paulo and is intended to provide an environment for the companies to develop innovative solutions for vertiports.

Setting the scene

Participants in the sandbox were chosen following a project call notice issued by ANAC in spring 2024. It called for interested parties to participate in the regulation of vertiports, landing and take-off sites for eVTOLs. ANAC said that it wanted the vertiport project to “foresee the use of new technologies, to be aligned with [ANAC] regulations and compatible with the sector’s regulatory framework.”

Proposals were asked to contain, among other elements, the layout of the aircraft landing and take-off area, final approach and take-off trajectories, support capacity of physical infrastructure, a firefighting system, physical space for maintenance, repair and support services, aircraft noise requirements and appropriate access control (facilitation and security). Those interested in participating in the sandbox were asked to have the necessary technical capacity to develop the intended activity in an experimental regulatory environment. Only legal entities under private law that met ANAC’s criteria were eligible to participate and the agency established a committee to oversee activities related to the experimental regulatory environment.

The project call notice was accompanied by a public consultation and a webinar, broadcast on ANAC’s YouTube channel. Featuring ANAC technicians and experts on both sandboxes and vertiports, its objective was to answer questions from companies, regulated entities and associations interested in participating or otherwise contributing suggestions.

The initiative is the first signed by ANAC following the publication of Decree 10,219, dated January 9, 2023, which paved the way for the creation of the sandbox. The decree stated in detail the parameters of the project, for instance its commitment to “modernisation of the Brazilian business environment”, “the creation of environments favourable to innovative entrepreneurship” and “the maintenance and improvement of operational safety”.

ANAC also stated that the Airport Infrastructure Superintendence (SIA) would monitor the sandbox and could remove a participant’s rights to contribute to it should they fail to comply with duties specified in the admission terms, cause operational failure in the implementation of the business model or undertake activities that generated excessive risks or risks not previously foreseen.

Aerospace insights

Among the best known of the sandbox participants, Eve Air Mobility will bring to the project its expertise as an eVTOL manufacturer. The Brazilian firm was founded by aerospace corporation Embraer and aims to enhance aircraft characteristics and performance requirements. Eve will also share insights into best practices for operations, using its substantial experience in aerospace technology, including pre-flight checks and standard procedures. The company is also actively working to evolve AAM market dynamics, which it believes will shape the range of services offered at vertiports to meet future needs.

“From the beginning, Eve’s vision has always been broader than just the aircraft,” said CEO Johann Bordais. “We are deeply committed to shaping and integrating into the wider AAM industry. Our collaboration in ANAC’s regulatory sandbox is a clear demonstration of this commitment. This partnership with the infrastructure operators allows us to address all aspects of the AAM industry, from vertiport infrastructure to eVTOL operations, in alignment with the standards and expectations of global regulatory agencies.”

At the end of 2024, ANAC published the final airworthiness criteria for Eve’s eVTOL, following a period of public consultation. Its publication is a critical stage of the type certification process, enabling Eve to focus on defining the means of compliance applicable to its eVTOL aircraft.

Luiz Valentini, chief technology officer at Eve, said: “The publication of the final airworthiness criteria marks an important step towards the certification of our eVTOL. The feedback received during the public consultation phase was invaluable in refining these criteria. We are now looking forward to continuing working closely with ANAC on type certification (TC) and the FAA on the simultaneous validation of the ANAC TC.”

Eve has also undertaken concept of operations (CONOPs) studies in various global cities, among them Rio de Janeiro, Chicago and London. These CONOPs outline the vision, key considerations and operational needs for eVTOLs and user journeys, as well as services and support.

Local hero

A much newer player, VertiMob was founded in 2024, describing itself as Brazil’s first infrastructure company dedicated to the development, implementation and operation of vertiports. The start-up is committed to revolutionising urban mobility by implementing innovative and sustainable solutions for air transportation. Its mission is to provide a safer, faster and more efficient journey, connecting people and places with cutting-edge technology and operational expertise. VertiMob joined the regulatory sandbox as part of its strategic partnership with São José dos Campos International Airport, which lies between São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. The partners aim to develop the first vertiport in Latin America, which they hope to be operational this year. They will construct it in the airport’s engine test area (run-up area).

A two-continent consortium

Owned by Aeroporti di Roma, Aéroports de la Côte d’Azur, SAVE Group and Bologna Guglielmo Marconi Airport, UrbanV‘s focus is on developing AAM infrastructure. While it has initially focused on Italy, the firm is now setting its sights further afield and is working with São Paulo-based PAX Aeroportos to establish a vertiport testbed and help develop AAM in Brazil. They plan to explore the construction and operation of additional vertiports in the São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro regions.

CEO Carlo Tursi said: “At UrbanV, we aim to improve people’s lives by enabling a fast, efficient, safe and clean alternative to existing transport solutions for people and goods over short distances by air. We are excited to partner with PAX Aeroportos, an important player in airport management, and we look forward to exploring with them the great potential of AAM in Brazil.”

As implied by Tursi, PAX Aeroportos will bring substantial operational experience to the sandbox. As its CEO Rogério Prado pointed out, its airports at Campo de Marte and Jacarepaguá are close to two of Brazil’s largest cities, São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro: “Our operations are primarily focused on business and general aviation and our existing clientele is aligned with the future demand for eVTOL travel in urban areas. We have important assets to help develop the AAM business and our partnership with UrbanV in the regulatory sandbox process will allow us to contribute with our expertise in the definition of the framework for vertiport infrastructure design and implementation in Brazil.”

Jacarepaguá also handles a significant volume of large helicopter flights to oil platforms, a traffic stream with the potential to convert to eVTOLs for environmental reasons once the technology allows.

Looking to the future

With this sandbox, ANAC aims to create an environment where new technologies can be developed and evaluated, safety requirements defined, existing regulations adapted to encompass new modes of air travel and new regulations written. It will be interesting to see the end result, not least whether this propels Brazil to the forefront of AAM development, as ANAC clearly hopes.

Further reading: Eyes on the East

ANAC’s ambitions extend far beyond Brazil. In Autumn 2024, the agency signed a memorandum of intent (MOI) on AAM with the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS).

In signing the MOI, the organisations committed to exchange knowledge and information on the certification, validation and entry into service of eVTOLs, including policies, regulatory approaches and operational procedures. They agreed to work together to develop technical standards to enable the certification and safe operation of eVTOLs, including participation in international technical groups, and to co-ordinate efforts to engage relevant industry stakeholders in the development and safe operation of the aircraft.

The MOI between ANAC and CAAS strengthens a growing partnership between the two countries, building on the foundational memorandum of understanding signed in February 2024 to promote civil aviation safety. The authorities also signed a technical arrangement for airworthiness certification (TA-AC) in June 2024 to enhance co-operation related to initial and continued airworthiness, production matters and technical assistance.   

Roberto Honorato, head of ANAC’s airworthiness department, described international partnerships as being key to the expansion of aviation, especially in light of the challenges in implementing eVTOL operations: “By working together, we are not only embracing the future of aviation but also reinforcing our shared commitment to maintain the highest standards of safety and efficiency.”

CAAS’ chief technology officer and senior director, Tan Kah Han, said that as eVTOL technology continues to evolve rapidly, it is crucial for regulators to collaborate to keep pace with development: “This collaboration will allow us to combine our expertise and resources to streamline regulatory approaches and processes while maintaining the highest standards in aviation safety.”