Des Moines, Iowa (RI) — A bill introduced in the Iowa House is sparking a discussion of how to designate and regulate vertiports, take off and landing fields for electric aircraft.
Republican Representative John Wills of Spirit Lake says Iowa needs to prepare for battery powered aircraft that can carry people and cargo.
Tim McClung is the aviation director for the Iowa Department of Transportation. He says Iowa’s part of a 37-state group talking about electric aircraft that take off and land vertically as well as battery powered fixed-wing planes that need a runway to take off and land.
These aircraft will also need battery charging facilities. McClung says Iowa’s smaller airports could be a critical part of the infrastructure for what the manufacturers call advanced mobility aircraft.
Jim Obradovich is a lobbyist for the Iowa Public Airports Association, which is monitoring the concept.
One company that’s producing a battery-powered aircraft that operates like a helicopter may start service in Dubai as soon as this year. Another company called Archer is looking to do vertical take offs and landings from O’Hare Airport for travel to and from downtown Chicago.
KIWA Staff Photo
