The Columbus Airport Commission, with assistance from Choose Columbus, is advancing plans to develop a vertiport at Columbus Airport (KCSG), a dedicated landing and charging facility designed to support electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. Currently in the design and scoping phase with engineering firm Holt Consulting, the project would position Columbus among the first regional airports in Georgia to develop infrastructure purpose-built for the next generation of air mobility.
The proposed facility, designated Vertiport Site 1, is designed to FAA standards and sized to accommodate a range of eVTOL aircraft, including the Archer Midnight, an all-electric aircraft manufactured in Covington, Georgia. Midnight is designed to transport passengers on short regional routes using electric propulsion, offering quieter operation and reduced emissions compared with conventional helicopters.
The proposed site includes a 56-foot touchdown and liftoff area, a 112-foot final approach and takeoff area, and a 140-foot safety area. Additional improvements include pavement enhancements, fence relocation, and in-pavement lighting. A key component of the project is an electric aircraft charging station, infrastructure the airport is developing in coordination with BETA Technologies, whose electric aircraft rely on this type of charging system…