Advanced Air Mobility Infrastructure With Expeditionary Landing Surfaces for eVTOL Aircraft

The rapid advancement of electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft has accelerated the development of advanced air mobility (AAM), promising significant reductions in travel time, emissions, and congestion. However, infrastructure development, particularly vertiport construction, lags aircraft technology, creating a critical bottleneck for widespread adoption. Current FAA guidelines for vertiport developments, adapted from heliport standards, mandate heavy, permanent concrete pads that impose prohibitive weight, cost, and logistical challenges, especially for rooftop or austere locales. This paper proposes a paradigm shift in vertiport construction through the application of expeditionary airfield (EAF) matting systems, historically used by the military for rapid deployment of runways and VTOL pads in austere conditions. We examine the evolution of EAF matting from World War II-era Marston mats to modern AM2 aluminum panels, detailing their design, performance, and limitations. Comparative analysis demonstrates that AM2 matting offers substantial advantages over concrete construction, significantly reducing structural load and material costs while enabling rapid installation without delays associated with traditional concrete construction. Furthermore, matting systems mitigate foreign object debris (FOD) risks associated with spalling concrete and provide scalable, modular solutions adaptable to urban rooftops, disaster relief operations, and temporary test sites. By leveraging proven military technologies for civilian applications, this approach addresses the pressing need for agile, cost-effective, and sustainable vertiport infrastructure, supporting the safe and efficient integration of eVTOL aircraft into future transportation networks for urban, rural, or even remote locations.