The Integration of eVTOL Aircraft and Infrastructure into San Jose Mineta International Airport

Abstract

Verbatim from NASA NTRS. Not paraphrased, not summarized.

With the average American spending around 43 hours a year sitting in traffic1, and automobile emissions in the US accounting for 57% of all transportation emissions2, traditional transportation infrastructure can no longer keep pace with growing demand and environmental concerns. Electric vertical take-off and landing vehicles (eVTOLs) offer an environmentally friendly approach to efficiently transporting individuals while reducing stress on current infrastructure. As many companies work towards effectively integrating eVTOLs, or air taxis, into urban environments, airports have become the most likely candidates for housing early air taxi hubs. However, limited physical space at airports, the complexity of coordinating with existing air traffic, noise concerns, weather challenges, and additional constraints stand in the way of successfully implementing this technology. The present study develops a geospatial data-driven approach using Python-based spatial analysis and A* pathfinding algorithms to identify optimal vertiport locations in airports and seamlessly integrate them into the air traffic at a chosen location. The analysis covered flight traffic density under 3,000 feet, wind favorability, proximity to terminals, access to frequent destinations, and dynamic no-fly zones of the San Jose Mineta International Airport (SJC). The data was used to generate colored heatmaps that revealed the most suitable vertiport sites and highlighted airspace congestion. This approach also produced snapshots across different daily intervals, enabling algorithmically optimized flight path planning for eVTOL operations based on the time of day. Potential vertiport locations were tested to find the best configuration of landing pads and gates tolerating the highest throughput of air taxis. Further investigation revealed two optimal vertiport locations concentrated in a 4-mile area of SJC, with peak operational windows occurring during 12-2 PM PST when traffic and wind conditions align favorably. These findings provide a systematic foundation for integrating eVTOLs and other Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) into existing airport infrastructure, with a system offering a replicable framework applicable to airports worldwide.

Authors

• Skylar Bogner Woodinville High School
• Pranav Karthikeyan Montgomery High School
• Ganesh Ramamurthi Richard Montgomery High School
• Krish Saini West Windsor-Plainsboro High School North
• Louisa Regulla-Wilkens Sevenoaks School
• Elliana Zhao International School