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Board discusses UAS and a possible vertiport as part of airport master plan
Summary
Staff said the master plan leaves room for unmanned aircraft systems and 'advanced air mobility' uses; the airport is participating in a regional testing proposal and a UNT economic study will assess vertiport feasibility and siting.
Ryan Adams told the board the master plan includes space and concept planning for unmanned aircraft systems and potential vertiports so the airport can pursue advanced air mobility opportunities if the market and regulations allow it.
"We have plugged in the potential for a vertiport to house any type of drones, UAS, advanced air mobility," Adams said, adding that the airport is participating in a North Central Texas Council of Governments proposal to create test nodes across the DFW region and that UNT is completing an economic study on vertiport viability.
Some board members raised safety concerns: one member said a proliferation of small UAS without universal surveillance could risk runway approaches and recommended cautious, phased testing with FAA and air traffic control involvement. Adams agreed that safety and FAA coordination would be the priority before any operations began.
