UAE GCAA Unveils New Regulatory Framework for Vertical Flight Infrastructure

The UAE General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) has published a new regulatory framework titled CAR AGA PART VFI (Vertical Flight Infrastructures), replacing the country’s earlier CAR HVD — the world’s first vertiport regulation.

The announcement was shared by Yazid Bin Ismail of the GCAA in a LinkedIn post, highlighting the regulation as a major step forward for the UAE’s Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) ambitions.

“This is not just a revision; it’s a transformation in how we regulate vertical aviation infrastructure,” Ismail stated. He described the regulation as “a comprehensive regulatory framework that modernises and replaces the former CAR HVD,” noting that the new standards reflect the UAE’s forward-looking approach to developing a safe and resilient AAM ecosystem.

Key Advances in CAR AGA PART VFI

The updated framework introduces several new provisions intended to support the integration and oversight of emerging vertical aviation technologies.

Among the major regulatory enhancements outlined:

• A unified framework covering all vertical flight infrastructure types, including heliports, helidecks, and vertiports
• Certification options, Landing Area Acceptance pathways, and a clearly defined Primary Accountable Organisation (PAO) structure
• Specific design and operational requirements for vertiports, including standards for electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) charging facilities, visual aids, and obstacle management
• New emergency planning standards, including the world’s first dedicated Vertiport Rescue & Fire Fighting (RFF) provisions
• A mandatory Task Resource Analysis (TRA) to align rescue and firefighting service staffing with operational demand
• Provisions to regulate VTOL-Capable Aircraft (VCA) and hybrid aircraft operational profiles
• Revised competency criteria and enhanced roles for Landing Officers, RFF teams, Radio Operators, and Operations Post Holders
• Oversight models supporting compliance registers, alternative means of compliance (AMCs), and just culture implementation

The regulation is designed to balance technical rigor with operational relevance.

“This regulation is built with a foresight in mind: technically robust, operationally relevant, and fully supportive of innovation,” Ismail wrote. “It sets the stage not only for safety and compliance, but also for strategic readiness in the age of aerial mobility.”

The release of CAR AGA PART VFI positions the UAE as a global leader in regulating next-generation aviation infrastructure, furthering its commitment to shaping the future of urban air transport.