Healthcare Launchpad: A Strategic Framework for Shared-Use Vertiport Siting in North Carolina’s Research Triangle

As electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft approach certification, their integration offers a transformative alternative to traditional helicopters. Existing research overlooks healthcare-specific operational requirements, instead prioritizing urban passenger transit. This study evaluates vertiport siting for healthcare-specific uses in the Research Triangle region of North Carolina through industry professional interviews and a two-scenario geographic information system (GIS) suitability analysis. Qualitative findings reveal a consensus that initial deployment should focus on medical cargo and non-emergent personnel transport, utilizing a vertiport shared between hospital systems. The suitability analysis identified high potential parcel clusters for vertiport development, notably in North Research Triangle Park (RTP), Genlee, Mills Park, and Sandy Plains. Locations like Genlee and North RTP offer closer proximity to area hospitals, while Sandy Plains presents a unique opportunity for co-location with a new public safety complex. The study concludes that a vertiport functioning as a depot offers superior siting flexibility compared to as a ground network link, as it decouples infrastructure requirements from the geographic constraints of immediate hospital proximity. The viability of eVTOLs in healthcare depends on resolving sociotechnical barriers, including hardware standardization and financial and legal uncertainty. Strategic recommendations include an owner-operator management framework and a public-private partnership with the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) to mitigate initial financial and regulatory risks.