ISO 5015-2:2022

Overview

ISO 5015-2:2022 - "Unmanned aircraft systems - Part 2: Operation of vertiports for vertical take‑off and landing (VTOL) unmanned aircraft (UA)" - defines requirements for safe, secure and compliant vertiport operations. The standard focuses on the responsibilities of the vertiport operator, including interfaces with UAS/VTOL operators and UAS traffic management (UTM) service providers. It is intended as a possible acceptable means of compliance (AMC) for authorities, and as a basis for third‑party attestation of vertiport operational compliance and data quality.

Key topics and technical requirements

ISO 5015-2 sets out organizational, operational and data requirements rather than physical design criteria. Major technical topics include:

• Safety and operational management

  • Requirements for safe landing, ground movement, parking and departure of VTOL UAs
  • Safety risk assessment support for UAS operations
  • Roles and responsibilities (e.g., compliance monitoring officer - COMO, safety officer - SAFO)

• Security, privacy and data protection

  • Protection of operational and personal data exchanged with UAS operators, UTM SPs and aeronautical information services

• Personnel competence and training

  • Qualification, training and competence criteria for vertiport staff, ground handling and maintenance personnel

• Maintenance and software safety assurance

  • Maintenance practices and software assurance requirements for systems used in vertiport operations

• Management of abnormal situations

  • Contingency planning and emergency response procedures to handle incidents and disruptions

• Operational interfaces and interoperability

  • Requirements for data quality and information exchange with UAS operators and UTM/service providers

• Additional operational elements

  • Noise management, removal of contaminants, insurance, sub‑contract management, manuals, procedures and record keeping

Note: ISO 5015-2 does not specify physical characteristics/equipment of vertiports, nor UAS operational procedures or requirements for UTM service providers.

Practical applications and users

ISO 5015-2 is used to:

• Demonstrate compliance to aviation authorities as an AMC where accepted
• Support safety risk assessments and high‑assurance attestations by accredited third parties
• Provide operational governance for organizations operating one or multiple vertiports

Primary users:

• Vertiport operators (types A/B/C: micro, small, large)
• Regulatory and certification authorities
• UAS/VTOL operators and UTM service providers (for interface requirements)
• Accredited auditors and safety assessors
• Urban air mobility planners and infrastructure managers

Related standards

• ISO 21384-3 (UAS operational procedures) - complementary for UAS operator responsibilities
• ISO 5491 (data exchange between vertiport and UA) - related information exchange standards

Keywords: ISO 5015-2, vertiport operations, VTOL, unmanned aircraft systems, UAS, UTM, eVTOL, vertiport operator, safety, data protection, maintenance, personnel competence.