What is V-PAR and where is it located?

V-PAR stands for Vertical Take-Off and Landing Procedures and Analysis Range. It is an $8.3 million FAA research facility being built at the Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center in Oklahoma City, designed specifically for testing and analyzing eVTOL and other vertical lift aircraft.

What kinds of research will be conducted at V-PAR?

V-PAR will support research into wake separation, downwash and outwash effects, radiofrequency interference, and vertiport operations. The FAA and its partners will also use the site to train personnel and gather data needed to safely integrate Advanced Air Mobility vehicles into U.S. national airspace.

Why is the U.S. government building a dedicated eVTOL test facility now?

Multiple companies are actively pursuing eVTOL type certification and commercial operating approvals, making safety validation and integration research increasingly urgent. V-PAR will provide the FAA with the infrastructure needed to collect real-world data and establish the regulatory evidence base before eVTOL aircraft enter mainstream airspace.

U.S. DOT and FAA Break Ground on $8.3 Million eVTOL Research Facility in Oklahoma

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) have broken ground on a new $8.3 million research facility at the Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center in Oklahoma City. Known as the Vertical Take-Off and Landing Procedures and Analysis Range (V-PAR), the site will serve as a dedicated testing environment for eVTOL aircraft, with research covering wake separation, radiofrequency interference, and vertiport operations to support the safe integration of Advanced Air Mobility vehicles into U.S. national airspace.

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Highlights

The U.S. DOT and FAA broke ground on V-PAR, an $8.3 million eVTOL research facility at the Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center in Oklahoma City.

V-PAR will serve as a dedicated testing environment for electric and hybrid-electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft, including a vertiport, covered hangar, and control center.

Research at V-PAR will cover wake separation, downwash and outwash effects, radiofrequency interference, and vertiport operations.

Deputy Secretary Steven Bradbury and FAA Deputy Administrator Chris Rocheleau both cited the facility as critical to the safe integration of Advanced Air Mobility vehicles into U.S. national airspace.

The groundbreaking reflects growing U.S. government investment in AAM infrastructure as multiple eVTOL developers advance toward type certification and commercial operations.

U.S. DOT and FAA Break Ground on $8.3 Million eVTOL Research Facility in Oklahoma

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) have officially broken ground on a new research facility in Oklahoma City designed to support the development and integration of Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) aircraft.

The facility, known as the Vertical Take-Off and Landing Procedures and Analysis Range (V-PAR), will be located at the Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center and carries a construction budget of approximately $8.3 million.

Facility Functions and Intended Use

The FAA says V-PAR will serve as a dedicated testing environment for vertical take-off and landing aircraft, encompassing electric and hybrid-electric designs. The FAA and its partners will use the site to conduct research, train personnel, and analyze operations associated with emerging aviation technologies.

Planned research areas include:

Wake separation
Downwash and outwash effects
Radiofrequency interference
Vertiport operations

The facility will feature a vertiport, a covered hangar, and a small control center building.

Preparing for Next-Generation Aircraft Integration

Deputy Secretary of Transportation Steven Bradbury described the facility as an important milestone in understanding how to introduce AAM vehicles into the national airspace.

"This facility will strengthen our ability to conduct research, train personnel, and support the future of aviation," Bradbury said.

FAA Deputy Administrator Chris Rocheleau emphasized the agency's responsibility to ensure new aircraft types meet existing safety standards.

"V-PAR will help us gather the data and operational insights needed to support the safe integration of these aircraft into the U.S. national airspace," Rocheleau stated.

Meeting the Demands of a Fast-Growing Industry

The groundbreaking comes as the aviation industry accelerates development of electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft for urban air mobility (UAM) and other applications. With multiple companies actively pursuing type certification and commercial operating approvals, the need for dedicated integration research and safety validation infrastructure has grown significantly.

The launch of V-PAR signals that the U.S. government is taking proactive steps to build the technical foundation and regulatory evidence base required before eVTOL aircraft enter mainstream airspace operations.

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U.S. DOT and FAA Break Ground on $8.3 Million eVTOL Research Facility in Oklahoma

Highlights

U.S. DOT and FAA Break Ground on $8.3 Million eVTOL Research Facility in Oklahoma

Facility Functions and Intended Use

Preparing for Next-Generation Aircraft Integration

Meeting the Demands of a Fast-Growing Industry

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