Columbus Airport Commission Advances Plans for Vertiport, Positioning CSG for Advanced Air Mobility
July 14, 2026
Media Contact: Sonya Overton, Director of Marketing & Air Service Development
Columbus Airport (KCSG) | 706-324-2449 ext. 1422 | soverton@flycolumbusga.com
COLUMBUS, Ga. (July 14, 2026) — The Columbus Airport Commission, with assistance from Choose Columbus, is advancing plans to develop a vertiport at Columbus Airport (KCSG), a dedicated landing and charging facility designed to support electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. Currently in the design and scoping phase with engineering firm Holt Consulting, the project would position Columbus among the first regional airports in Georgia to develop infrastructure purpose-built for the next generation of air mobility.
The proposed facility, designated Vertiport Site 1, is designed to FAA standards and sized to accommodate a range of eVTOL aircraft, including the Archer Midnight, an all-electric aircraft manufactured in Covington, Georgia. Midnight is designed to transport passengers on short regional routes using electric propulsion, offering quieter operation and reduced emissions compared with conventional helicopters.
The proposed site includes a 56-foot touchdown and liftoff area, a 112-foot final approach and takeoff area, and a 140-foot safety area. Additional improvements include pavement enhancements, fence relocation, and in-pavement lighting. A key component of the project is an electric aircraft charging station, infrastructure the airport is developing in coordination with BETA Technologies, whose electric aircraft rely on this type of charging system.
The project is being coordinated with the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT), which has spent the past several years developing the regulatory and planning framework for advanced air mobility across the state. GDOT’s Advanced Air Mobility Blueprint and Action Plan identifies vertiports as critical infrastructure supporting future applications ranging from regional passenger transportation to rural air commuter service.
Georgia continues to position itself as a national leader in advanced air mobility. In 2025, the Georgia General Assembly considered vertiport legislation intended to establish the regulatory foundation for future air taxi operations. State leaders have described a vision for a statewide “lily pad network” of interconnected vertiports, while GDOT and the North Carolina Department of Transportation have announced plans for an interstate advanced air mobility corridor connecting Atlanta and Charlotte. With eVTOL manufacturers such as Archer Aviation manufacturing aircraft in Covington, Georgia, the Columbus Airport vertiport would connect the region directly to Georgia’s growing aerospace and advanced aviation ecosystem.
“This airport must run like a business, and that means looking at every reasonable opportunity to generate new revenue and attract new activity,” said Dee Marsh, Chairwoman of the Columbus Airport Commission. “Advanced air mobility is coming to Georgia whether we plan for it or not. We would rather Columbus be prepared to lead than watch these opportunities develop somewhere else.”
“This project reflects real collaboration, with Choose Columbus, local business leaders, and the Columbus Council all playing a part in getting it this far,” said Amber Clark, A.A.E., Airport Director of Columbus Airport. “The charging infrastructure is central to that flexibility, and our work with BETA Technologies has directly informed how we’re building it. This is the kind of forward planning that keeps Columbus positioned to compete as this industry grows.”
Beyond supporting future aviation operations, the project strengthens the region’s long-term economic development strategy by preparing Columbus to attract emerging aerospace industries, support workforce development, and expand future transportation options as commercial eVTOL operations become available.
The vertiport is one of several capital improvement projects currently in development at Columbus Airport. Additional projects include a planned aviation maintenance training facility in partnership with Columbus Technical College and improvements to the airport’s rental car quick turnaround facility. The Commission expects to provide updates regarding project funding, construction timelines, and implementation as planning and design progress.
Final design and construction will proceed in accordance with applicable Federal Aviation Administration guidance and regulatory requirements.
About Columbus Airport (CSG)
Columbus Airport is owned and operated by the Columbus Airport Commission and serves the Columbus, Georgia, region with commercial and general aviation services. The Commission is committed to positioning the airport for long-term financial sustainability through strategic infrastructure investment, diversified revenue opportunities, and partnerships that support workforce and economic development. As the gateway to the Chattahoochee Valley, Columbus Airport connects residents, businesses, military travelers, and visitors while serving as an essential driver of regional growth and prosperity.
For more information, visit www.flycolumbusga.com.