Miami’s Watson Island Heliport to Be Transformed into Next Generation AAM Facility
Skyports Infrastructure and Linden
Airport Service
(Copyright, text and images Doug Anson, Skyports, reproduced with kind permission)
Skyports Infrastructure and Linden Airport Services Corporation to
Transform Miami’s Watson Island Heliport into Next Generation AAM facility
Catering to helicopters and electric vertical take-off and landing
(eVTOL) aircraft, the site will provide key access to some of Miami’s top neighborhoods and attractions_
Miami, FL, 8th January 2026 — Skyports Infrastructure (Skyports), the global leader in skyport infrastructure and operations
for the Advanced Air Mobility industry, and Linden Airport Services
Corporation, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to develop, dernize,
and operationalize Miami’s Watson Island Heliport, providing Miami with an immediate landing zone
for helicopters and afuture hub for electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft.
The collaboration takes foundational steps to transform the existing, historic site into one of the nation’s
most advanced urban aviationfacilities, supporting both traditional rotorcraft operations
and nextgeneration eVTOL aircraft.
Pulling together industry leading relationships and partnerships, the project will include a comprehensive
development plan, engagement with helicopter and eVTOL operators,
collaboration with real estate developers and preparations for future eVTOL services.
With a rich aviation history reaching back to the early 20th century,
Watson Island occupies a uniquely strategic position in Miami’s urban aviation network,
once serving as a key hub for vertical aviation in the city.
It is the closest landing zone to Miami Beach and lies just
minutes from Downtown Miami, Brickell, Fisher Island, Star, Palm and Hibiscus Islands, and the Port of Miami.
The facility’s central location positions the site as a critical hub for vertical aviation,
providing unmatched accessibility for residents, visitors, and commercial operators alike. As eVTOL operations launch in the coming years, South Florida will be a leading market globally, further underscoring the importance of the Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) facility.
Linden Airport Services Corporation has been committed to the Watson
Island Heliport project for more than 20 years, since being awarded the original heliport contract.
Over this time, Linden has worked tirelessly to secure FAA and FDOT approvals, with the final local occupancy permits
now in process.
Its decades of experience managing Linden Airport in New Jersey, a major helicopter base serving operators throughout the New York metropolitan area, complement Skyports’ operational expertise as manager of the Downtown Skyport (JRB), the world’s busiest civilian commercial heliport.
Together, Skyports and Linden will determine the highest and best use of the Watson Island Heliport, restoring it to its former prominence and ensuring it is developed in a way that supports the safe, efficient, and scalable emergence of AAM in
Miami.
“Watson Island is an extraordinary asset for Miami and a pivotal
location for the future of urban aviation,”
said Robbie Ladov, General Manager of US Heliports and Vertiports at Skyports Infrastructure.
“By partnering with Linden, we are combining Skyports’ global leadership
in skyport development with Linden’s decades-long dedication to
preparing this site. Together, we are laying the foundation for a next
generation facility that will serve the region for decades to come.”
Paul Dudley, CEO of Linden Airport Services Corporation added:
“Our commitment to Watson Island spans more than 20 years, navigating
regulatory and operational milestones to get this site ready for the
future. Partnering with Skyports enables us to advance the heliport into
a modern skyport, engage key aviation and real estate partners, and help
establish Miami as a leader in advanced air mobility.”
Skyports and Linden will continue working closely with local and
industry stakeholders as development activities move forward.
END -
Further Information:
About Skyports Infrastructure
Skyports Infrastructure is a global leader in the design, build, and
operation of heliports and skyports for helicopters and eVTOLs. With
live operational assets in the UK and US, and projects under development
across the Middle East, Europe and Asia, Skyports delivers the ground
infrastructure needed for safe, efficient, and scalable vertical lift
operations. The company is driving the future of urban air mobility,
bringing next-generation aviation to cities around the world.
