How EQ Systems Helps
Cherokee Federal’s Mobile Vertipad Platform Take Flight
Bringing the Landing Zone to the Aircraft
For military operations, emergency response, MEDEVAC missions and the emerging advanced air mobility industry, having the right aircraft is only part of the equation. Those aircraft also need a safe, stable place to land.
Cherokee Federal, a Cherokee Nation Businesses company, set out to solve that problem by bringing the landing infrastructure wherever it’s needed. The result is the patent-pending MVP™ (Mobile Vertipad Platform), a rapidly deployable, auto-leveling landing platform designed for VTOL (Vertical Take-Off and Landing), eVTOL (Electric) and traditional rotorcraft. Capable of supporting a 15,000-pound aircraft on a 24-foot octagonal deck, the MVP™ provides a precision landing surface in remote, austere or temporary locations without the need for permanent landing infrastructure. However, making a truly mobile platform of that size presented a significant engineering challenge.
Traditional vertipads and prepared landing zones can be expensive and time-consuming to build. They simply aren't available in many of the places where aircraft may be needed most, such as rural medical facilities and forward operating bases to disaster areas and temporary event sites. Cherokee Federal wanted the MVP™ to overcome those limitations while remaining fast and simple to deploy. The platform needed to handle significant loads, compensate for uneven terrain, provide precise leveling and be operational within minutes, all while allowing deployment by a single operator. Existing portable solutions didn't provide the combination of capabilities Cherokee Federal needed. That made the hydraulic leveling and stability system a critical part of the overall design.
“Existing portable solutions lacked the combination of rapid single-operator deployment, true auto-leveling precision, high weight capacity, and 24/7 all-weather capability required for safe VTOL/eVTOL operations,” said Jason Nerio, Account Executive at Cherokee Federal.
During development, Cherokee Federal identified EQ Systems as a potential partner for the MVP's stability and leveling subsystem. EQ’s commercial hydraulic leveling expertise provided a proven foundation for this new application.
“We needed proven commercial-grade hydraulic leveling, outriggers, and related components. EQ’s reputation in specialty/commercial vehicle leveling systems and their ability to support custom applications made them the clear choice,” Nerio said.
EQ’s engineering and commercial teams worked directly with Cherokee Federal to adapt the leveling system to the MVP’s unique requirements.
“We appreciate the collaborative approach and look forward to continued partnership as we expand MVP configurations and support the growing advanced air mobility and emergency response markets,” Nerio said.
EQ Systems provides the core hydraulic leveling and stability technology integrated into the base-model MVP, including a six-point leveling system with outrigger pads. Additional configurations can incorporate eight-point leveling systems, automated outrigger arms, powered trailer jack options and other hydraulic components. EQ supported integration and customization as Cherokee Federal developed a platform that deploys into a leveled landing surface in 5–10 minutes with one operator. Nerio said the finished platform can be transported behind a half-ton truck or sling-loaded into locations where conventional landing infrastructure may not exist. For Cherokee Federal, combining proven hydraulic technology with application-specific engineering support helped turn an ambitious concept into a practical field solution. The EQ-based leveling system is a core technology enabling the MVP's ability to quickly establish a stable, precision landing surface virtually anywhere suitable terrain is available.
“The EQ-based leveling system is a key enabler of the MVP’s 5–10 minute, single-operator deployment. This removes the need for costly permanent infrastructure or time-consuming site preparation,” Nerio said.
That capability has potential applications across MEDEVAC operations, military and tactical missions, disaster response, temporary events and advanced air mobility. Instead of requiring aircraft operations to come to permanent infrastructure, the MVP™ allows the infrastructure to come to the operation.
Since its unveiling, Nerio said the MVP™ has generated strong interest across defense, emergency response and commercial advanced air mobility markets. The platform's auto-leveling capability has also emerged as an important point of differentiation with potential customers.
“The reliable auto-leveling performance is repeatedly cited by potential customers as a critical differentiator,” Nerio said.
Nerio said the MVP™ has created new conversations and business opportunities that would not have been possible without a robust and field-proven leveling solution. The system also supports Cherokee Federal's goal of providing a vehicle-agnostic platform capable of serving a wide range of aircraft and mission requirements.
The MVP™ represents an unusual application for technology with its roots in commercial and specialty vehicle leveling. But that's also what makes the project a strong example of what can happen when proven technology is combined with collaborative engineering. For Cherokee Federal, EQ brought both to the project.
“EQ Systems delivered the kind of commercial-off-the-shelf reliability and engineering partnership we needed for a first-of-its-kind aviation product,” Nerio said.
Nerio said the platform is designed for the environments Cherokee Federal's customers may encounter in the real world.
The Mobile Vertipad Platform demonstrates that innovation doesn't always require starting from scratch. By combining Cherokee Federal's vision for rapidly deployable aviation infrastructure with EQ Systems' proven hydraulic leveling technology and engineering experience, the two companies have helped create a solution designed to put a safe, stable landing surface where one didn't exist before.
For EQ Systems, the project demonstrates that the right hydraulic solution isn't limited by the application it was originally designed for. With the right engineering partnership, proven technology can help solve entirely new challenges.
EQ Systems, 19300 Grange St, Cassopolis, MI 49031
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