There are more solutions than obstacles, Nicolas Zart
The recent Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) Summit in Oeiras, Porto Salvo, Lisbon â Portugal, held on November 25â26, highlighted Portugal’s ambitious plans to position itself as a global hub for electric air mobility. This high-profile event brought together key stakeholders, including government officials, aviation authorities, industry leaders, and research institutions, all working to shape the future of urban air mobility (UAM) and regional air mobility, including our favorite topic, infrastructure.
Government and Civil Aviation Body Moving Together
One of the eventâs unique strengths was its focus on how AAM aligns with the United Nations (UN) global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). H.E. Ana Vieira da Mata, Chairwoman of the Portuguese ANAC, delivered a powerful presentation outlining how AAM addresses SDG 3 (Good Health), SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities), and SDG 13 (Climate Action). Her insights emphasized the transformative potential of AAM in fostering sustainable urban development that the United Nations stresses.
The summit also featured H.E. Hugo EspĂrito Santo, State Secretary of Infrastructure, who shared the Portuguese governmentâs vision for seamless alignment between national, state, and municipal efforts to create an internationally significant AAM platform. H.E. JosĂ© Neves, Board President of the Portuguese AED Cluster (Aeronautics, Space, and Defense), presented AEDâs strategic roadmap, emphasizing Portugal’s role in advancing Europe’s âNew Sky Economy.â
Visit the AAM Summit website for more details.
Keynote and Panels â Spotlighting Industry Insights
I had the privilege of delivering the keynote titled “Global AAM Race and Portugal’s Position.” This presentation explored the dynamic global landscape of advanced air mobility and highlighted Portugalâs unique potential to become an international testbed and incubator for AAM technologies. It was interesting to stress how where the attention mostly lies with electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft and certification, another race is happening. For one thing, smaller eVTOLs, wingless ones with one to three seats might be operational before their bigger five-seater aircraft. However, the real race lies squarely on electric short take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft and electric conventional take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft and their easier certification. The point highlighted how prototype certification is achievable for most eVTOLs OEMs this coming year, commercial certification, which is a higher degree of certification and expenses will most likely be first for aircraft that share commonalities with the current one. eSTOLs and eCTOLs have similar current airplane fuselages and wings, making it easier for the Federal Aviation Agency (FAA) and EASA to commercially certify first.
Additionally, I moderated the panel discussion “OEMs Outlook (Round 1) â Exploring the Economic Potential of Advanced Air Mobility â Pax & Cargo.” This panel delved into the economic opportunities offered by passenger and cargo AAM operations, with insights from some of the industryâs leading minds.
A Platform for Connection and Collaboration
The AAM Summit created a powerful platform for connecting industry leaders, research institutions, and government agencies. The eventâs vibrant discussions and presentations wouldnât have been possible without the incredible efforts of Frederico Fernandes, LuĂs Estanqueiro, and Alexandre Castro, as well as my dear friend Jorge Silva Duque. Their dedication to making AA a reality in the country ensured a seamless and impactful summit.
It was also a pleasure to reconnect with industry leaders and innovators like our friend Jose Ignacio Rodriguez, who heads BlueNest and always delivers straightforward talks in a much-needed way, followed by Curtis Grad, whose down-to-earth presentation was very welcomed, and JoĂŁo Brilhante among many contributed to dynamic exchanges of ideas.
Portugalâs potential as an AAM incubator and testbed is undeniable. With its strong commitment to sustainability, innovation, and cross-sector collaboration, the country is well on its way to becoming a cornerstone of the future of advanced air mobility.
Closing Thoughts
The AAM Summit in Portugal demonstrated the power of collaboration and shared vision in driving the industry forward. As we work towards integrating advanced air mobility into global transportation systems, events like this play a critical role in fostering innovation and addressing challenges.
đ Portugalâs journey in AAM is just beginning, and the world is watching.