By Nicolas Zart
There are more solutions than obstacles. Nicolas Zart
The Reality Check
After 20 years of reporting on the “What,” it’s time to talk about the “How.”
The Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) industry is moving away from a “Shiny Object” crisis toward something far more grounded. We have mastered the art of the 4k flight video and sleek carbon-fiber prototypes. But as we move into 2026, a cold reality is finally setting in:
An aircraft without a universal, revenue-generating infrastructure ecosystem… is just an expensive lawn ornament.
The 3 Pillars of Agnostic Infrastructure (The Intelligence)
To move from a “hype cycle” to a “revenue cycle,” stakeholders must pivot from airframe-specific thinking to Agnostic Multiport Infrastructure. We need nodes where eSTOL, eVTOL, eCTOL, and Drones coexist.
1. Energy Resiliency: Beyond the Grid
Current grids cannot generate nor transport the megawatt-scale demand of a commercial flight line. Strategic intelligence means looking beyond the local utility.
- The Intelligence: We are moving toward modular energy solutions—integrating advanced turbines and exploring the NRC regulatory path for micro-nuclear integration to ensure multiports are energy-independent and resilient.
2. Regulatory Alignment: FAA & EASA Standards
Designing a “landing pad” is no longer sought after. Infrastructure must be built to global standards from day one to ensure scalability, safety, and be multi-operation capable.
- The Intelligence: Real-world commercialization requires strict adherence to FAA 105A and EASA’s PTS-VPT-DSN. Without this alignment, your “vertiport” will never see a Part 135 operational blueprint.
3. Modern Terminal Logic: High-Throughput STOLports
AAM is not an isolated luxury; it is a node in a multimodal ecosystem. If a passenger saves 20 minutes in the air only to spend 40 minutes in ground traffic, the value proposition vanishes.
- The Intelligence: We must redefine the “STOLport” as a safe, high-throughput node. By utilizing existing short-takeoff infrastructure (like the paths being blazed by BETA and Electra), we bypass the “vertical-only” regulatory maze and create a multimodal “last-mile” that actually works.
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The “Strategist” Perspective
For the last decade, I was part of the communications machine that sold the dream. I’ve seen millions invested in “reach” while the “depth” of the infrastructure was left to figure itself out.
We’re done with the hype. From here on out, my work focuses on the Strategic Intelligence required to navigate these three pillars. We don’t need more drone photos; we need IFR blueprints, modular energy roadmaps, and policy-aligned infrastructure.
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Nicolas Zart at Joby, Electric Air Mobility, All Rights Reserved, 2025-2030