In part two of his conversation on reinventing airports, Clint Harper explores how aviation infrastructure can transform into multi-modal mobility hubs. By linking air taxis with rail, buses, and micromobility, airports can serve as true connectors in sustainable transport networks.
Communication Before Marketing: How to Build Lasting Innovative Mobility Brands
In advanced air mobility, communication and marketing are not the same — and the order matters. Electric Air Mobility, LLC explains why starting with a clear, authentic story builds trust and makes marketing work harder, and how our AAM Masterclass helps airport executives prepare for the future of flight.
The Ways We Move: Reinventing the Future of Airports with Clint Harper
In this episode of The Ways We Move podcast, Clint Harper, a military airport manager and urban planner, explores how airports can embrace advanced air mobility and evolve into multi-modal hubs. Learn how resilient infrastructure, community engagement, and smart economics can help airports lead the way in supporting electric aviation and regional connectivity.
The Future of AAM Infrastructure Insights from Rex Alexander — Part 2
On The Ways We Move podcast, guest Rex Alexander talks about how advanced air mobility (AAM) infrastructure is changing how we see and conceptualize urban air mobility (UAM) and regional air travel, challenges, regulatory updates. Most importantly, a strong, safe, and robust infrastructure will allow for a cleaner and more efficient future of air travel. Find out more about what the future of air travel looks like from Mr. Infrastructure himself!
New FAA MOSAIC Rule Opens a New Era for Light Aircraft and Advanced Air Mobility
The FAA’s MOSAIC modernizes the path for light sport and electric aircraft by removing outdated weight and speed limits and expanding eligible designs. This article explains how the new rule benefits advanced air mobility, supports pilot training, and prepares the industry for a new era of clean, affordable aviation.
The Ways We Move: The Backbone of AAM with Rex Alexander
There are more solutions than obstacles. Nicolas Zart
In this special episode of The Ways We Move, I have the privilege of sitting down with Rex Alexander, an old friend and one of the most respected professionals working in aviation infrastructure today, building the future of advanced air mobility (AAM). Rex is the founder of Five Alpha, also known as Mr. Infrastructure, a title that fits his great knowledge of the industry. With military aviation and helicopter, emergency, ambulance, and commercial aviation expertise, he has become the person industry leaders call when they need honest answers and trusted guidance on heliports, vertiports, and the rapidly growing world of multiport operations.
We reflect on how far the conversation around infrastructure has come since 2018, when the standards and policies governing heliport and vertiport operations truly began to evolve. Rex shares his first-hand perspective on the long series of meetings with the FAA and other agencies, collaborations that have helped push standards forward and align policies across not only the United States, but also Europe and global regulatory bodies such as EASA and ICAO. As regulations move forward, the need for common frameworks and mutual recognition becomes more urgent.
Advanced Air Mobility, Humble Beginnings, Amazing Potential
The discussion explores the practical realities behind the promise of electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL), electric short take-off and landing (eSTOL), and finally, electric conventional take-off and landing (eCTOL). We highlight the difference between prototype and commercial certification, the integration of the various aircraft operations, and the harmonization of air traffic as great challenges, as well as the keys to real-world deployment. Rex explains why the United States faces particularly complex hurdles; land use and infrastructure oversight are split between federal, state, and municipal authorities, creating a patchwork of rules and requirements. In contrast, many other countries have much more centralized systems, which can streamline progress but also present new sets of questions.
The Rebirth of Regional Airports for AAM
Rex and I talk about the crucial roles regional airports play, especially as the industry looks beyond just vertiport sites and envisions multiport networks. These will enable not only eVTOLs but also eSTOL and eCTOL aircraft, paving the way for a more holistic and inclusive system of operations. Rex emphasizes that success in building AAM infrastructure is not just about engineering or policy, but about understanding what each community and operator truly needs.
Throughout our conversation, it becomes clear that municipal engagement is essential. The future of flight will depend on strong partnerships at every level, and cities must be included in the vision from day one. As Rex says, we need solutions that are practical, scalable, and shaped by the realities on the ground.
Rex’s Journey into Aerospace
Rex’s journey began early, with his hands on flight controls before he turned fifteen, moving through fixed wing and rotorcraft, from military service to the offshore sector, and finally, to leading the charge on infrastructure best practices that have become industry standards. He is someone who brings not just technical expertise but a sense of stewardship for safety, reliability, and the broader mission of connecting people through aviation.
There is no shortcut to building trust in a field as safety-critical as aviation. Voices like Rex’s—honest, experienced, and deeply committed—are essential as we create infrastructure that will sustain the next generation of aviation. Our conversation is full of insight on where we are, how we got here, and what it will take to ensure AAM infrastructure serves everyone: operators, regulators, and the communities we all aim to connect.
We wrap up part one, looking forward to future episodes where we continue the discussion on global standards, community engagement, and what it means to build for longevity rather than hype. Rex, thank you for the work you do, for your guidance, and for always taking my calls when I need answers that cut through the noise.
Please share your thoughts, comments, and questions. Subscribe to The Ways We Move for more in-depth conversations with leaders who are shaping the future of mobility and infrastructure
SkyDrive UAM Strategy: Rail Partnerships Open Potential UAM
From the moment I first connected with SkyDrive, I sensed they were onto something transformative. By forging deep partnerships with Japan’s leading rail operators, SkyDrive is maximizing the efficiency and reach of urban air mobility—creating seamless, short-hop connections that complement the country’s world-class public transit. Their strategy isn’t just smart; it’s a blueprint for how UAM can truly thrive in dense, transit-rich cities.
AAM News: What Happened This Week
This week in advanced air mobility: Deutsche Aircraft unveils the D328eco test aircraft, Airbus faces ongoing delivery delays, and the Paris Air Show 2025 spotlights the latest in sustainable aviation and eVTOL innovation.
The Ways We Move: Georgia Tech’s Prof. Marilyn Smith
Georgia Tech’s Prof. Marilyn Smith joins The Ways We Move podcast to explain aviation downwash, its challenges for advanced air mobility, and how research is driving safer, smarter eVTOL and vertiport solutions.
Cork: The Up-and-Coming Hero of Sustainable Innovative Mobility
There are more solutions than obstacles. Nicolas Zart
Donald Thomas, NASA Astronaut, famously says: “Never leave Earth without cork.” And he makes a point of it. Yet most of us know cork as the humble stopper in wine bottles—tossed aside without a second thought. But did you know that this 5,000-year-old material shields spacecraft, silencing EVs, and even protects eVTOL batteries from fire, EMFs, and more?
From NASA’s Mars landers to electric vehicles (EVs) interiors, cork is revolutionizing innovative mobility. So, pun intended, let’s uncork its potential.
From Earth to Space
From NASA to the European Space Agency (ESA), the latter’s IXV mission marked a turning point for cork. As Jean-Jacques Dordain, ESA’s former Director-General, noted, cork was critical for the Ablative Thermal Protection System during re-entry. See Amorim, 2015.
And this is how it works. The Portuguese cork leader, Amorim Cork Composites, partnered with Thales Alenia Space to develop the P50 cork, a silicone-cork hybrid to shield antennas and electronics from EMI. This composite can withstand up to 2,200°C (3992°F ) during atmospheric re-entry.
But back on Earth, cork is applied to EVs, electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing (eVTOLs), and Beyond. With EVs, Tesla and other EV makers use cork-polymer composites for dashboards, door panels. Cork is 50% lighter than synthetics with a much better carbon footprint. It is also ideal for acoustic insulation, reducing noise by as much as 30% than synthetic alternatives.
On a personal note, I was one of the first EV journalists to test the BMW electric i3 in 2014. I remember being impressed by the cork-trimmed interior as a way to show that ‘eco-luxury’ wasn’t an oxymoron.
Slightly back up with Advanced Air Mobility (AAM), cork is an ideal material to help with fireproofing. Its stable make-up makes it ideal for eVTOLs for their battery shielding. It can withstand fires up to 1,200°C or 392°F. It is also ideal for vibration damping, which is so critical for organ transport, especially as we now turn our attention to drones. This extends to other industries, such as rail and maritime. Cork-rubber mounts dampen vibrations in high-speed rail and on sea vessels. Airbus uses it as cryogenic insulation for its hydrogen fuel system testing.
Cork’s Superpowers By the Numbers
| Property | Value | Outperforms |
|---|---|---|
| Thermal Conductivity | 0.04 W/m·K | Fiberglass (0.05 W/m·K) |
| EMI Shielding | 60–80 dB attenuation | Most plastics |
| Sustainability | 100% biodegradable | Aluminum/synthetics |
Source: Fraunhofer Institute, 2023
The Cork Sustainability Prowess
After a devastating 2011 fungi attack, Amorim doubled down on R&D and today proved through this study that cork stoppers are 25% more sustainable than aluminum and synthetics. The Corticeira Amorim’s study, (“Analysis of the life cycle of Cork, Aluminum and Plastic Wine Closures”), developed by PricewaterhouseCoopers, concluded that, “concerning the emission of greenhouse gases, each plastic stopper released 10 times more CO2, whilst an aluminium screw cap releases 26 times more CO2 than does a cork stopper. For example, to produce 1,000 cork stoppers 1.5 kg CO2 are emitted, but to produce the same amount of plastic stoppers 14 kg of CO2 are emitted and for the same amount of aluminium screw caps 37 kg CO2 are emitted.”
And with zero waste, 70% of Amorim’s energy comes from cork byproducts. Cork’s carbon-negative footprint means cork oak forests absorb 14M tons/year of CO₂.
Today, NASA’s Artemis Program is testing cork for lunar habitat insulation. Even MIT is embedding sensors with cork for real-time battery health monitoring.
Cork reminds us that sometimes, the best solutions aren’t invented. Earth has fashioned them for millions of years. So next time you pop a bottle, take a moment to remember that this ‘humble’ material is shielding a spacecraft, satellites, EVs, and your future eVTOL.”
🔗 Further Reading:
Here is the video of the article.
From Wine Bottles to Spacecraft: Cork’s Silent Revolution in Mobility!
In this episode of The Ways We Move, Nicolas Zart uncorks the untold story of a material quietly reshaping sustainable mobility—from NASA’s Mars landers to BMW’s electric vehicles, rail, maritime, and more.
🔊 Key Insights:
Space-Tested: How cork shields spacecraft during re-entry (and why NASA is eyeing it for lunar habitats).
EV Revolution: Cork’s role in lightweighting and soundproofing electric vehicles.
Carbon-Negative: Why harvesting cork saves forests and outperforms aluminum/plastic.
Future Frontiers: Cork’s potential in Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) and beyond.🕒 Chapters:
00:00 – Cork’s Ancient Legacy Meets Modern Mobility
02:49 – NASA, ESA, and the Space-Grade Cork Revolution
05:34 – How BMW and Tesla Are Using Cork Today
10:57 – Why Cork is the Ultimate Sustainable Material
14:41 – What’s Next? Cork in eVTOLs and Lunar Base
You can listen to the podcast here.
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Clarification: This is not paid advertising for Amorim. It just happens that the company is at the forefront of cork technology.