Charles Alcock is managing editor of the AIN Media Group, having rejoined the company in 2019. He has been an aviation journalist since 1986, and previously worked for AIN from 1990 to 2017, most recently as editor-in-chief. His main focus is on covering new aviation technology and business models, as well as international news.
Having been raised in the London area, Alcock studied at the University of Manchester in the UK and earned an honors degree in Politics and Modern History. He speaks English and French, and some German.

Managing Editor

Charles Alcock

Two years after signing a contract for 100 of Aerofugia’s AE200 eVTOL aircraft, Hong Kong-based business aviation services group Sino Jet has ordered another 50 of the five-passenger model. The deal agreed during last week’s <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/futureflight/2025-11-28/chinas-aerofugia-presents-ae200-evtol-aero-asia-show">Aero Asia show in Zhuhai</a> marks the first stage of commercial deployment under what Sino Jet describes as its “business aviation + eVTOL” strategy, aimed at integrating high-altitude and low-altitude mobility operations.
The aircraft management and charter operator is pursuing a long-term plan to add air taxi services to its long-standing private jet services. Its fleet currently includes a mix of Gulfstream, Dassault, Bombardier, Embraer, Airbus and Boeing aircraft.
Plans call for integrating Sino Jet’s internationally-certified business aviation safety protocols—including continuous airworthiness monitoring, safety management system implementation, and personnel training—into the AE200 operations. The company said that it aims to exceed standard eVTOL safety requirements in China.
“Our mission encompasses extending our exemplary high-altitude operational standards to the low-altitude transportation domain, thereby establishing transformative industry benchmarks,” said Sino Jet group president Li Yuanfeng, during an event to market the announcement. “This partnership extends far beyond conventional aircraft acquisition. It focuses on the synergistic integration of business aviation’s long-haul excellence with eVTOL’s adaptive short-haul connectivity, thereby establishing a secure, streamlined, and eco-conscious multi-dimensional transportation framework.”
<h2>Chinese FBO Network</h2>
To support the launch of “last mile” flights, Sino Jet said it will leverage its network of FBOs in China to establish dedicated eVTOL landing facilities in key commercial districts. The company currently operates an FBO in Chengdu and maintains bases in more than 10 major Chinese cities, with additional operational footholds in Singapore, Japan, Europe, and the Americas. Last December, the group launched a new Dubai base, supported by partnerships with local operators Jetex and Falcon Aviation. As of September 2025, Sino Jet’s fleet totals nearly 50 aircraft and around two-thirds of these are registered in other countries.
The piloted-AE200 offers a 200-kilometer (109 nm) range and a cruising speed of 230 km/h (124 knots). Commercial applications for the AE200 platform include airport connections, intercity transport, and cultural tourism. Aerofugia said flights to and from airports could cut travel times by up to 50% compared with road trips.
“We stand at the threshold of a transportation transformation,” Li said. “Looking forward, regulatory framework advancement and infrastructure maturation will catalyze the accelerated development of a comprehensive low-altitude transportation network linking core commercial districts, transportation nodes, and integrated urban clusters.”
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