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

Read the latest news about Archer Aviation. 

Future Flight Global (FFG), backed by seasoned business aviation entrepreneurs Karan Singh and Toni Drummond, has high hopes for monetizing operations with new eVTOL aircraft. After launching in May, the U.S.-based start-up wasted little time in laying down its marker by signing an agreement with Archer Aviation that could see it buy up to 116 of the four-passenger Midnight aircraft.
Singh, who is CEO, was part of the leadership team at aircraft management and charter group Titan Aviation. He said the Dubai-based company is set to be an important partner in FFG’s plans to launch multiple eVTOL applications from 2026 when the first deliveries should be made.
FFG’s wider plans to scale up operations from 2027 could involve acquiring other air operator certificate holders in key markets that will likely include the Middle East and Europe, in addition to North America. India and other parts of Asia are also in the company's sights.
“While air taxi services will be one of the big use cases [for eVTOL aircraft], this is not what we’ll lead with,” Singh told AIN. In his view, it is questionable whether the advanced air mobility sector can achieve its widely declared aim of making flights as affordable as Uber Black rides since operating costs such as insurance are hard to gauge at this early stage.
FFG intends to be both owner and operator of most of its fleet and could, in some cases, operate eVTOL aircraft on behalf of their owners. “We want to be asset-light, so we can be creative,” said Singh, indicating that service could include white-label operations with aircraft branded for a customer.
“I think advanced air mobility will overlap more with business aviation, corporate travel, as well as VIP and medical flights,” he commented. “We plan to take delivery of many dozens of these aircraft and we’ll have them ready to deploy for any of our customers.”
<h2>Other Aircraft Could Join FFG's Fleet</h2>
FFG is also in talks about possible orders with other developers of both eVTOLs and hybrid-electric fixed-wing aircraft that could be used for regional airline and cargo services. Singh mentioned Electra.aero’s plans for a so-called UltraShort aircraft as one option. His company has paid an undisclosed deposit to Archer for a <a href="https://dev.ainonline.com/aviation-news/futureflight/2024-08-09/archer-and-joby-build-momentum-last-stretch-evtol-service">deal valued at up to $580 million</a> that covers 44 firm orders and 72 options.
Singh said Archer emerged as a priority for fleet acquisition, not only based on a careful assessment of the Midnight aircraft but also because of the progress the California manufacturer has made on the journey to type certification and service entry. “We sincerely believe they have the technology and the finance to have a high chance of getting to market,” he said.
FFG also considered Germany’s Lilium, which is now involved in an insolvency process, but considered its prospects too risky. It has shelved a possible collaboration with an undisclosed Asian eVTOL developer for similar reasons.
For now, FFG is privately funded with an undisclosed main investor from the automotive sector providing launch capital. The company is now preparing for further rounds of fundraising.
<figure role="group" class="caption caption-img">
<img alt="Left to right: Future Flight Global co-founder and president Toni and co-founder and CEO Karan Singh." data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="57a88074-d722-4714-9868-712eaeae9f64" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/EC1B.jpg" width="2100" height="1148" loading="lazy">
<figcaption>Left to right: Future Flight Global co-founder and president Toni Drummond and co-founder and CEO Karan Singh.</figcaption>
</figure>

According to Singh, the Washington, D.C.-based company is also in talks with several vertiport developers and expects to sign partnership agreements covering infrastructure arrangements for an initial seven or eight urban clusters. Prospective partners include newcomers to aviation services, including luxury hotel groups seeking ways to move guests and staff between their properties.
FFG’s co-founder and president, Toni Drummond, is also a partner in Las Vegas-based Part 135 jet charter operator Prestige Air Group and is a co-chair of the National Air Transport Association’s advanced air mobility group. Singh is a former commercial pilot with India’s Jet Airways and was a long-serving board member of the International Business Aviation Council.

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Future Flight Global is backed by experienced business aviation executives who see applications for eVTOL aircraft beyond the prominent air taxi model.

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