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

Air transport start-up EvFly says it is firming up its plans to launch air mobility services with a mixed fleet of eVTOL and eCTOL aircraft. The Singapore-based company, which expects to start taking delivery of new aircraft in 2025, this month confirmed that flights will first be available in Thailand, as part of a longer-term plan to expand services across Southeast Asia&nbsp;and also to the Middle East&nbsp;and Africa.
In July, French eVTOL aircraft developer <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2022-07-29/six-commercial-operators-commit-adding-atea-evtol-aircraft-fleets">Ascendance Flight Technologies reported</a> that EvFly is one of half a dozen private flight providers and helicopter operators that have signed letters of intent for up to 245 of its four-passenger Atea aircraft. These also include Singapore-based flight booking platform <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2022-02-10/asian-flight-booking-platform-yugo-commits-electras-estol-aircraft">Yugo</a>.
EvFly told FutureFlight that it is now in negotiations to order other eVTOL aircraft, including a two-seat model that it intends to use to train pilots. The company also seeks to acquire some seven-passenger eCTOL aircraft that would operate from airports. 
A spokeswoman explained that it is seeking proposals from manufacturers for up to seven such aircraft to be delivered by the end of 2026,&nbsp;but is not yet certain of its plans due to the range limitations of current models. One possible option—albeit not mentioned by EvFly—might be Eviation’s all-electric fixed-wing Alice aircraft, which will have up to nine passenger seats and a projected range of 440 nm (506 miles). U.S.-based Electra, is also working on an eSTOL aircraft with similar specifications that it says will need no more than 300 feet of runway to land and take off.
Yannick Erbs, a former commercial airline pilot and owner of cargo carrier Africa West, founded EvFly and describes it as an air fleet management and air transport organization. His current team has experience with both scheduled airlines and private jet operators, and he expects to recruit more staff in 2023 to begin pilot training.
According to EvFly, it already has sufficient private investment to cover the deposit it has agreed to pay to <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2021-12-01/ascendance-reveals-new-design-atea-hybrid-electric-vtol-aircraft">Ascendance</a> in early 2023 and is seeking further investors. Its agreement with the manufacturer covers an initial 15 examples of the <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/aircraft-program/atea">Atea</a>, with options for 50 more with a potential delivery schedule running through 2030.
The new company has estimated that by using new electric aircraft, it will be able to reduce operating costs by 70 percent compared with similar existing aircraft with engines burning fossil fuels.
“In an ever-changing society, we are all dreaming of the perfect combination of freedom, safety, and sustainability,” Erbs commented. “With EvFly, we are on a mission to turn these dreams into a reality.”
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Charles Alcock

Ascendance Flight Technologies' four-passenger Atea eVTOL aircraft is one of several new models air mobility start-up EvFly plans to include in its fleet. (Image: Ascendance)

EvFly Shops for eVTOL and eCTOL Aircraft To Support Asian Air Mobility Service

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