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

South Korean start-up Plana is putting down roots in the U.S. as it prepares to apply for FAA type certification of its five-seat VTOL aircraft. The company recently opened California&nbsp;offices in San Jose&nbsp;and Irvine to give it easier access to the U.S. air safety regulator&nbsp;and&nbsp;prospective American partners.
The Plana team is already conducting flight tests with a one-fifth scaled model of the hybrid-electric aircraft, which it expects to carry a pilot and four passengers on flights of over 500 kilometers&nbsp;(313 miles). It is preparing to participate in the K-UAM Grand Challenge urban air mobility demonstration project that is being organized by Korea’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport in the second half of this year.
To achieve its desired payload and range combination, Plana intends to deploy a powertrain consisting of an as-yet-unspecified, off-the-shelf turbogenerator, electric motors, and batteries. Initially, the company intends for the generator to run on sustainable aviation fuel, but it envisages&nbsp;a possible transition to hydrogen fuel.
The design revealed in early April shows four tilting rotors, installed in pairs at the tips of the wing and a canard, and each with an independent electric motor. At the rear of the fuselage are two pusher propellers.
Plana’s business model calls for it to act as an integrator of propulsion, avionics, and aircraft systems provided by existing aviation manufacturers.&nbsp;The program is being advanced under the working title of CopterPlane CP-01, but Plana expects to confirm the name of the production aircraft when it builds and flies the first full-scale prototype in 2025. The company’s target date for achieving U.S.&nbsp;type certification is in 2028.
<h3 class="subheading">Mobility Start-up Ghenus Air Signs Sales Agreement</h3>
According to Plana, it has signed a letter of intent covering 20 aircraft to be deployed by prospective operator Ghenus Air. The company, which launched earlier this year, is looking to branch out into air taxi service from its current VIP car service business model in locations including the Korean capital, Seoul, and Los Angeles. It also has a provisional sales agreement with Jeju Air in Korea.
To date, the company has raised around $11 million through pre-series investment outreach. Anticipating a need for up to $1 billion to get an aircraft into mass production, Plana plans to embark on a Series A funding round this year, followed by a Series B round in 2025 ahead of a possible initial public offering on the Nasdaq market via a merger with a special purpose acquisition company in 2026.
Including the new U.S. offices, Plana employs more than 60 people, with almost three-quarters of these being engineers and other technologists with advanced post-graduate qualifications. The company expects to increase its headcount to 100 during&nbsp;2023.
The <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2022-10-10/4d-mapping-plots-advanced-air-mobility-routes-through-korean-city">K-UAM Grand Challenge</a> is a key part of the Korean government’s plan to develop an urban air mobility roadmap to support initial commercial eVTOL operations from 2025. Plana is committed to providing an aircraft to be used as part of an extensive demonstration program.
South Korea is fast emerging as a&nbsp;probable&nbsp;hotspot of early activity in the advanced air mobility sector, with anticipated early uses cases such as tourist flights to <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2022-09-02/south-koreas-jeju-island-plans-evtol-air-taxi-rides-tourists">Jeju island</a>. In addition to low-cost airline Jeju Air, start-up operator <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2022-09-27/mintair-set-employ-electras-estol-aircraft-korean-regional-flights">Mint Air</a> has committed&nbsp;to adding new&nbsp;aircraft such as Jaunt's Journey eVTOL and Electra.Aero's eSTOL model to its fleet. The U.S. eVTOL developer has attracted backing from South Korea's TMAP and SK Telecom, while the country's WP Investments venture capital group has backed <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2022-03-04/south-korean-investor-wp-and-honeywell-back-volocopter-170-million-funding">Volocopter</a>.

Charles Alcock

Plana expects its five-seat hybrid-electric VTOL aircraft to enter service in 2028. (Image: Plana)

South Korean eVTOL Developer Plana Expands Operations to the U.S.

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