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

EvFly, the Singapore-based start-up making plans to operate eVTOL aircraft, intends to be involved in developing flight training technology for the vehicles through a partnership with Germany’s Future Aviation Simulation Technologies (FAST Group). Under the terms of a recently signed letter of intent, the companies say they will collaborate to produce mixed-reality training devices and full-motion flight simulators suitable for training pilots to operate multiple eVTOL types.
According to Till Borngräber, a member&nbsp;of the Bremen-based FAST Group's executive board, the exact specifications for eVTOL training equipment are still subject to finalization by EASA, which last month indicated it will accept mixed-reality devices under its <a href="https://www.easa.europa.eu/en/newsroom-and-events/news/fstd-special-conditions-development-and-assessment-process-published-easa">special-conditions</a> requirements. In January,&nbsp;the European air safety agency released proposals for the <a href="https://www.easa.europa.eu/en/newsroom-and-events/news/fstd-special-conditions-development-and-assessment-process-published-easa">certification of pilot type ratings</a> for VTOL aircraft.
Borngräber told FutureFlight that FAST’s modular approach to developing training devices and simulators means that they can be readily adapted to support multiple aircraft models. He said that the company is already in contact with several eVTOL aircraft developers to gain access to technical data.
FAST says that it has a demonstration example of its mixed-reality simulator ready for use and that this will allow pilots to earn eVTOL training credits once EASA and other regulators have confirmed their training requirements. “We are confident our simulators will provide ab initio to full license training,” Borngräber said, adding that EvFly will be one of several partners it works with to address the emerging advanced air mobility sector.
In March, EvFly signed a provisional sales agreement covering 205 of <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2023-03-16/evfly-orders-205-autoflight-evtol-aircraft-passengers-and-cargo">AutoFlight’s Prosperity I </a>and Prosperity cargo eVTOL models. It expects to start taking deliveries from the Chinese company in 2025 and aims to deploy them in markets such as the UAE and Saudi Arabia.
In 2022, EvFly also agreed to order 65 of the Atea eVTOL aircraft being developed by France’s <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2022-08-25/evfly-shops-evtol-and-ectol-aircraft-support-asian-air-mobility-service">Ascendance Flight Technologies</a>. The company also expressed interest in adding several eVTOL types to its fleet, including some two-seater models that could be used for flight training. It says that its business model will include fleet management and operations of various vehicles.
Other companies working on equipment and infrastructure to train eVTOL flight crew include <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2022-03-08/cae-develop-flight-training-simulators-jobys-evtol-aircraft">CAE</a>, <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2022-10-03/how-new-training-devices-could-fast-track-pilots-evtol-aircraft">L3 Harris</a>, and <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2021-12-03/vertx-aero-prepares-open-dedicated-evtol-pilot-training-center">VertX Aero</a>.
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Charles Alcock

German flight simulation specialist FAST is developing mixed reality training devices to prepare pilots to operate new eVTOL aircraft. (Image: FAST)

FAST Teams with EvFly To Develop Flight Training Equipment for eVTOL Aircraft Pilots

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