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

Aircraft have more than proven their worth as air ambulance assets, helping to save thousands of lives. According to MercyFlight’s timeline of air ambulance history, these flights started in 1870 when balloons were used to rescue French soldiers, then in World War I airplanes flew injured soldiers to hospitals much quicker than road conditions would allow for surface transportation. The first helicopter air ambulance flight took place during World War II.&nbsp;
Now the worlds of advanced air mobility (AAM) vehicles and aeromedical transport are merging and the Ambular effort to develop an eVTOL aircraft dedicated to medevac operations is well underway. The latest company to join the all-volunteer Ambular team is China-based&nbsp;eVTOL developer EHang.
Ambular is the result of efforts to imagine futuristic concepts and projects by a group at the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), informed by research conducted by futurist Charles Bombardier, who runs think-tank Imaginactive. The Ambular concept gelled in 2018, with the goal of developing an eVTOL vehicle that would be dedicated to flying an injured person to a hospital quickly and safely.&nbsp;
With EHang as the most recent member, Ambular partners include Imaginactive, ICAO, Concordia University, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, and CASRI (the&nbsp;Second Research Institute of the Civil Aviation Administration of China).&nbsp;
Aircraft flown for medevac purposes have traditionally been adapted from existing machines, not purpose-built for air-ambulance operations. Almost any aircraft is a suitable candidate for medevac flights, and there are many companies that specialize in upgrading cabin interiors for patient care and transport.
But Ambular looks to extend that concept further, into a dedicated design that will be flown only for medevac flights. As an eVTOL AAM, Ambular would have a maximum weight of 400 kg (882 pounds) and be capable of carrying a 200 kg payload. Four detachable arms would be fitted with two propellers each and eight 150 kW motors. Battery capacity would allow for 35 minutes of flight.
The Ambular team envisions two other vehicles to supplement the larger one. One would carry a medevac pod, which would be helpful for a contagious patient. Pods could be carried by ground vehicles too. A smaller Ambular drone would fly medicines or other medical material to patients.
While an ICAO volunteer group can’t develop a product that can be sold commercially, the Ambular team hopes that its work inspires further work on a dedicated eVTOL air ambulance. Ambular also welcomes participation in its efforts. &nbsp;

Charles Alcock

Chinese eVTOL developer EHang, is the latest company to join the Ambular consortium in its efforts to develop a autonomous vehicle for emergency medical flights, has already used its 216 autonomous aircraft to support Covid relief operations with flights to and from hospitals. [Photo: EHang]

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