Aerovolt’s Squadron: An Online Booking System for Electric and Non-Electric AircraftAerovolt’s Squadron: An Online Booking System for Electric and Non-Electric Aircraft Aerovolt, an electric aircraft charging company, has developed Squadron, an online booking system that simplifies aircraft management and flight registration. Initially designed for electric aircraft, the system has now been expanded to accommodate non-electric aircraft and flying clubs. Genesis at Aerovolt Squadron was created by Aerovolt founder Philip Kingsley-Dobson to monitor electric Pipistrels using their charging network. With the acquisition of SportAir Microlights at Goodwood Aerodrome, the system was rebranded as ‘The Squadron Club’. Features and Benefits Squadron offers a comprehensive suite of features, including: * Aircraft management * Flight registration * Member management * Automatic billing and payments * Integration with multiple locations, aircraft, pilots, and instructors Expansion to Non-Electric Aircraft Following the success of Squadron at The Squadron Club, Aerovolt has extended the system to non-electric aircraft. This has enabled flying clubs to streamline their operations and offer a more convenient booking experience for their members. Impact on Flying Costs Squadron has the potential to significantly reduce flying costs by creating an online “Airbnb” for aircraft rental. By bringing together multiple aircraft, instructors, and pilots, the system enables members to share resources and negotiate lower rates. Future Expansion Aerovolt plans to continue expanding Squadron to other airfields, bringing on board more aircraft, instructors, and pilots. The goal is to establish a fully online, multi-site flying club that provides affordable and accessible flying opportunities.
One of the spin-off benefits of electric aircraft charging company Aerovolt is the creation of an online booking system called Squadron. It is now being rolled out to non-electric aircraft and other flying clubs.
Aerovolt founder and software writer Philip Kingsley-Dobson created Squadron to keep an eye on the electric Pipistrels using the charging network.
Earlier this year Aerovolt took over as the new owner of SportAir Microlights at Goodwood Aerodrome, changing the club’s name to ‘The Squadron Club’.
“The owners wanted to retire completely and I have been a SportAir member since 2018,” explains Phil.
“It happened very quickly, in a two-week period in April, and I officially took over the club in the first week of May, otherwise the club would have simply closed at the end of April.
The Squadron Club at Goodwood operates two light sport aircraft, an Ikarus C42 and a Eurofox Tri-Gear, with an electric aircraft to be added soon
“In order to run the club, I decided to modify Aerovolt’s Squadron platform to accept non-electric aircraft and operate them with all the aircraft management, flight registration, member management, automatic billing, payments, etc. features that I had built primarily for electric aircraft management, which it still does. The platform is designed to be used in multiple locations with multiple aircraft, pilots, and instructors.
“I was concerned about how the club members would react to the new platform and direction, but the response has been phenomenal.
“They love the ease of use and it has grown into an ‘online flying club’ and potentially the ‘Airbnb’ of aircraft rental.
“I expected members to hate it, that it would be a complete nightmare and that they would simply not engage with it, especially since it is completely paperless.
“But we are already looking at expanding Squadron to other airfields, bringing on board more aircraft, instructors and pilots, with the main aim of reducing flying costs as a fully online multi-site flying club. It costs £36 per month in principle and gives you access to all the aircraft. The first two aircraft brought on board (C42 and Eurofox) cost £108 per hour.”
The Squadron Club at Goodwood
