- info@jekta.swiss
Our Team
The Jekta team consists of aviation professionals, highly experienced technical experts, and well-versed international business executives that together are responsible for driving Jekta airframes from concept to first flight and beyond. The combined talent is unmatched, and we are proud to be supported by such a formidable team.
Sergey Alafinov
President & Co-founder
Sergey Alafinov is a renowned entrepreneur, visionary, pilot, and explorer passionate about innovation. In 2002 Sergey founded aircraft manufacturer Aerovolga and has grown the company into a leading manufacturer of amphibian aircraft. He holds several patents for amphibian aircraft and has successful Borey and LA8 amphibian aircraft as part of his portfolio. In 2018, to honour an intrepid flight, the Federation Aeronautique International (Lausanne, Switzerland) awarded Sergey, together with chief engineer Dimitry Suslakov, the Distinguished Medal for the first-ever voyage around-the-north-pole on an amphibious aircraft. Sergey is an engineer and has a Ph.D. in Economics. Sergey is the ideologist behind the Electric Amphibian aircraft and leads the Jekta business as President
George Alafinov
CEO & Co-founder
Giorgy Alafinov is a dynamic, visionary executive with a rich background combining experience in business development, international commodity trading, airline transformation, and serving in the Swiss Air Force. George excels in the commercial world and is driven to implement business growth and success. As managing partner of a central Asia airline, he spearheaded the complete fleet transition, positioning it as the first A220 operator in the region. George has degrees in Business Administration, International Relations and Law. As CEO of Jekta, he is responsible for executing development from idea conception to initial delivery and beyond.
Max Pinucci
Head of Design & Board member
Max is a distinguished professor of ISIA Firenze (industrial design) with a career spanning several decades; he has established himself as a visionary designer, having participated in designing more than 25 different aircraft and airship programs. Max pushes the boundaries of innovation, design, and purpose, incorporating cutting-edge technologies and materials to redefine the possibilities of flight. He balances performance and efficiency with aesthetics and user experience, conceiving visually captivating aircraft designed around the man. One of Max’s most notable collaborations has been with Pipistrel, where he played a vital role in the company’s ground-breaking advancements in the successful flight of the first-ever hybrid and electric aircrafts. Max brings passion, vision and a rich knowledge of aviation’s past and future to Jekta, where he reimagines the past to envision the future of our airframes.
Dimitri Suslakov
Head of Aircraft Design
Dimitry is a highly respected aviation engineer and pilot with an impressive career spanning over 30 years. His exceptional skills and expertise in designing and overseeing the manufacturing of amphibian aircraft position him as a specialist in this field. His commitment to continuous improvement and engineering innovation, combined with his genuine enthusiasm for amphibian airframes, underpins his ability to enable aircraft to transition effortlessly between water, paved, and unpaved runways. His designs have set new benchmarks for performance, safety, and versatility. Dimitry is also an experienced pilot, and this firsthand experience flying amphibious aircraft has provided him with valuable insights into operating and performance parameters. Colleagues respect Dimitry for his willingness to share his knowledge and mentor aspiring engineers and pilots, which will leave an indelible mark on the growing amphibious aircraft sector. Dimitry is responsible for translating the design visions of Jekta into practical flying reality.
Sergiy Araslanov
Head of Research
Sergiy isan esteemed aviation engineer with a remarkable career spanning over four decades. For twenty years, Sergiy served as a as an assistant professor of aircraft design, inspiring and mentoring countless students in this specialized discipline before transitioning into industry, where he took on aviation engineering and management roles. As the Director of Strategic Planning for the manufacture AN-74 and AN-140 aircraft at large-scale manufacturing, he played a crucial role in guiding development, shaping the strategic direction and improving these production. Sergiy’s knowledge, expertise and leadership led to his appointment as the Chief Researcher of Ukrainian Research Institute of Aviation Technologies, the Deputy General Director of the “Ukrainian Aviation” group. Sergiy is also a prolific author with his extensive research and scholarly work, publishing over 1000 articles and papers covering a wide range of topics, including aircraft design, aerodynamics, propulsion systems, materials science, and advanced manufacturing techniques. His research has expanded the knowledge base in these areas and influenced industry practices while informing the development of new technologies. Sergiy holds a Ph.D. in technical science and is responsible for technological research and its application to the market.
Natalia Terrapon
HR & Administration
Natalia is an accomplished human resources specialist with a wealth of experience supporting multinational corporations, spanning an impressive 15 years. Her expertise lies in effectively managing human resources and optimizing the employee experience to drive organizational success. With her deep understanding of HR practices and policies, and knowledge of Swiss labour laws, Natalia has consistently delivered results by implementing strategic initiatives that align with the company’s objectives. Natalia’s educational background adds a unique dimension to her skill set. She holds a diploma in electromechanical engineering, which has equipped her with analytical thinking and problem-solving abilities that she seamlessly applies in her HR role. This technical foundation enables her to approach HR challenges with a holistic perspective, considering the organization’s human and technical aspects. Natalia is responsible for supporting the growth and expansion of Jekta by seeking out the most valuable of human resources.
Yana Lebedeva
Head of Airworthiness & certification
Yana is a highly skilled aircraft design engineer specializing in airworthiness and certification, with an aviation career spanning more than two decades. With her expertise and meticulous approach, she has played a vital role in overseeing the successful certification of multiple amphibian aircraft. Yana recognizes the importance of creating solid relationships with all stakeholders involved in driving airframe airworthiness. She works closely with engineering teams, regulatory authorities, and testing agencies to ensure compliance with stringent airworthiness requirements. Her expertise extends to all phases of the certification process, from initial design and testing to final approval and ongoing maintenance. Yana is responsible for charting the certification and airworthiness path for Jekta airframes.
Jane Stanbury
Head of
Communication
Jane is a media communications and business development professional with more than 30 years of experience in the media, aviation and luxury travel sectors. Having researched, launched, financed, developed, and successfully sold two of her businesses, and with a first-class MBA, Jane brings a fresh big-picture perspective to communications and an intelligent approach to understanding, interpreting, and communicating with a global audience. In addition to providing specialist knowledge, regularly networking with industry colleagues, and writing for several aviation titles, Jane is responsible for helping Jekta find and define its voice to communicate with all its stakeholders.
Elena Degl'Innocenti
Aircraft Interior & Visual Design
Coming from 10 years working side by side with head of design, Elena took part of the development of the most interesting european aircraft companies, with a primary focus on aviation aesthetics and a strong presence in multimedia. She bring a peculiar blend of design expertise, going side by side with our technical department, combining form and function in aircraft interiors. Simultaneously, the focus of human centred design spread across other sectors, developing captivating visual experiences across multimedia projects, enhancing both Jekta aviation and multimedia ventures.
Our story
Background of Jekta
Jekta is run by an executive team that has already designed, certified, manufactured and sold conventional amphibious airframes.
This knowledge is being transferred to to our electric airframes using decades of experience in manufacturing and supporting aircraft operators.
we are located at
Swiss Aeropole.
From the heart of Europe,
A new class of amphibious aircraft, delivering sustainable flight
The golden era of magnificent seaplanes
Originally seaplanes pioneered the use of seas, rivers, and waterways as endless runways. They connected regions, nations, and continents in grand style. In the past, they represented the glamorous art of travel during a golden age of aviation, today they offer new environmentally friendly ways of connecting communities, delivering a valuable addition to the global aviation network, and with our PHA-ZE 100 bring back the joy of flight in beautiful aircraft.
We wanted to pay homage to some seaplanes that have become design icons. Like the PBY Catalina, with its proverbial ruggedness. Or the magnificence of the Short Sunderland. Or the unusual formula of the Blohm & Voss BV 138.
We stand on the shoulders of aviation giants, drawing inspiration from the rich heritage of amphibian aircraft, that have played a pivotal role in expanding human access to remote and challenging locations.
Our commitment to building electric seaplanes is not just a technological leap; it’s a continuation of the legacy of these versatile aircraft.
By harnessing electric propulsion, we aim to minimize our ecological footprint and reduce the impact of aviation on the environment, all while maintaining the capabilities and spirit of the seaplanes of the golden age of aviation.
Img on top: Dornier WAL in Venice
Img on the right: S55 Taking off ©Wikipedia
Looking back
heritage of amphibious era
This heritage reminds us of the importance of versatility, adaptability, and the relentless pursuit of innovation.
COMPANY VALUES
- Innovation
- Customer focus
- TRANSPARENCY
- Sustainability
- Quality
NEWS
join the project
If you want to be part of the regional amphibious revolution please get in touch