Charles Alcock
Managing Editor
Charles Alcock is a senior editor with AIN, 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 Manchester University in the northwest of England and earned an honors degree in Politics and Modern History. He speaks English and French, and some German.
Latest from Charles Alcock
FutureFlight
Chicago Gets a Preview of an Urban Air Mobility Future, with India Next
Working with helicopter charter flight group Blade, Eve conducted a simulation of what its eVTOL aircraft could do for travelers in the sprawling U.S. city and its suburbs. Blade plans to add eVTOL vehicles to its network in America and India.
FutureFlight
FAA Lays Foundation For eVTOL Aircraft Operations With Vertiport Standards
The U.S. aviation regulator has published safety guidelines for key advanced air mobility ground infrastructure.
FutureFlight
European Flight Simulation Tests eVTOL Aircraft Airspace Integration Scenarios
Flight trials conducted this week at Pontoise airfield near Paris saw Volocopter's 2X eVTOL vehicle flying alongside Pipistrel's Velis Electro aircraft and M3's Boreal UAS drone to show how crewed and uncrewed traffic can mix in lower airspace.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Kittyhawk Plans To Wind Down Business
eVTOL startup Kittyhawk has announced that it has “made the decision to wind down” and that it is “still working on what’s next.”
FutureFlight
Kittyhawk Signals Its Imminent Exit from eVTOL Aircraft Innovation
The company founded by Google gurus Larry Page and Sebastian Thrun says it is still "working out what's next" but has decided to wind down its operation.
FutureFlight
Jetson Refines Design for Personal eVTOL Vehicle as Fundraising Continues
The Swedish company has delayed the start of manufacturing from 2022 to 2023 as it works on further refinements to the design of its Jetson One single-seater personal eVTOL vehicle.
FutureFlight
Ecocopter Teams with Airbus over eVTOL Service Plans in South America
The rotocraft operator, with a fleet of 21 Airbus helicopters, is looking at how eVTOL aircraft could be deployed for commercial services across Chile, Ecuador, and Peru.
FutureFlight
Mako Promises Viable Regional Airline Range with Electric Superconductor Propulsion System
The UK-based startup is seeking to optimise existing superconductor technology to develop its Forerunner family of electric-ducted-fan engines to power flights of up to around 600 km.
Aircraft
Heart Unveils Plans for 30-seat Electric Regional Airliner
Air Canada and Saab are investing in the Swedish start-up's plans to bring the 30-seat ES-30 model to market in 2028.
FutureFlight
Heart Unveils Plans for 30-seat Electric Regional Airliner with New Backers
The Swedish start-up has attracted new investments from Air Canada and Saab to bring the ES-30 into commercial service in 2028, which is two years later than the in-service date that had been announced for the smaller ES-19 aircraft.
FutureFlight
New Beta App Gives Access to Growing Network of Electric Vehicle Charging Stations
The eVTOL aircraft developer is developing the recharging infrastructure needed to make electric vehicles viable and will make facilities available to operators of multiple vehicle types via a mobile app.
FutureFlight
PAL-V International Opens UK Sales Operation for Its Liberty Flying Car
The convertible road/air vehicle will be on display at Oxford Airport from September 20 to 22, and PAL-V's new facility in the UK will offer a simulator for new users to try out the flying car.
Aircraft
Mourning Royals Fly Private As UK Prepares For Queen's Funeral
The UK government is asking foreign leaders to take commercial flights to Queen Elizabeth's funeral, with London's Heathrow Airport closed to private jets.
FutureFlight
Volant Aerotech Rolls Out VE25 eVTOL Technology Demonstrator
The Chinese company rolled out the first full-scale example of the lift-and-cruise design on September 2, at an airfield in Yixin, a city near Shanghai.
Aircraft
Europe's AllianceJet Expands Managed Fleet with Challenger
Malta-based AllianceJet is growing its managed fleet to maintain the highly personalized service it says makes the difference for private owners.
FutureFlight
Kaman Prepares To Start Flight Testing of Kargo UAV Autonomous Logistics Platform
The specialist helicopter manufacturer believes it can save lives and costs by replacing crewed helicopters with its new 500-pound autonomous vehicle for military resupply missions.
FutureFlight
Regent Says Approval in Principle Marks Key Step to Certification of Electric Sea Glider
The U.S start-up has been supported by Bureau Veritas Marine & Offshore as it steps up the certification process for its family of sea gliders. It now expects to engage with the U.S. Coast Guard on the next stage in the process.
FutureFlight
Victoria Seeks Advanced Air Mobility Leadership Role in Australia
The Australian state's government has issued an advanced air mobility policy document to support the development of advanced air mobility and Melbourne could get the country's first vertiport for eVTOL aircraft flights.
FutureFlight
EvFly Shops for eVTOL and eCTOL Aircraft To Support Asian Air Mobility Service
The new Singapore-based operator expects to start air taxi services in Thailand and has wider plans to build a flight network across Southeast Asia, as well as in the Middle East and Africa.
FutureFlight
GKN and Partners Step Up Liquid Hydrogen Fuel System Tests for Aircraft
Filton Systems Engineering and Fabrum have developed test equipment to help GKN Aerospace advance technology to fuel aircraft propulsion systems with liquid hydrogen.
FutureFlight On The Radar
ASTM International Publishes First Standards for Vertiport Design
The U.S.-based industry standards group has taken five years to develop specific guidance about how to design vertiports and vertistops for new VTOL aircraft.
FutureFlight
U.S. Air Force's HSVTOL Challenge Propels Jetoptera Fluidic Propulsion Technology
The start-up believes it can deliver a quantum leap in performance with technology using a small flow of compressed air from a turbo-compressor to suck in a much greater volume of ambient air, creating a vortex that significantly amplifies the airflow.
FutureFlight
XTI Reboots Plans for TriFan VTOL Aircraft Family with Off-the Shelf Propulsion
The TriFan 600 is now expected to take until 2027 to enter commercial service, carrying between four and six passengers in various business and airline applications.
FutureFlight
Xwing Says Cargo Operations Are the Fast-track to Autonomous Commercial Flights, But Passenger Acceptance Is a Long Way Off
The company has acquired three cargo delivery operators as it seeks to demonstrate that its technology can support flights without a pilot on board that could make services far more cost-efficient.
FutureFlight
EHang Reports Progress on EH216 eVTOL Certification and Income from Preorders
New customers for the two-passenger, autonomous eVTOL aircraft include China's Tianxingjian Cultural Tourism Investment and Development and Prestige Aviation in Indonesia.
FutureFlight On The Radar
Future of Air Mobility Accelerator Program Aims to Support SME Innovators
The UK's Connected Places Catapult is looking to involve up to 12 small- and medium-sized enterprises in the 2022 Future of Air Mobility Accelerator program, whose backers include Supernal, GKN, Heathrow Airport, and the UK CAA.
FutureFlight
American Airlines Places Deposit On Supersonic Airliner Order
The planned Overture supersonic airliner is expected to carry between 65 and 85 passengers on flights of up to 4,250 nm and at speeds of up to Mach 1.7.
FutureFlight
Air Mobility Airo Group Prepares for Initial Public Offering
Airo subsidiary Jaunt recently signaled its intention to set up a second production line for its Journey four-passenger eVTOL air taxi in India.
FutureFlight
Bombardier Probes Blended Wing Design As Basis For Green Private Jets
The company says it is keeping an open mind on what type of new propulsion systems might be used for future low-carbon business jets.
