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
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.
FutureFlight On The Radar
Hydrogen May Well Be the Answer for Green Aviation, But Many Questions Need Addressing
Alton Aviation Consultancy is helping governments and industry to prepare for a future in which aircraft are powered by hydrogen.
FutureFlight
Horizon Breaks Free from Astro To Step Up Work on Cavorite eVTOL Aircraft
Astro Aerospace acquired Horizon in June 2021 but was not able to proceed with a planned Nasdaq market listing.
FutureFlight
NASA Steps Up Urban Air Mobility Automation Trials in Vertiport Lab
The U.S. agency believes that automation is the key to making the new mode of air transportation efficient and profitable.
Rotorcraft
XTI Pushes Back TriFan 600 Service Entry
Colorado-based XTI has slipped the entry-into-service schedule for its under development TriFan600 into 2027.
Airlines
IATA Sees Airline Passenger Traffic Bouncing Back Strong
June 2022 showed strong recovery in international revenue passenger kilometers, even though staff shortage disruption has hit markets such as the UK.
Aircraft
American Airlines Plans Hydrogen-powered Regional Fleet
American Airlines is investing in hydrogen pioneer ZeroAvia and may buy up to 100 of its hydrogen-electric propulsion systems to convert regional jets.
FutureFlight
American Airlines Commits to Hydrogen-powered Regional Fleet with ZeroAvia Investment
ZeroAvia aims to bring a hydrogen-powered 19-seat airliner into commercial service by 2024, with larger aircraft, carrying up to 80 passengers, set to use its powertrains by 2026.
FutureFlight
XTI Pushes Back TriFan 600 Service Entry with Xeriant Merger Still Pending
XTI now claims to have "qualified preorders" valued at $3 billion for its turbine-powered TriFan 600 VTOL aircraft, for which it recently completed an FAA preliminary design review.
VW Becomes Latest Carmaker To Enter AAM Market
Volkswagen’s Chinese subsidiary unveiled an early prototype of a four-passenger eVTOL.
FutureFlight
Skyports Closes $26.3 Million Series B Round with Backing from Singapore's ST Engineering
The company is prioritizing Asia-Pacific countries for its plans to develop advanced air mobility services and infrastructure, including vertiports.
FutureFlight On The Radar
How a 50-Seat Skybus eVTOL Could Spark a Transportation Revolution in London
A white paper published by the UK’s Connected Places Catapult consortium takes a closer look at research into how a large-scale eVTOL aircraft could be a cost-effective commuter platform.
Ampaire Selects RED Aircraft for Hybrid Caravan Engine
RED will supply its A03 engine for the Eco Caravan hybrid-electric project it is undertaking with Ampaire.
Aircraft
Pratt & Whitney Teams With Hybrid-Electric Specialist VerdeGo Aero
Raytheon's investment in VerdeGo Aero launches a hybrid-electric propulsion collaboration between the start-up and aircraft engine maker Pratt & Whitney.
FutureFlight
Raytheon Backs VerdeGo Aero for Hybrid-Electric Propulsion Alliance with Pratt & Whitney
Raytheon Technologies' venture capital arm, RTX Ventures, is leading a group of investors backing the Florida-based company, which is looking to power several new eVTOL and eSTOL aircraft.
FutureFlight
Six Commercial Operators Commit To Adding Atea eVTOL Aircraft to Fleets
Prospective launch customers for the four-passenger aircraft include Evfly and Yugo in Singapore, France-based HeliFirst and Jet Systems Helicoptères Services, California-based Flyshare, and Philjets Group in the Philippines.
FutureFlight
Textron Changes Course on eVTOL Aircraft Plans, Confirming Nexus Is an Active Program
The U.S. group first revealed an early design for the Nexus eVTOL in 2019 and then unveiled a more advanced Nexus 4EX design in 2020.
FutureFlight
Airbus Builds Test Center to Work On CityAirbus NextGen eVTOL Aircraft
Germany's federal government has expressed support for the European aerospace group's investment in electric aviation.
FutureFlight
Honeywell Joins Archer eVTOL Aircraft Program, As Flight Testing Progresses
Archer aims to complete construction of its full-scale eVTOL prototype in 2023 as it seeks to complete type certification in 2024.
FutureFlight
AAM Movers and Shakers Assemble as Revolution Aero Returns to San Francisco
More than 300 investors, start-up founders, regulators, financiers, engineers, investors, and self-proclaimed industry disruptors are expected to gather in California for the well-regarded event.
FutureFlight
VW Becomes Latest Carmaker To Enter Advanced Air Mobility Market with eVTOL Aircraft Plans
Automotive groups including Geely, Fiat Chrysler, Toyota, and Hyundai are already making large investments in electric aircraft.
