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
U.S. Air Force Turns to Reliable Robotics for Guidance on Autonomous Operations
Reliable Robotics will provide recommendations and a plan of action to help the Air Force determine how best to exploit remotely piloted operations technology for its aircraft.
FutureFlight
Air-One Transportation Hub Starts World Demonstration Tour in the UK
The 17,000-sq-ft facility, which has been developed by Urban-Air Port in the UK, will be displayed in cities worldwide to give public stakeholders the chance to envisage how advanced air mobility will work.
FutureFlight
Joby Relaunches Annual Elevate Summit to Gather Aerial Mobility Expertise
The Elevate Summit, which was not held in 2020 and 2021, is returning this October and will be held at the Duggal Greenhouse at the Brooklyn Navy Yard in New York City.
FutureFlight
Archer Co-founder Brett Adcock Quits Co-CEO Role, Leaving Adam Goldstein at the Helm
Brett Adcock will remain on Archer's board of directors and has said he will announce new plans in the next few months.
FutureFlight
EASA Will Validate UK Certification of Vertical Aerospace's VX4 eVTOL Aircraft
The decision should expedite the four-passenger VX4 aircraft's ability to start operating in the UK and the rest of Europe by 2025.
FutureFlight
For Aircraft Engine Giant Safran, Opportunity Knocks on the Door Leading to Electric Aviation
Safran is providing members of its EngineUs family of electric motors for a variety of new electric aircraft that could include a hybrid-electric 19-seat regional airliner and several light general aviation models.
FutureFlight On The Radar
Air One Vertiport in the UK Gives a First Glimpse of Advanced Air Mobility Operations
The Air One facility in Coventry in the UK has been jointly developed by ground infrastructure group Urban-Air Port and eVTOL aircraft developer Supernal.
Aircraft
Electric Aircraft Seek to be Part of Business Aviation's Future
Several companies developing electric and hybrid-electric eVTOL and eSTOL aircraft are exhibiting at the 2022 EBACE show in Geneva.
FutureFlight
Maryland Airport Bids To Become Autonomous Flight Technology and Operations Hub
Salisbury Ocean City Wicomico County Airport on the state's Delmarva peninsular claims several advantages in its plans to expand uncrewed air system activity, including a sparse local population.
FutureFlight
Thales Joins Eve Urban Air Mobility as Key Partner for eVTOL Program
Thales's announcement of its partnership with Eve comes just three weeks before the Embraer subsidiary is due to complete its merger and Wall Street IPO with Zanite Acquisition.
FutureFlight
Quiet eVTOL Flights Will Be the Benchmark For Olympic Gold at Paris 2024 Games
Volocopter is using advanced air mobility preparations for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games to assess eVTOL performance characteristics including aircraft noise.
Regulations and Government
Eve and Zanite Plan To Complete Merger, IPO Next Month
Eve Urban Air Mobility and Zanite Acquisition expect to complete their merger on May 9 and then float shares in the new Eve Holding entity on the NYSE.
FutureFlight
Eve and Zanite Expect To Complete Merger and Wall Street Listing in May
Shareholders in Zanite Acquisition are set to vote on the proposed business combination with Eve Urban Air Mobility at a special meeting on May 6.
FutureFlight
Lilium Submits eVTOL Type Certification Means of Compliance Plan to EASA
Gaining acceptance for the means of compliance allows the manufacturer to prepare to demonstrate that its aircraft meets airworthiness requirements.
FutureFlight On The Radar
New Concept of Operations Spells Out How Autonomous eVTOL Vehicles Could Operate Alongside Other Aircraft
Skyports and eVTOL aircraft developer Wisk say they have produced the first concept of operations to directly address the challenge of establishing autonomous advanced air mobility services using new and existing infrastrcture.
FutureFlight
Preorder for 100 EHang eVTOL Aircraft Paves the Way for Urban Air Mobility in Indonesia
Indonesian company Prestige Aviation has agreed to add 100 of EHang's two-seat EH216 Autonomous Aerial Vehicles to its fleet to provide passenger transportation in the Southeast Asian country.
FutureFlight
Wisk and Skyports Issue Concept of Operations for Autonomous eVTOL Aircraft Flights
The concept of operations document spells out how autonomous aircraft could be safely integrated with new and existing vertiports and also with drones and piloted aircraft.
FutureFlight
Developers of eVTOL Aircraft Resist the Safety Case for Parachutes
Parachutes can be deployed in seconds to allow aircraft to make a safe, soft landing if major systems like propulsion and flight controls fail, but are they suitable for new vertical takeoff and landing vehicles operating at low altitudes?
Airlines
For Now, Covid Remains a Bigger Drag on Air Transport than War
IATA says the fall-out from Russia's invasion of Ukraine has been relatively limited, with the exception of rising fuel prices and risks to leasing assets.
FutureFlight
Dufour To Locate Some Work on Aero eVTOL Aircraft Family in Montreal
The Swiss company is recruiting software engineers in Montreal, which is Canada's main aerospace industry hub.
FutureFlight
Jaunt Attracts Two New Canadian Private Investors for Its eVTOL Aircraft Plans
The announcement follows the March 10 completion of its merger with advanced air mobility group Airo, of which it is now a wholly owned subsidiary.
FutureFlight On The Radar
Lilium's Latest Securities and Exchange Commission Filing Seeks To Inspire Patience In Investors
The company has reported that its Lilium Jet eVTOL aircraft is now not expected to enter service until 2025, representing a likely delay of at least 12 months.
FutureFlight
Composite Manufacturers Provide Guidance on Advanced Air Mobility Applications for New Materials
In April, the American Composite Manufacturers Association is holding a series of webinars about how different materials can apply to the design and production of new types of aircraft and the infrastructure that supports them.
FutureFlight
Piasecki Prepares To Step Up Testing Regime for Hydrogen-Powered Helicopter
Piasecki Aircraft's CEO and president, John Piasecki, provided a detailed PA-890 helicopter program update at recent Vertical Flight Society events.
Aircraft
Lilium Delays eVTOL Certification Timeline to 2025
Lilium has pushed back the projected timeline to achieve type certification of its seven-seat Lilium Jet eVTOL by 12 or more months, to 2025.
FutureFlight
ZeroAvia Teams with Zev Station To Develop Hydrogen Refueling at California Airports
ZeroAvia and Zev Station are both participating in the Vertical Flight Society's new H-2 Aero Team initiative to advance hydrogen propulsion for aviation.
FutureFlight
Spirit AeroSystems To Work on Electric Aviation Group's Hydrogen Airliner Plans
The aerostructures group is to collaborate in the development of a 90-seat airliner but has yet to specify what its role will be.
FutureFlight
Lilium Pushes Projected eVTOL Aircraft Type Certification into 2025
The company says it will build and start flying the first production-conforming versions of the seven-seat Lilium Jet in 2023 and will then need another 15 to 18 months to earn EASA type certification.
FutureFlight
Australia's Greenbird Consortium Now Includes Local eVTOL Aircraft Developer AMSL
AMSL Aero is working on an all-electric eVTOL aircraft called the Vertiia, which would carry a pilot and five passengers or around 1,100 pounds of freight.
FutureFlight
Gold Coast Helicopter Operator Signs Up for Australian Vertiport Network Plan
Sea World Helicopters has joined a partnership led by ground infrastructure group Skyportz to develop commercial eVTOL aircraft operations in Australia.
