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
Japan's Kanematsu Group Leads $23 Million Series B Funding Round for Skyports
The trading conglomerate was joined by other new investors including industrial real estate company Goodman Group, Italian airport and infrastructure funds 2i Aeroporti and F2i, and GreenPoint, a U.S.-based venture-capital firm.
FutureFlight
Air Traffic Management Group Terra Drone Boosted by $70 Million Funding Round
The Series B funding round was supported by Mitsui, SBI Investment Co., Tokyo Land Corporation, Kyushu Electric Power T&D, and Seika Corporation
FutureFlight
Paris eVTOL Flight Trials Aim To Make a Big, Quiet Impact on Air Mobility
Flight testing with both the 2X technology demonstrator and the VoloCity eVTOL prototype are intended to provide a complete understanding of the aircraft's acoustic profile.
FutureFlight
New Concept of Operations Report Paves the Way for UK Progress with Urban Air Mobility
The document was produced by a consortium that included Eve, Vertical Aerospace and Volocopter, along with air traffic management groups NATS and Atech, ground infrastructure specialist and drone operator Skyports, and London's Heathrow and City Airports.
FutureFlight
Car Maker Suzuki Backs SkyDrive's Plans To Bring Flying Car to Market
The Tokyo-based start-up is now receiving professional support from Suzuki Motor Corporation for research, development, manufacturing, and business planning.
FutureFlight
New Aviation Technology Prompts Insurance Providers To Recalibrate Risk Assessments
Specialist insurance group Global Aerospace formed its Emerging Technology Unit to address the need to cover advanced air mobility products and operations.
FutureFlight
Sustainability Group Acciona Commits to Strategic Investment in Eve's Urban Air Mobility Plans
The $30 million strategic investment is set to be made once Eve completes an initial public offering on the New York Stock Exchange following a business combination with Zanite Acquisition Corp.
FutureFlight
Delta Air Lines Agrees to Back Airbus Plans For Hydrogen-powered Airliners
Under a memorandum of understanding, Delta Air Lines will participate in Airbus-lead research and development work aimed at getting a hydrogen-powered airliner into service in 2035.
FutureFlight On The Radar
Iceberg Short-Selling Report Targets Lilium Mainly over Battery Claims for Ducted Fan eVTOL Design
The March 14 report argues that Lilium is losing ground in the race to launch eVTOL commercial operations and also that it has overstated the solidity of announced aircraft sales to date.
Aircraft
Textron Buying Pipistrel To Boost Electric Aviation Plans
Textron will make further investments in European electric aircraft maker Pipistrel, which will be the foundation for its new eAviation division.
FutureFlight
Textron Supercharges Electric Aviation Ambitions With Pipistrel Acquisition
Textron will pay around $242 million to acquire Slovenia-based Pipistrel and says it will back the company with further investments and its global product support network.
Aircraft
Eve Steps Up Miami UAM Plans, Nets 200-unit Order
Embraer Eve has announced plans to prepare the way for urban air mobility flights in the Miami area with local operator Global Crossing Airlines.
Finance, Taxes, Insurance
Isle of Man Register Ditches Russian Private Aircraft
Responding to sanctions against Russian individuals and companies over the invasion of Ukraine, the Isle of Man has deregistered multiple private aircraft.
FutureFlight
Eve Steps Up Plans for Miami Urban Air Mobility, as Local Operator Agrees to Add 200 eVTOLs to Charter Fleet
Charter airline GlobalX has signed a letter of intent covering 200 provisional orders for Eve's four-passenger eVTOL aircraft.
FutureFlight
Archer Tells Shareholders It Is on Track with eVTOL Aircraft Development Plans
The California-based start-up reported that it began 2022 with $746.9 million in cash reserves as it stepped up work to bring a four-passenger eVTOL aircraft to market.
FutureFlight
Solvay Steps Up Work on Materials for Advanced Air Mobility with New Partnerships
The materials specialist has started working with Wichita State University’s National Institute for Aviation Research.
FutureFlight
U.S. Air Force Pilots Take the Controls of Beta's Alia for First Crewed Military eVTOL Flight
Beta Technologies is working to bring the six-seat, fixed-wing Alia 250 eVTOL model into commercial service in 2024 and is also building a network of charging stations across the U.S.
FutureFlight
Universal Hydrogen To Build Manufacturing and Distribution Center in Albuquerque
The company wants the New Mexico plant to be ready to start production in 2024, to support the first planned commercial flights by converted airliners in 2025.
FutureFlight On The Radar
Industry Responds to FAA Draft Engineering Brief on Vertiport Design
Stakeholder consultations on FAA proposals for vertiport and vertistop design standards is due to close on April 18, and a final engineering brief could be ready in June.
Charter & Fractional
Russian Sanctions Could Dent Business Aviation Market
Business aviation companies now face new pressures to ensure they do not breach sanctions and other restrictions on Russian-controlled aircraft.
Environment
More Mandates and Messaging Needed To Drive SAF Adoption
The British Business & General Aviation Association discussed a carrot-and-stick approach to overcoming cost-based objections to sustainable aviation fuel.
FutureFlight
Spirit AeroSystems Will Make Wings for CityAirbus NextGen eVTOL Aircraft
The aerostructures group will develop and manufacture lightweight wings for the five-seat vehicle at its facility in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
FutureFlight
Aerotree Commits To Deploying EHang eVTOL Aircraft in Malaysia
The company provides aviation training and maintenance services and now holds an operating permit that it says allows it to start commercial eVTOL flights in Malaysia.
Maintenance and Modifications
Brexit Continues To Impact UK Aviation Skills Shortage
High-level political tension between the UK and the European Union has blocked agreements on the movement of skilled aviation labor across borders.
Airlines
IATA Appears To Have No Plans to Expel Russian Airlines
The group says that it must put considerations such as dealing with canceled flight payments above a principled stance against Russian aggression.
Charter & Fractional
UK Grounds Jet at Farnborough in Russian Sanctions Probe
A Luxembourg-registered Global 6500 was prevented from leaving Farnborough on March 8 as UK officials investigate possible Russian connections.
Aircraft
CAE to Develop Simulators for Joby's eVTOL Aircraft
CAE will develop flight training equipment, including a full-flight simulator, for Joby's five-seat eVTOL aircraft that is due to enter service in 2024.
FutureFlight On The Radar
NTSB Investigators Publish Preliminary Report Into Joby eVTOL Flight Test Accident
The report says that the all-electric aircraft experienced an unspecified component failure during a test flight and incurred substantial damage.
Aircraft
NetJets Set to Offer Fractional Shares in Lilium's eVTOL
The proposed partnership with NetJets marks a shift in business model for eVTOL aircraft developer Lilium, which is recruiting operating partners.
Aircraft
Jaunt's eVTOL Plans Boosted by LTTS Engineering Alliance
Jaunt, which is working to certify its five-seat Journey eVTOL aircraft by 2026, is establishing design and production facilities in Canada.
