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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
FutureFlight
CAE to Develop Flight Training Simulators For Joby's eVTOL Aircraft
The Canadian aviation training group is already working with three other eVTOL aircraft developers to meet their needs to train flight crew.
FutureFlight
Former Airbus Leader Set To Head eVTOL Pioneer Volocopter
Until July 2021, Dirk Hoke was CEO of Airbus Defence & Space and in September 2022 he will succeed Florian Reuter as CEO and managing director of Volocopter.
Rotorcraft
South Korean Investor and Honeywell Back Volocopter
South Korea’s WP Investments, along with Honeywell and previous investor Atlantis, are the main backers for a $170 million funding round for Volocopter.
FutureFlight
USAF's Agility Prime Team Evaluate Remotely Piloted Phenix Ultra 2XL VTOL
Built to fit within a standard 20-foot shipping container, the Phenix Ultra 2XL is intended to be launched by ground troops in less than 15 minutes.
FutureFlight
Vertical Flight Society Promotes Understanding of Hydrogen's Potential for Green Aviation
The organization is holding its first H2-Aero Symposium & Workshop in Long Beach, California, on March 29-31.
FutureFlight
Lilium Targets Premium Private Travelers Through eVTOL Alliance with NetJets
The agreement marks a shift in the German eVTOL aircraft developer's advanced air mobility business model as it prepares to bring the Lilium Jet into commercial service by 2024.
FutureFlight
Jaunt Air Mobility Strengthens eVTOL Team with Engineering Partner LTTS
India-based L&T Technology Services will provide so-called pure-play engineering services to Jaunt as it works to bring its family of eVTOL aircraft to market.
Charter & Fractional
NetJets Agrees To Buy and Operate 150 Lilium eVTOLs
Fractional aircraft provider NetJets plans to add 150 Lilium eVTOLs to its fleet for potential operations in the U.S. and Europe.
Regulations and Government
UK, U.S. Regulators Collaborate on eVTOL Certification
The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) will work closely with the FAA on eVTOL type certifications.
FutureFlight
UK and U.S. Regulators Collaborate To Support eVTOL Aircraft Certification
Both aviation regulators already have bilateral air safety agreements with other regulators such as EASA in Europe and Transport Canada.
