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
Israel Approves First UAS for Unrestricted Operations in Civil Airspace
Elbit's Hermes Starliner uncrewed air system, which is intended for a variety of surveillance and inspection roles, will be able to operate alongside piloted aircraft .
FutureFlight
Doroni Starts Construction of Full-Scale H1 Personal eVTOL Aircraft
The Florida-based start-up intends to begin flight tests by the end of 2022, and says it will be ready to commence deliveries in 2024.
FutureFlight
Aviation Capital Group Offers $1 Billion To Support Volocopter eVTOL Leases
Volocopter recently started flight testing its two-seat VoloCity prototype and is also developing a larger VoloConnect model and the VoloDrone autonomous freighter.
FutureFlight
Joby Starts Conformity Testing on eVTOL Aircraft Aerostructures
The first carbon fiber aerostructures coupons were tested at Toray Advanced Composites, which is a production partner in Joby's eVTOL program.
FutureFlight
Brazilian Regulator Agrees on Process for Certifying Eve's eVTOL Aircraft
Agreeing on the type certification basis for its eVTOL aircraft is an important step in Eve Urban Air Mobility's plans to launch air taxi operations in 2026.
FutureFlight
Asian Flight Booking Platform Yugo Commits to Electra's eSTOL Aircraft
Singapore-based Yugo offers charter flights in aircraft flown by partner operators, including on business jets, and now plans to add Electra's eSTOL aircraft to its inventory.
FutureFlight
Destinus Wins Backing for Hydrogen-powered, Autonomous Hypersonic Aircraft
The Swiss start-up says its hydrogen airbreathing and rocket engines will allow its hyperplane aircraft to operate at hypersonic speeds as fast as Mach 15.
FutureFlight
Hydrogen Fuel Cell Developer HyPoint Opens UK Development and Production Site
The California-based company is investing almost $15 million in a new R&D and production facility in the Discovery Park at Sandwich, in the southeast of England.
Airports
Farnborough To Build 3rd Hangar, Consider eVTOL Flights
The UK business aviation airport is making further investments in buildings and services as traffic recovers after the Covid pandemic.
FutureFlight
Leonardo Will Make Fuselage for Vertical's VX4 eVTOL Aircraft
The Italian group's aerostructures division will design, test, and build carbon fiber fuselages in Italy and deliver these to UK-based Vertical Aerospace.
FutureFlight
Jaunt Makes the Cut for Air Force's HSVTOL Challenge
The eVTOL aircraft developer will further advance its concept for the MAV 55 Multi-Mission Vehicle for possible use by the U.S. Air Force and the U.S. Special Operations Command.
FutureFlight
New Owners To Resurrect Jetcruzer Aircraft with Electric Propulsion
The Jetcruzer is a 1980s vintage single pusher fixed-wing aircraft that could get a new lease on life with electric propulsion.
FutureFlight
U.S. Air Force Confirms More Agility Prime Backing for Electra's eSTOL Aircraft
Electra's blown-wing, hybrid-electric eSTOL aircraft is being designed to operate from landing strips as short as 300 feet.
FutureFlight
GE Aviation and Boeing Join Forces to Prepare Hybrid-Electric Flying Testbed
The U.S. aircraft engine manufacturer has been working on hybrid-electric propulsion technology for mroe than a decade, including motors, generators, power converters, and power management systems.
FutureFlight
Joby Teams with SK Telecom To Develop Plans for South Korean eVTOL Air Taxi Network
The U.S. eVTOL aircraft developer is joining German rival Volocopter and China's EHang in staking a claim to participate in South Korea's government-based urban air mobility plans.
FutureFlight
Texas Testing Zone Offers Advanced Air Mobility Innovators Real-World Experience
Rotorcraft group Bell has used the Mobility Innovation Zone at the Dallas-area Alliance Airport to conduct test flights with its Autonomous Pod Transport vehicle.
FutureFlight
Archer Says Feds' Decision Not to Prosecute Employee Boosts Its Defense of Wisk Lawsuit
The U.S. Department of Justice has decided not to prosecute Archer employee Jing Xue, who former employer Wisk Aero alleged stole trade secrets relating to its eVTOL aircraft design.
FutureFlight
Jaunt Broadens Access Skyways eVTOL Initiative with Airport Group Avports
Avports, which has been managing and operating airports for 95 years and runs 30 facilities around the U.S., wants to help pave the way for commercial eVTOL aircraft operations.
FutureFlight On The Radar
Public Acceptance and Social Impact of Advanced Air Mobility Are Key Priorities for UK Research and Innovation Group
UKRI's Future Flight Challenge manages an R&D budget worth over $400 million to support work on electric and autonomous aircraft, and the ecosystem needed to get these into service.
Rotorcraft
Sikorsky Teases Advanced Air Mobility Plans
Sikorsky teased expectations of its plans for the advanced air mobility (AAM) sector last week at the Electric VTOL Symposium.
Airlines
ICAO Report on Ryanair Diversion to Minsk Is Missing Key Facts
It is widely suspected that the Belarus government forcibly diverted flight FR4978 in order to arrest a pair of exile political opponents.
FutureFlight
Japanese Leasing Group Fuyo Invests in Bye's Planned Electric Aircraft
The size of Fuyo's investment in the U.S. company has not been revealed, but the deal will result in the Tokyo-based group holding a stake in Bye Aerospace.
Aircraft
Joby Seeks Nod for Public eVTOL Demos in San Francisco
Joby is in the early stages of planning flights in its eVTOL prototype over San Francisco Bay.
FutureFlight
Joby Seeks Clearance for Public eVTOL Flight Demonstrations in San Francisco
The company has filed paperwork with the Federal Communications Commission requesting clearance to use specific radio frequencies for test flights near the center of San Francisco.
FutureFlight
Zeva Seeks Investment For Wing-body eVTOL
The Zero is intended for a variety of applications, including personal transportation, emergency response, search and rescue, law-enforcement and cargo deliveries.
FutureFlight
Zeva Seeks Investment for Wing-body eVTOL
The Zero is intended for a variety of applications, including personal transportation, emergency response, search and rescue, law enforcement, and cargo deliveries.
FutureFlight
U.S. Army Looks To Enlist Beta's Alia eVTOL with Flight Test Contract
The army is the second branch of the U.S. military to support development work on Beta Technologies' Alia 250 eVTOL aircraft, which is already being assessed by the U.S. Air Force under its Agility Prime program.
FutureFlight
VoltAero Selects Energy Storage System for Hybrid-Electric Cassio Aircraft
France-based VoltAero is developing a family of hybrid-electric aircraft called Cassio that could start entering service in 2023.
FutureFlight
Airbus Sticks to Systematic Approach to eVTOL Market, Avoiding the Start-up Gold Rush
The company aims to fly a prototype of its CityAirbus NextGen eVTOL aircraft by the end of 2023, but says it won't confirm its plans for the advanced air mobility sector until it has resolved all operational and technical issues.
FutureFlight
Sikorsky Teases Possible Advanced Air Mobility Plans In VTOL Technology Talk
The helicopter manufacturer highlighted electric propulsion and automation as priorities for its research and development work on autonomous and optionally piloted flight.
