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
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.
FutureFlight
Charter Booking Platform Flapper Plans To Offer Jaunt Journey eVTOL Aircraft
The companies say they will work together to provide urban air mobility flights across a network of Latin American cities.
FutureFlight
UK's ATI Publishes Outline Plan for Hydrogen-powered 75-seat Airliner
The Aerospace Technology Institution says UK companies must step up their efforts and investments to exploit opportunities to bring new technology to market.
FutureFlight
Lilium Starts Next Phase of eVTOL Flight Testing in Spain
The company has appointed a new chief test pilot and is working on its fifth-generation eVTOL design using the Atlas Flight Test Center in southern Spain.
FutureFlight
JetPack To Train Asian Military Users for JB12 Personal Aerial Vehicle
The California-based company says that this is a breakthrough defense contact for its jet packs, as it steps up work on the Speeder VTOL aircraft.
FutureFlight
Elroy Announces Launch Customers for Autonomous Chaparral VTOL Aircraft
The fully autonomous vehicle is set to be used in a variety of commercial cargo, military, and humanitarian applications, with Elroy now backed by both private and government funding.
Aircraft
Bye eFlyer 800 Backlog Grows to 135
Bye Aerospace, which confirmed launch of the eFlyer 800 last April, has received purchase and option agreements for 135 of the electric-powered aircraft.
Aircraft
Airbus Launches Cargo Airline With Beluga Fleet
The aircraft manufacturer wants to tap growing demand for moving over-sized freight around the world using five of its A300-based BelugaST transporters.
FutureFlight
Leonardo Launches Technology Start-up Accelerator Program
The Italian aerospace, defense, and security group plans to support 30 start-ups over the next three years through its new Business Innovation Factory.
Airlines
IATA Calls For an End to Covid Travel Restrictions
Travel restrictions prompted by the outbreak of Covid's Omicron variant undermined a somewhat encouraging recovery in demand for flights in 2021.
Aircraft
Boeing Invests Another $450 Million in eVTOL JV Wisk Aero
Boeing is investing a further $450 million in its Wisk Aero eVTOL joint venture, signaling its intention to hold a significant stake in the AAM sector.
