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
CAE and Volocopter Launch Collaboration To Train eVTOL Aircraft Pilots
Aviation training group CAE will help eVTOL developer Volocopter prepare a training program to operate its aircraft in commercial services, which are scheduled to start in 2024.
FutureFlight On The Radar
It's Never Too Early To Start Planning To Train eVTOL Aircraft Pilots
Aviation training group CAE is urging eVTOL aircraft manufacturers and operators to urgently develop plans and infrastructure to train eVTOL aircraft flight crew.
Accidents
No Survivors Found from Russian An-26 Crash in Kamchatka
An Antonov An-26 twin turboprop operated by Kamchatka Aviation Enterprise crashed in the sea while on approach to Palana Airport on Russia's Pacific coast.
FutureFlight
Volocopter Secures EASA Production Approval Through Acquisition of Manufacturing Partner
Volocopter will soon hold both EASA production and design organization approvals when it completes the acquisition of DG Flugzeugbau, which has been helping it to build eVTOL prototypes for the past 10 years.
FutureFlight
How EHang's European Ally FACC Helps Extend Its Reach Beyond China
Austria-based aerostructures manufacturer FACC has been a partner for eVTOL developer EHang since the Chinese company's early days, helping it with manufacturing, certification, and advocacy efforts.
FutureFlight
Archer Recruits Chief Test Pilot To Define eVTOL Flight-deck Systems
Former Bell and U.S. Marine Corps test pilot Jeff Greenwood is joining eVTOL aircraft developer Archer, and Dave Dennison is coming aboard as the company's vice president of engineering.
FutureFlight
German Companies Partner To Convert Regional Airliner to Hydrogen Power
Deutsche Aircraft and H2Fly have started a joint project to develop hydrogen fuel cells to convert the Dornier 328 regional airliner to hydrogen propulsion.
FutureFlight
VoltAero's Hybrid-Electric Cassio Embarks of Tour of French Airports
VoltAero wants to show local business leaders, politicians and aviation officials the benefits it says its hybrid-electric Cassio bring to regional air services.
FutureFlight On The Radar
Joby's Wall Street Manifesto Makes the Case for Its Merger with Spac Pack Reinvent
A newly published Investment Memo from Joby Aviation and Reinvent Technology Partners spells out what they see as the value proposition behind their plans to dominate the urban air mobility market.
Aircraft
Redesigned Eviation Alice Set to Fly Later This Year
Eviation Aircraft today unveiled the revised design for its all-electric Alice aircraft and confirmed plans to complete FAA type certification in 2024.
FutureFlight
Volocopter and DB Schenker Prepare Blueprint for eVTOL Cargo Operations
During a proof-of-concept trial at Germany's Stuttgart Messe convention center, Volocopter and logistics group DB Schenker evaluated multiple aspects of ground operations with the VoloDrone eVTOL vehicle.
FutureFlight
AirCar Completes Airport-to-Airport Flight Trial in Slovakia
Flying car innovator Stefan Klein says his AirCar will be suitable for trips of up to around 600 miles, while being able to quickly convert to road use in urban areas.
FutureFlight
SAE and Eurocae Ask Whether Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Standards Are Fit For Aviation Purposes
The international standards organizations have published new guidance on how artificial intelligence and machine learning can be safely and appropriately applied
FutureFlight
Eve Taps Embraer Beacon Platform To Expedite eVTOL Aircraft Maintenance Services
Eve Urban Air Mobility Solutions is to include Embraer's Beacon maintenance coordination in its portfolio of services for eVTOL aircraft operations.
FutureFlight
Eviation Unveils Redesigned Alice Electric Aircraft as First Flight Approaches
Eviation Aircraft has significantly redesigned its 11-seat all-electric Alice, with a new T-shaped tail and its MagniX electric propulsion units relocated.
Airlines
UK Jet Zero Council Funds Zero Emissions Infrastructure R&D
The Jet Zero Council has provided additional funding for work to develop infrastructure to support electric- and hydrogen-powered aircraft at UK airports.
FutureFlight
USAF Contract Boosts Electra's eSTOL Aircraft Program
Electra expects to start ground testing a technology demonstrator before the end of 2021 for its planned eSTOL aircraft, which is one of several new designs being evaluated by the U.S. Air Force for possible military roles.
FutureFlight
ZeroAvia Starts Work on 19-Seat Hydrogen-Powered Airliner, With Funding In Place For 50-plus Seater
The company will use a pair of 19-seat Dornier 228 twin turboprop aircraft for research and development work under the UK government-backed HyFlyer II program.
FutureFlight
Collins Aerospace Ready To Build Electric Motors for Airlander Airship
When it enters service in 2025, Hybrid Air Vehicles' Airlander 10 airship will be powered by two of Collins's 500-kW electric motors in tandem with a pair of diesel engines, but it is expected to be all-electric by 2030.
FutureFlight
Airways Aviation Signs as Launch Customer for VoltAero's Cassio Hybrid-Electric Aircraft
The pilot-training organization, based at Montpelier in the south of France, will help VoltAero plan for operations of its Cassio family of hybrid-electric aircraft and also develop training for pilots.
FutureFlight
Archer Says Wisk Filed eVTOL Patent Only after Hearing about Its Design
The lawsuit between Wisk and Archer is due to be heard before the federal court for the Northern District of California, starting on July 7. Wisk is alleging theft of trade secrets and intellectual property relating to an eVTOL aircraft design.
FutureFlight On The Radar
Archer's Attorneys Turn the Tables on Wisk in Legal Battle over eVTOL Aircraft Designs
Arguements made by Archer's legal team in an opposition court filing signal a change in tactics in its defense of charges of trade secrets theft made by rival Wisk in a case due to start in San Francisco on July 7.
FutureFlight
Eve To Provide Up to 60,000 eVTOL Flight Hours to Private Flight Group Blade
The flights will be operated by partner operators in South Florida and on the U.S. West Coast using up to 60 of Eve's planned four-passenger eVTOL aircraft.
FutureFlight On The Radar
EASA Opens Consultation on Revised Special Condition VTOL Means of Compliance
The European aviation safety regulator is giving VTOL aircraft developers and other interested parties another chance to comment on the proposed means of compliance for certifying new aircraft under its Special Condition VTOL rules.
Airlines
UK Air Travel Industry Leads Protests over Covid Restrictions
Airline and airport staff joined forces with their managements in a "travel day of action" protest, demanding changes to UK government Covid travel rules.
FutureFlight
AirMobility Agrees to Market Dufour's Aero 3 eVTOL In Japan
According to eVTOL aircraft "sales and services platform" AirMobility, Japan expects to see initial advanced air mobility operations as early as 2023.
FutureFlight
Qarbon Aerospace To Build Hexa Multicopter for Lift Aircraft
Lift Aircraft has selected fellow Texas company Qarbon Aerospace as the manufacturing partner for its Hexa electric multicopter, which is intended for leisure flights and personal transportation.
FutureFlight
Hyundai Taps Anra for eVTOL Air Traffic Management Support
The South Korean automotive group's Urban Air Mobility Division will work with Anra Technologies to establish operational infrastructure for its planned eVTOL aircraft, which are scheduled to enter service in 2028.
FutureFlight On The Radar
Rolls-Royce Publishes Ambitious Net-zero Carbon Manifesto
The UK aircraft engines group has committed to achieve specific goals to eliminate carbon from its products and its entire business operation.
FutureFlight
Prospective 'Drive and Fly' Customers Explain Why They've Signed Up for the Aska Flying SUV
Following an April launch event for NFT's Aska eVTOL vehicle, just under 100 prospective buyers have placed $5,000 deposits to become members of the California-based start-up's "Founders Club."
