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
Luminati Warns eVTOL Aircraft Developers about Battery Fires
The company says that after suffering costly damage from a battery fire, it has developed a solution that guards against this danger and wants to offer it to other electric aircraft companies.
FutureFlight
Joby Takes First Step To Securing Part 135 Air Carrier Certificate
The company has begun the process to earn the FAA Part 135 air carrier certificate it needs to start eVTOL air taxi services by 2024, along with the required type and production certificates for its five-seat aircraft.
FutureFlight
Sustainability Group Acquires Assets of Lithium-Sulfur Battery Pioneer Oxis
Johnson Matthey has acquired the assets and intellectual property of UK-based battery developer Oxis Energy and intends to use these as a platform to pursue its ambitions in the green hydrogen sector.
FutureFlight
Electric Leasing Group Skye Signs for Bye's eFlyer 800s
Skye Aviation has committed to ordering 15 of Bye Aerospace's new nine-seat eFlyer 800 electric fixed-wing aircraft, which is expected to enter service in 2025.
FutureFlight
Volocopter Makes U.S. Public Debut, With Piloted Flight At Oshkosh Show
The German company's 2X eVTOL prototype flew in front of large crowds at the EAA AirVenture event, and visitors were also able to take a close look at the cabin for the VoloCity air taxi model.
FutureFlight
Lilium Selects CustomCells To Provide Silicon-Anode Batteries
The German eVTOL aircraft manufacturer has developed its own batteries, which are expected to have energy density of 330 Wh/kg, and these will be made under license by CustomCells.
FutureFlight
Opener's BlackFly Makes Rare Appearance During Oshkosh Show
Hardly anyone has seen the production version of Opener's BlackFly single-seat eVTOL personal aerial vehicle since it first surfaced in 2018.
Avionics
Avidyne Develops AI-based PilotEye with Daedalean
The PilotEye vision system is based on artificial intelligence technology and promises to reduce pilot workload, while also supporting autonomous flight.
FutureFlight
Australian Advanced Air Mobility Summit Will Bring Industry and Government Together
The Australian Association for Unmanned Systems is organizing the country's first AAM Summit on September 1-2, with speakers from key government agencies anticipated and participation from across the industry.
FutureFlight
EHang Says Yunfu eVTOL Aircraft Manufacturing Plant Now Operational
EHang is building its two-seat, autonomous EH216 vehicle in a purpose-built factory at Yunfu in China's Guangdong province, where it will host an investors day event on August 18.
FutureFlight
Avidyne Teams with Daedalean To Offer AI-based Pilot Eye Vision System
The new PilotEye vision system will be offered for use on existing general aviation aircraft, as well as new advanced air mobility models, including eVTOL vehicles.
FutureFlight
NASA Backs Electra's Work on eSTOL Blown Lift Technology
Electra is partnered with a team from the University of Southern California to develop new methods for testing blown lift technology for its planned eSTOL aircraft.
FutureFlight On The Radar
Boeing Confirms Wisk's eVTOLs Are Part of Its Sustainability Plans, and Hydrogen Might Be, Too
Boeing has published a report on how it intends to make aviation more sustainable through multiple investments in new technology.
Aircraft
KinectAir Offering Frax Shares in VoltAero Cassio
Private aviation platform KinectAir is offering fractional shares in VoltAero’s Cassio hybrid-electric airplane.
Airlines
Airlines and Airports Disagree over European Slot Rule Change
IATA condemned the European Commission as "out of touch with reality" in its decision to set a 50 percent threshold for "use it or lose it" slot rules.
FutureFlight
Joby Boosts Board in Preparation for Wall Street Flotation
Joby intends to add three more board directors when it goes public through a planned merger with special purpose acquisition company Reinvent Technology Partners on August 5.
Environment
Beam Touts Off-grid Solar Power for Electric Aircraft
Clean-technology startup Beam Global believes it has advanced the case for off-grid solar energy as an aircraft power source.
FutureFlight
Wisk-Archer Trade Secrets Case Goes to Full Trial after Preliminary Injunction Denied
A federal judge did not grant Wisk's motion for a preliminary injunction against eVTOL aircraft rival Archer, arguing that the request for an expedited process was not backed by sufficient evidence and likelihood of success.
FutureFlight
KinectAir Offers Fractional Shares in VoltAero's Hybrid-Electric Cassio Aircraft
The private aviation platform says it will announce details of its Pioneer fractional ownership program at next week's EAA AirVenture show in Oshkosh with Cassio manufacturer VoltAero.
FutureFlight
Cape Air Spells Out the Case For Electric Regional Services
The New England based Part 135 operator has 103 aircraft in its fleet, and is planning to add Eviation's new Alice fixed-wing electric aircraft to the network.
FutureFlight
Beam Touts Off-Grid Solar Power for Electric Aircraft
Beam Global is claiming a world record for a flight across central California in a Pipistrel electric aircraft charged exclusively by off-grid solar energy.
Aircraft
Electrification, Automation Could Transform Regional Air Service
Experts says more energy-efficient propulsion and autonomous flight technology could significant cut the cost of carrying a smaller numbers of passengers.
FutureFlight
Universal Hydrogen Joins Deutsche Aircraft's Project To Convert Dornier 328 Regional Airliner
Universal Hydrogen is looking at how its modular capsules could be integrated with the new version of the Dornier 328 aircraft being developed by the German company.
FutureFlight
European Cities Join Forces to Plan for Urban Air Mobility
City planners in Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Italy are stepping up efforts to include new electric aircraft in their integrated public transportation options.
FutureFlight
Volocopter Steps Up Plans for eVTOL Air Taxi Network Across Malaysia
The German eVTOL aircraft developer has partnered with Malaysia Airports and Skyports to study the business case for investing in urban air mobility across the Southeast Asian country.
FutureFlight
Surf Air Plans Hybrid-Electric Cessna Grand Caravan Private Flight Fleet
Private air transportation group Surf Air Mobility says it will buy 150 Cessna Grand Caravan aircraft and replace their Pratt & Whitney PT6 turbine engines with an as-yet unspecified hybrid-electric powertrain in 2024.
FutureFlight
Archer Attorneys File New Brief Rebutting Wisk Trade Secret Theft Allegations
The federal court for the Northern District of California is due to hear Wisk's motion for a preliminary injunction against its eVTOL aircraft rival Archer on July 21.
FutureFlight
New eVTOL Promises 'Fly by Intent' Simplicity for Personal Air Mobility Customers
Israeli start-up Air this week came out of stealth mode, while declining to reveal more than a few bare details about its planned eVTOL aircraft for the personal air mobility sector.
FutureFlight
Kit-built Helicopter Maker Rotor X Advances Plans For Six-Seat eVTOL Multicopter
RotorX is working on plans to offer eVTOL multicopters powered by piston engines or electric motors for a variety of applications including passenger transportation.
FutureFlight
Porsche Study Tempers Urban Air Mobility Hype With Sober Assessment of Demand and Challenges
Three years on from its 2018 report, Porsche Consulting's new study on the urban air mobility market sees strong potential for eVTOL air taxi services, but with big investments required.
