Charles Alcock
Managing Editor
Charles Alcock is managing editor of the AIN Media Group, 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 the University of Manchester in the UK and earned an honors degree in Politics and Modern History. He speaks English and French, and some German.
Latest from Charles Alcock
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.
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.
Aircraft
KinectAir Offering Frax Shares in VoltAero Cassio
Private aviation platform KinectAir is offering fractional shares in VoltAero’s Cassio hybrid-electric airplane.
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.
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.
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
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
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
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
Eve and Energy Group EDP Will Develop Electrical Charging Infrastructure
Embraer's Eve Urban Air Air Mobility Solutions division and energy group EDP will work together to develop electrical charging infrastructure to support eVTOL aircraft operations.
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.
FutureFlight
JetPack Starts Taking Preorders for Speeder VTOL Vehicle
JetPack completed flight testing of its first Speeder prototype in May, and is now producing more developed prototypes to test in the coming months.
FutureFlight On The Radar
New Advanced Air Mobility Reality Index Shows Shifts in eVTOL Rankings and Two New eSTOLs
SMG Consulting regularly updates its Advanced Air Mobility Reality Index, providing what it says is a data-driven assessment of companies trying to bring aircraft to market.
Aircraft
FAA Calls For Boeing 737 Cabin Pressure Switch Inspections
An FAA airworthiness directive was issued to assess the risk of dual-switch failures in 737 airliner cabin pressure systems.
FutureFlight
Wisk Files New Brief in Case Against eVTOL Rival Archer Regarding Alleged Theft of Trade Secrets
Wisk's lawyers presented new evidence in support of their motion for a preliminary injunction that they say is based on documents obtained and deposed testimony during the discovery phase of the trial being heard by a federal court in San Francisco.
FutureFlight
Trio of Carriers Commit To Converting Regional Airliners to Hydrogen Power
Icelandair, Air Nostrum, and Ravn Air have signed letters of intent with Universal Hydrogen to convert 21 regional airliners to replace Pratt & Whitney turboprop engines with its hydrogen powertrain.
FutureFlight
GKN Aerospace Launches H2Jet Hydrogen Fuel Cell Project In Sweden
The aircraft systems and components group is leading a two-year research and development program involving multiple Swedish partners to find new ways to generate electrical power for aircraft from hydrogen fuel cells.
Aircraft
Global Flight Data Highlights Harsh Realities of Covid Impact
Airlines continue to face uncertainty over possible longer-term changes to the air transport market, partly due to different rates of Covid vaccination.
FutureFlight
Whisper Aero Raises Funds for Planned Ultra-quiet Electric Propulsion Units
The Tennessee-based start-up has raised $7.5 million from venture capitalists and aims to bring the first of its electric thruster propulsion units to market by 2023.
FutureFlight
United Airlines Backs Heart's Electric Regional Airliner With Investment and Provisional Order
United Airlines Ventures is making an unspecified investment in Heart Aerospace's plans to develop a 19-seat electric regional airliner and says that United partner operator Mesa Airlines will add some to its fleet.
FutureFlight
Joby Teams with JetBlue and Signature To Establish Electric and Hydrogen Carbon Credits
Joby, the eVTOL aircraft developer, is working with U.S. airline JetBlue and business aviation services group Signature Flight Support to establish a basis for marketing carbon credits associated with flights in electric- and hydrogen-powered aircraft.
FutureFlight
NASA Adds New Partners for Advanced Air Mobility National Campaign Testing
Autonomous flight specialist Reliable Robotics and communications technology group Aura Network Solutions have been added as partners for the first full phase of testing in NASA's National Campaign.
