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
Environment
New Hall Three Delivers More Space and Less Waste
Paris Air Show organizers have built a large Hall 3 structure, while also significantly reducing the environmental footprint of the building.
FutureFlight
Norway's Elfly Unveils Prototype for Noemi All-electric Seaplane
Scandinavian countries could be early adopters of electric aircraft as their governments prepare to ban fossil fuel for domestic flights.
FutureFlight
NASA Designates Boeing's Transonic Truss-braced Wing Concept As An X-Plane
Work to prove technologies that could reduce carbon emissions from airliner flights are being stepped up under the White House’s U.S. Aviation Climate Action Plan.
FutureFlight
FAA Consults Over Long-Awaited Plans to Certify Leonardo's AW609 Tiltrotor Aircraft
The U.S. air safety regulators approach to certifying the Italian manufacturer's tiltrotor appears to be closely aligned for long-awaited type certification plans for new eVTOL aircraft.
FutureFlight
Electra Rolls Out eSTOL Technology Demonstrator Aircraft Ahead of Flight Testing
During an event at Virginia Regional Airport in Manassas, the company explained how it intends to bring a nine-passenger, hybrid-electric eSTOL aircraft into commercial service in 2028.
FutureFlight
French Government Backs VoltAero's Hybrid-Electric Cassio Aircraft with €5.6 Million Grant
VoltAero, which is preparing to exhibit at the Paris Air Show later this month, is increasing its capital base through a Series B funding round that is supported by Kawasaki Motors.
Regulations and Government
FAA Set to Publish eVTOL Pilot Training Requirements
The advanced air mobility sector needs a path to recruiting and training large numbers of pilots to fly new eVTOL aircraft.
FutureFlight
FAA Prepares To Publish Proposals for eVTOL Pilot-training Requirements
The U.S. air safety agency will release its plans in the Federal Register on June 14 and then allow 60 days to receive industry feedback.
FutureFlight
Some Experts Say Best Use of Hydrogen Is Making Sustainable Aviation Fuels
Hydrogen is viewed by some as the fuel of the future for the air transport industry, but is it better used as a means for maker other synthetic eFuels?
Environment
German Protesters Damage Citation CJ1+ with Orange Paint
In the latest of a spate of attacks by European environmental protestors, a Cessna Citation was defaced with orange paint at Sylt Airport in Germany.
FutureFlight
Moya Prepares To Flight Test Technology Demonstrator for Multirole Autonomous eVTOL Aircraft
The Brazilian start-up is targeting applications including crop spraying and cargo deliveries for its all-electric aircraft, which will have a payload of 200 kilograms (440 pounds) and a range of 110 kilometers (70 miles).
FutureFlight
FutureFlight Weekly News Roundup
A weekly roundup of significant achievements from companies and organizations working to transform aviation with new types of aircraft, propulsion systems, flight controls, and business models.
FutureFlight On The Radar
Airports Urged To Make Advanced Air Mobility and Electric Aircraft a Key Part of Their Future
Airport development specialist WSP is helping to ensure that gaps in long-term infrastructure planning don't stand in the way of new eVTOL and eSTOL aircraft.
Rotorcraft
Bell Logs First Turkish 407GXi Helicopter Sale
Sancak Air's CEO Mustafa Bayrak will use the GXi for private trips, piloting the single-engine rotorcraft himself and expanding the company's Bell fleet.
FutureFlight
Propulsion Specialist H55 and Leasing Group Vmo Will Offer Finance Options To Electrify Aviation
The companies say electric propulsion will deliver much lower operating costs even if the purchase price of the new aircraft is higher.
FutureFlight
Supernal Taps Weather Data and Forecasting Technology To Prepare for eVTOL Aircraft Operations
The eVTOL aircraft developer, which is part of Hyundai Motor Group, is investing an undisclosed sum in TruWeather Solutions.
Environment
EU Commissioner Rebuts Calls for Bizjet Restrictions
Transport ministers from Austria, France, the Netherlands, Belgium and Ireland have backed taxes to reduce carbon emissions from business aviation flights.
FutureFlight
Honeywell Prepares to Harvest the Fruit of Its Investment In Advanced Air Mobility
The U.S. aerospace group is working as a key program partner with at least five developers of new eVTOL aircraft.
Aircraft
Boeing Takes Control of eVTOL Aircraft Developer Wisk
Boeing will support Wisk's plans to bring a four-seat autonomous eVTOL aircraft to market later this decade after taking full control of the company.
Cabin Interior and Electronics
Luxaviation's Charter App Gives Customers Green Options
The new charter booking app lets charter clients make carbon offset payments, order sustainable aviation fuel, and make more use of empty-leg flights.
FutureFlight
Boeing Takes Full Control of Autonomous eVTOL Developer Wisk Aero
The California start-up's CEO, Brian Yutko, confirmed that the company is now a wholly owned subsidiary of the aerospace and defense giant during a Boeing press conference in South Carolina.
Aircraft
SAS Taking Bookings for First Electric Flight in 2028
Scandinavian airline SAS plans to be one of the launch operators for Heart Aerospace's Swedish-made ES-30 hybrid-electric regional airliner.
FutureFlight
Piasecki To Develop and Build VTOL Vehicles in Former Sikorsky Helicopter Facility
The Coatesville, Pennsylvania factory produced Sikorsky S-76 and S-92 helicopters before Lockheed Martin closed it in 2022.
FutureFlight
FutureFlight Weekly News Roundup
A weekly roundup of significant milestones and achievements from companies and organizations working to transform aviation with new types of aircraft, propulsion systems, flight controls, and business models.
Aircraft
Piasecki Develops Hydrogen Helicopter at Sikorsky Factory
Piasecki Aircraft has acquired the former Sikorsky helicopter factory in Coatesville, Pennsylvania, and will use it to develop VTOL aircraft.
FutureFlight
Destinus Achieves First Flight with Hydrogen Afterburner To Advance Plans for Hypersonic Aircraft
The company's Jungfrau technology demonstrator made several flights last week from an airport in Germany using its new hydrogen-burning afterburner system.
FutureFlight
Lyte Aviation and AAM Institute Develop Business Case for Seattle-area VTOL Shuttle Flights
Lyte Aviation is developing a 40-seat hybrid-electric VTOL aircraft called the SkyBus LA-44 that it says will have a range of up to 1,000 kilometers and speeds of 300 km/h.
Environment
Prepping for Business Aviation's New Normal: Protests
An EBACE panel discussion partly focused on the fall-out from Tuesday's protests against business aviation and France's new ban on domestic flights.
Charter & Fractional
Avinode Set to Simplify Online Charter Booking Process
Operators and brokers will be able to present clearer options for their clients and conduct all aspects of transactions in one place online, Avinode said.
FutureFlight
ZeroAvia's Hydrogen-electric Propulsion System Will Power Natilus's Kona Cargo Drone
With a 3.8-ton payload and range of up to 900 nm, the Kona is the smallest member of a planned family of autonomous freighters.
