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
L3Harris Enlists Bye's eFlyer 800 Into Military ISR Service
The electronic-warfare specialist intends to convert the new all-electric aircraft for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance operations.
FutureFlight
In a Phoenix Laboratory, Honeywell Is Putting Leading-edge Advanced Air Mobility Technology to the Test
The company plans to enlarge the lab, to allow for the development of more flight-control and propulsion technologies.
FutureFlight
Airbus Aims To Expand Scope for Autonomous Flight
Through the new Vertex project, initial flight testing starts this year on the Flightlab helicopter as the company prepares for a full demonstration in 2023.
Avionics
Project Vertex Taps Helo Flightlab for Autonomy Trials
Airbus is using its H130 Flightlab helicopter to evaluate new cameras, sensors, tablets and head-mounted displays for autonomous flight development work.
FutureFlight
Jetoptera Touts Fluidic Propulsion System as Quieter, More Efficient Alternative to Electric Power
The company's own aircraft prototype features a distinctive box-wing design combined with a canard that has already been evaluated in a wind tunnel.
FutureFlight
Skyports Teams With Kanematsu to Develop Advanced Air Mobility in Japan
Under a memorandum of understanding, the companies will work together on plans for vertiports and drone delivery services.
FutureFlight
Bye Sets Sights On Business Aviation Market With Nine-Seat eFlyer 800 Aircraft
The all-electric eFlyer 800 will directly challenge turboprop-powered business aircraft like the ubiquitous King Air and is slated to enter service in 2026.
FutureFlight
Universal Hydrogen Closes $20.5 Million Series A Funding Round
The start-up has now raised $23.5 million to support its plans to convert airliners to hydrogen propulsion by 2025.
FutureFlight On The Radar
EASA Issues Special Condition Requirements For Electric Propulsion
The special condition document published follows an extensive industry consultation process and will help companies developing new eVTOL aircraft.
Aircraft
Bye Electric eFlyer 800 Seeks To End King Air's Reign
Bye Aerospace says its eFlyer 800 will carry up to nine people on flights of up to 500 nm, powered by a pair of new Safran electric motors.
FutureFlight
Leonardo Confirms New Plans For a Hybrid-Electric Helicopter
The Italian rotorcraft group is expected to develop a technology demonstrator for an aircraft that could lead to a new model being ready to enter service in the second half of the 2020s.
Rotorcraft
Leonardo Helicopters Rebrands Kopter SH09 as the AW09
With AW09 service entry projected for early 2024, Leonardo is making plans to work on a hybrid-electric helicopter in the second half of the decade.
FutureFlight
Harbour Air and MagniX Strengthen eBeaver Team With Solar Impulse Battery Expertise
H55, a spin-off venture from the Solar Impulse electric aircraft program, will provide battery packs to support conversion of the Beaver utility aircraft to electric propulsion.
FutureFlight
MightyFly Cleared to Start Autonomous Cargo Drone Services
The start-up's hybrid-electric MF-100 aircraft is expected to have a 100-pound payload and a range of up to 600 miles.
FutureFlight
Oxis Is Close to Delivering Higher-energy Lithium-Sulfur Batteries for Electric Aircraft
By the fall of 2021, the UK company expects to be making its solid-state Li-S battery cells available for trial applications in aviation and other sectors.
FutureFlight On The Radar
Very Light Jet Air Taxis Were Advanced Air Mobility 1.0 Until the Hype Got Seen as Hubris
Veterans of the VLJ wave in the 2000s urge today's eVTOL pioneers to learn from the trend that failed to change the private aviation game as promised.
FutureFlight
Volocopter Steps Up Chinese Urban Air Mobility Plans Through Geely Joint Venture
Chinese automotive group Geely Technology is among the largest investors in the German eVTOL aircraft developer.
FutureFlight
Lilium Partners With Airports to Build Regional Air Mobility Network in Bavaria
From Nuremberg and Munich airports, Lilium intends to offer flights to cities across the large and economically vibrant German state.
FutureFlight
With Astro Acquisition Looming, Horizon Says Investors Still Bullish On eVTOL Air Taxis
Astro says it plans to acquire Horizon Aircraft as it seeks a Nasdaq listing to support plans for a trio of eVTOL designs, the Cavorite X5, the Alta and the Elroy.
FutureFlight
EHang Confirms Plans For VT30 Longer-Range, Lift-plus-Cruise eVTOL Aircraft
The Chinese company is also seeking an experimental certificate for a new piloted version of its fully-autonomous EH216 eVTOL aircraft.
FutureFlight
NFT Unveils New-look Aska eVTOL as a Flying SUV
The California start-up plans to fly a full-scale prototype in 2022 as part of NASA's Urban Air Mobility Grand Challenge en route to planned first deliveries in 2026.
FutureFlight
Xwing Achieves Autonomous Gate-to-Gate Operations in Test Flight
The converted Cessna 208B Grand Caravan operated autonomously from pushback at the gate until it returned to that gate at Buchanan Field Airport in California.
FutureFlight On The Radar
Lilium Offers a Clearer View of the Science and Technology Behind Its Ducted Fan eVTOL Aircraft
Publications from the company's new chief technology officer and one of its cofounders provide a robust explanation as to why the company is taking a path less traveled to delivering electric-powered air mobility.
FutureFlight
MagniX Reports Noise Reductions From Electric Beaver Test Flights
The company has converted the DHC-2 Beaver utility aircraft to run on its Magni500 electric motor.
FutureFlight
Blade Orders 20 Beta Alia Aircraft for Air Mobility Services
Beta Technologies refers to the six-seat Alia 250 as an "electric vertical aircraft," rather than using the standard industry term eVTOL.
Aircraft
Blade to Add 20 Beta eVTOLs to Urban Air Mobility Fleet
Over the past week Beta Technologies announced orders for up to 170 of its six-seat Alia 250 all-electric aircraft from Blade Urban Air Mobility and UPS.
FutureFlight
Chinese Logistics Group Turns to Pipistrel for New Cargo VTOL Drone
The unmanned aerial vehicle is expected to enter service in 2023, and China's SF Express group says it may need as many as 1,000 units.
Airlines
French Lawmakers Vote To Ban Some Domestic Flights
New restrictions on domestic scheduled air service in France might affect only five routes, but they could portend wider environmental restrictions.
FutureFlight
PitchBook Forecast Sees Crunch-time Approaching for Under-funded eVTOL Startups
Investors are set to discover how unrealistic some timelines for aircraft certification and commercial service launch could prove to be.
FutureFlight
Jump Teams With Caltech to Develop "Electronic Parachute" for eVTOL Aircraft
Research work is to be conducted under a new Small Business Technology Transfer research contract awarded this week by the U.S. Air Force’s Agility Prime program.
