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
Fast-Growing Vertical Flight Society Moves Annual Forum Online
The Vertical Flight Society has been a strong advocate for eVTOL aircraft and advanced air mobility over the past six years.
Rotorcraft
Vertical Flight Society Moves Annual Show Online
The Vertical Flight Society saw its membership rise during 2020 and has announced a new partnership with the U.S. Army to support skills training.
FutureFlight
Airbus Uses Flightlab Testbed to Mature Advanced Air Mobility Technology
This year work in the Airbus Flightlab will include the use of a camera image-detection solution to enable low-altitude navigation.
FutureFlight
Europe's SESAR Backs Urban Air Mobility Demonstrations
The air traffic management research body is funding eVTOL aircraft flight trials set to begin in 2022 in Spain, the Netherlands, and the UK.
FutureFlight
Joby Stays Silent on Reports It Plans to Go Public Through SPAC Merger
Based on unnamed sources, a Reuters report says Joby has been in contact with investment banks to pursue a tie-up with a SPAC.
FutureFlight
Airship Pioneer Encouraged by New Interest in Hybrid Electric Airlander
The aircraft could carry up to 90 passengers on point-to-point services and could also be used to carry cargo and missions like surveillance.
FutureFlight
UK Regulator Selects Consortium to Advance Urban Air Mobility Plans
The UK Civil Aviation Authority aims to produce a concept of operations for urban air mobility.
FutureFlight
Eviation Won't Confirm Reports of a Redesign for Its Alice Electric Aircraft
Eviation is due to start flight testing its nine-seat, all-electric, fixed-wing aircraft in 2021 and is aiming for type certification in 2023.
FutureFlight
Artificial Intelligence Guards Against Unknown Cybersecurity Threats
The new DeepArmor cybersecurity system from SkyGrid and SparkCognition is now part of the AerialOS operating system for autonomous aircraft.
FutureFlight On The Radar
Consultant Takes a Reality Check on Advanced Air Mobility Contenders
SMG Consulting is ranking developers of aircraft and has also gazed into a crystal ball to discern what might happen in 2021.
FutureFlight
Paris Selects 30 Partners For Its Urban Air Mobility Initiative
Volocopter, Airbus, Ascendance Flight Technologies, Vertical Aerospace, EHang, and Pipistrel are the eVTOL aircraft developers that will participate in the Re.Invent Air Mobility Challenge.
Aircraft
Volocopter Moves To Enter U.S. eVTOL Air Taxi Market
The German company has applied for the FAA to concurrently validate its EASA type certification for the two-seat, all-electric VoloCity eVTOL aircraft.
FutureFlight
Volocopter Makes a Move on the U.S. Urban Air Mobility Market
The German eVTOL developer is eyeing the launch of commercial services in U.S. cities such as New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Washington, DC.
FutureFlight
Walle Commits to Using Jaunt Journey eVTOL Aircraft For Italian Air Taxi Services
The startup is looking at starting operations in the Milan and Naples areas.
FutureFlight
Aviation Gets a Voice In New French Government Hydrogen Council
Airbus engineering vice president Jean-Brice Dumont will represent the company and industry group GIFAS.
FutureFlight
Aviation Takes a Low Profile At Virtual Consumer Electronics Show
General Motors hinted that it is working on a Cadillac-branded personal air vehicle.
FutureFlight On The Radar
Could Defense Exports Support or Disrupt Baykar's Plans For Personal Air Vehicles?
The Turkish company is looking to expand export sales of military equipment such as its TB2 tactical drones while also developing plans for personal air vehicles in consumer markets.
FutureFlight
GE Aviation Seeks Buyers For Airxos Unmanned Traffic Management Unit
GE has said it will close Airxos on February 1 but is open to offers for the company.
FutureFlight
Fiat Chrysler Backs Archer's eVTOL Aircraft Plans
Archer plans to unveil and fly its first full-scale eVTOL prototype during 2021.
FutureFlight
Autonomous Flight Advances Larger Y6S Plus eVTOL Aircraft
The UK startup has launched a $25 million funding round to support its efforts to have a prototype flying by the end of 2023.
FutureFlight
Former Airbus Chief Executive Tom Enders Joins Lilium Board
Five years after being launched in 2015, Lilium is valued at just over $1 billion, according to some estimates.
FutureFlight
Vertical Flight Society Says Covid Has Not Slowed eVTOL Progress
The industry group has tracked a total of 407 eVTOL aircraft concepts from 245 different companies.
Aircraft
Fiat Chrysler Backs Archer's eVTOL Aircraft
The U.S. automotive group will provide composites and engineering support for the four-seat, all-electric eVTOL aircraft, which is due to fly in 2021.
FutureFlight
UK's FlyZero Recruits Leadership Team for Carbon-Free Aviation Program
The team is starting a 12-month research project involving around 100 technical experts.
Charter & Fractional
New Broker RightJet Focuses on Environmental Progress
Dubai-based business aviation services group RightJet has been launched by industry veteran Mark Hardman.
Charter & Fractional
UK Operators Stalled by Brexit Blocks on Market Access
UK government negotiators are being urged to negotiate new bilateral agreements with all 27 European Union member states.
Regulations and Government
UK Requires Negative Covid Test for Arriving Passengers
Starting next week, passengers, but not flight crew, will be required to provide a negative result from a Covid test taken within 72 hours of departure.
FutureFlight
FAA Clears the Way to Supersonic Aircraft Flight Tests in U.S. Airspace
The new FAA rule does not lift the ban on routine supersonic flights over land.
FutureFlight On The Radar
Revised Aerial Urban Mobility Rankings Will Spark More Debate
Abbot Aerospace has updated the criteria it uses to evaluate the likely success of new aircraft in the urban air mobility sector.
FutureFlight
Lilium Appoints Veteran Rolls-Royce Engineer to Lead eVTOL Program
Alastair McIntosh has been named chief technology officer and head of design organization at the German startup.
