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 On The Radar
Happy Takeoff White Paper Makes the Case for Hydrogen to Power Advanced Air Mobility
The aircraft developer says that by 2026 hydrogen fuel cells will be more viable for aircraft propulsion than batteries or internal combustion engines.
FutureFlight
Engine Maker MTU Teams with DLR on Hydrogen Fuel Cell Propulsion Project
The companies will jointly develop the technology for fixed-wing aircraft.
Aircraft
MTU Teams with DLR To Advance Hydrogen Fuel Cells
MTU Aero Engines and Germany's DLR aerospace research center intend to flight test a hydrogen-powered version of a Dornier Do228 aircraft.
Airlines
Traffic Data Shows How Southwest Overtook U.S. Rivals
Throughout the first seven months of 2020, low-cost carrier Southwest Airlines consistently flew more than U.S. rivals American, Delta, and United.
FutureFlight On The Radar
EmbraerX's eVTOL, Formerly Known As DreamMaker, Resurfaces As Eve
It turns out that in late July 2020, the company filed a U.S. trademark application for its proposed all-electric, four-seat aircraft.
FutureFlight
Bell's New Manufacturing Facility Could Be Used For Nexus eVTOL Program
Bell unveiled its new manufacturing technology center in Fort Worth, Texas, on August 10.
FutureFlight
Bye's eFlyer 2 Aircraft Will Feature ASR's Parachute Recovery System
Aviation Safety Resources is to develop a three-parachute recovery system for Bye Aerospace's eFlyer 2 electric aircraft.
Aircraft
Vertical Aerospace Set To Unveil Fixed-wing eVTOL Design
Vertical Aerospace this week teased eVTOL watchers with a short animation of what appears to be a new tiltwing eVTOL with four propellors.
Aircraft
MagniX Sees Regional Operators as Electric Aviation Pioneers
Electric propulsion specialist MagniX is stepping up flight testing of electric versions of the Cessna Caravan and DHC-2 Beaver.
FutureFlight
MagniX Advances Three Electric Aircraft Programs with Sights Set on 2022 Service Entry
MagniX is focusing its electric propulsion efforts on electrifying the Caravan and Beaver aircraft, as well as on Eviation's new Alice design.
FutureFlight
Jump Aero Pushes the Case For eVTOL Emergency First-Response Use Over Air-Taxi Operations
Jump Aero says it is developing a single-seat eVTOL to be self-piloted by paramedics, but it has so far declined to release any projected performance details.
Accidents
Air India Express 737 Crashes At Calicut Airport
India's Directorate General of Civil Aviation confirmed that an Air India Express aircraft broke into two pieces after skidding off the end of the runway.
Avionics
BAE Prepares for Fly-by-Wire Tests on eVTOL Aircraft
BAE Systems believes that fly-by-wire flight controls will be critical to the success of eVTOL aircraft and is working with several prospective partners.
Maintenance and Modifications
Aviaa Adds New World Aviation to MRO Support Network
New World Aviation provides support for a wide range of business aircraft from its headquarters in Allentown, Pennsylvania.
Maintenance and Modifications
GDC Delivers VIP Boeing 777 to Head of State Customer
The Boeing 777-300ER features a lightweight interior, full connectivity and a crew rest areas plus "fly-away kits" for repairs away from base.
Cabin Interior and Electronics
Voting Now Open in Private Aviation Design Competition
A mix of leading business aircraft manufacturer design and completions specialists are competing in the 2020 International Yacht & Aviation Awards.
Aircraft
Summer Demand Drives Bizav Recovery, but Not Everywhere
European business aviation activity has heated up since the start of summer, but worldwide flight hours have fluctuated as Covid continues to drag demand.
FutureFlight
First Response eVTOL Services Could Support Early Adoption of Urban Air Mobility
Several eVTOL pioneers, including Jump Aero, Jaunt, and EHang, have plans for eVTOL emergency support aircraft.
FutureFlight
CityAirbus Makes Automatic Flight As eVTOL Developer Prepares For Forward Flight Trials
Airbus Helicopters is preparing to move the CityAirbus technology demonstrator to its Manching facility in southern Germany in late August.
FutureFlight
NASA Chief Says Autonomous Flight is Critical to Urban Air Mobility
NASA administrator Jim Bridenstine pledged increased support to U.S. efforts to develop aircraft with more sustainable propulsion systems and autonomous flight capability.
Maintenance and Modifications
Latest IBA Data Sees Airline MRO Spend Cut in Half in 2020
With 800 airliners to be withdrawn from fleets worldwide, and with more than half of these permanently retired, MRO demand is down, according to IBA.
Environment
Dip in Flight Activity Cut CO2 Emissions By 70 Percent in Europe
Data gathered from Spire's satellites showed a 43 percent reduction in flights, resulting in a cut in carbon dioxide emissions of just over 70 percent.
Aircraft
Emergency First Response Could Boost Urban Air Mobility
Some eVTOL aircraft pioneers see first-response emergency services as a strong early use case for urban air mobility operations.
Accidents
EASA Review Notes Rise in Nonfatal Accidents and Incidents
There were no fatal accidents involving European aircraft operators in 2019, but higher than average nonfatal accidents and serious incidents.
FutureFlight
EASA Launches Research on Safe Use of Artificial Intelligence in Aviation
Further study will lead to new guidelines, to be published in early 2021, on how to certify AI-based technology.
FutureFlight On The Radar
U.S. Department of Transportation Seeks Comments on Future Technology Proposals
Stakeholders have until September 28, 2020, to comment on proposals published in the U.S. DoT's Pathways to the Future of Transportation document.
Aircraft
EHang Selects Main eVTOL Factory Site
The city government of Yunfu in Guangdong province is investing $6 million in EHang's factory, which will open with annual capacity to build 600 aircraft.
Aircraft
Sabrewing Aims To Start Flight Tests for Rhaegal eVTOLs
Type certification plans for the first Rhaegal eVTOL aircraft have been pushed back into the first quarter of 2022.
FutureFlight
Dufour Aerospace Completes eVTOL Technology Demonstrator Flights
The company's main focus for now is on a hybrid-electric five- to seven-seat eVTOL aircraft called the aEro 3.
FutureFlight
UK Flight School Takes Order Book for Bye's eFlyer Family to 360 Units
Skyborne Airline Academy has placed deposits for six eFlyer 2s and four of the larger eFlyer 4 electric aircraft.
