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
FutureFlight
Electric Aircraft Charging Expert Calls For Standardized Approach
Electro is urging eVTOL aircraft developers not plan carefully for recharging batteries, cautioning that the approach already in use for cars won't work in the aviation sector.
FutureFlight
FAA Clears Reliable Robotics for Next Stage of Remote Operations Approval
The company plans to convert existing aircraft, such as the Cessna Caravan, to be remotely operated with an autopilot engaged for all phases of flight.
FutureFlight On The Radar
EASA Publishes Proposed Revisions to VTOL Special Condition and Means of Compliance Document
The latest version of the European air safety agency's draft certification requirements covering new eVTOL aircraft includes changes made following a consultation process conducted in mid-2022, and further consultation is planned for 2023.
FutureFlight
Advanced Air Mobility Pioneers Embark On Another Decisive Year
2023 looks set to test the credibility of ambitious targets set by developers of new electric and autonomous aircraft as certification and financial challenges loom large.
Charter & Fractional
UK Group Demands Tenfold Tax Hike for Air Charter Flights
The Campaign for Better Transport also wants UK commercial business aircraft operators to lose their exemption from value-added tax.
Aircraft
Hydrogen Demonstrator Flights Set To Start in the New Year
ZeroAvia and Universal Hydrogen plan to fly their respective hydrogen-powered regional airliners early next year.
EHang and Eve End Year with Fresh Funding
New share issues and lines of credit were announced last week of 2022 as both companies manage the cost of bringing electric aircraft to market.
Aircraft
Hydrogen Demo Flights Now Set to Start in the New Year
After aiming to kick off flight test programs of hydrogen-powered aircraft by year's end, Universal Hydrogen and ZeroAvia are now eyeing early next year.
FutureFlight
Hydrogen Technology Demonstrator Flights Now Set to Start in the New Year
After aiming to begin flight testing converted twin turboprop regional airliners before the end of 2022, both ZeroAvia and Universal Hydrogen are now looking to make their first test flights in January.
FutureFlight
Fresh Funding Announced For eVTOL Aircraft Developers EHang and Eve
New share issues and lines of credit were announced at the start of the last week of 2022 as both companies manage the cost of bringing new electric aircraft to market.
FutureFlight
Airports Group Gears Up For Demand-led Vertiport Development Plans
Ferrovial, which designs, builds and operates airports, railways and highways worldwide, is already doing preliminary vertiport development work with some 30 prospective partners in the advanced air mobility sector.
FutureFlight On The Radar
Vertical Flight Society White Paper Proposes Flight Plan For Airport Hydrogen Fuel Hubs
After almost 12 months work the technical society's H2 Aero Team has published a white paper addressing what it will take to step up the development of hydrogen fueling infrastructure and processes for aviation.
FutureFlight
Spanish Airlines Back Plans to Convert Regional Aircraft to Electric Propulsion
Air Nostrum and Volotea have taken a minority stake in Dante Aeronautical, following recent backing by Australia's Rex Regional Express for its sister company Dovetail Electric Aviation.
Aircraft
Appropriations Deal Eases Boeing's Max Cert Burden
An amendment to the U.S. Congress's Appropriations Bill does away with a requirement for a crew alerting system upgrade for the Max 7 and Max 10 airliners.
Aircraft
Pratt & Whitney Runs First Hybrid-Electric Engine Ground Test
Pratt & Whitney, along with sister company Collins, prepare for flight testing of the first hybrid-electric propulsion system on a Dash 8 aircraft in 2024.
Airlines
Aviation Climate Taskforce Will Fund Decarbonization Projects
Ten major airlines are backing a not-for-profit group deploying funds to accelerate research and development projects aimed at cutting carbon emissions.
FutureFlight
Air Traffic Management Planning For European eVTOL and Drone Operations Set to Continue in 2023
Volocopter and other advanced air mobility pioneers are using flight trials across Europe to prepare all stakeholders for new air taxi and cargo delivery services in major cities like Paris.
Aircraft
Mesa Switches Regional Alliance From American to United
Mesa Airlines is ending its 30-year partnership with American Airlines and will redeploy its CRJ-900 fleet to fly regional routes for United Express.
FutureFlight
Airline Group Backs Reliable Robotics in Making the Case For Remotely-operated Aircraft
With a fleet of 130 aircraft, ASL Aviation Holdings will engage with other prospective customers for plans to convert existing flight decks with the Reliable Robotics advanced navigation and autoflight system.
FutureFlight On The Radar
U.S. Electric Aviation Pioneers Seek Federal Backing for Zero-emissions Efforts
A group of 15 companies has written to the U.S. transportation and energy departments, demanding that they keep up with European funding for green aviation technology.
FutureFlight
European Commission Funds Avio Aero To Build Hybrid-Electric Propulsion Demonstrator
The GE subsidiary will lead a consortium of 21 companies and institutions in the new Amber project, which is part of Europe's wider Clean Aviation initiative.
FutureFlight
Boom Names Partners to Power Its Overture Supersonic Airliner
Questions remain as to how and where the aircraft's Symphony turbofan engine will be manufactured, but Boom still insists it can get the Overture jet certified in 2029.
Aircraft
United Turns to Boeing for Reboot of Long- and Short-haul Fleet
The U.S. airline will add up to 200 of Boeing 787 Dreamliner to its fleet and 100 of the 737 Max single-aisle jets in a deal worth at least $65 billion.
FutureFlight
Airbus Offers USim Tool for Fast-track Simulation of Advanced Air Mobility Operations
The European aerospace group's Acubed unit has developed USim to help support the safe and efficient integration of uncrewed aircraft into controlled airspace.
FutureFlight On The Radar
Los Angeles' Advanced Air Mobility Pioneers Share Their Inside Track on Transforming Public Transportation
Integrating Advanced Air Mobility: a Primer for Cities is a new publication from the Urban Air Movement Labs public-private partnership working to lay the ground work for eVTOL air taxi services in southern California.
FutureFlight
Embraer Sharpens Focus For Energia Future Aircraft Project
Based on guidance from its advisory board of 20 airlines, the Brazilian aircraft manufacturer is prioritizing work on 19- and 30-seat hybrid-electric models and a hydrogen fuel cell application.
FutureFlight
Dubai Advanced Air Mobility 'Integrator Center' Will Support eVTOL Aircraft Operations in the UAE
Infrastructure group VPorts plans to open the facility at Mohammed bin Rashid Aerospace Hub adjoining the Al Maktoum International Airport in 2024.
FutureFlight
Airbus's Quest To Cut Carbon from Aviation Now Focuses on Superconductivity Technology
The company's UpNext research and development unit is partnering with the European Laboratory for Particle Physics for its Superconductor for Aviation with Low Emissions project.
Airports
Australian Regulator Consults on Guidelines for Vertiports
The country's air safety regulator has published draft guidelines on the vertiport landing sites that will be used by new eVTOL air taxi services.
FutureFlight
Brazilian Start-up Hatches Family of Hybrid-Electric Cargo Drones
The autonomous Tupan high-speed VTOL vehicles will be able to carry loads of up to 600 kg on flights of up to 1,200 km and at speeds of up to 850 km/h.
