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
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
FutureFlight
Pre-delivery Payments for Lilium eVTOL Aircraft Will Fund Crucial Development Work in 2023
Reporting third-quarter financial results to shareholders, publicly owned Lilium indicated that 2023 will be a busy and capital-intensive year as it works toward getting its eVTOL air taxi certified in 2025.
Aircraft
Private Aviation Group Volare To Operate Lilium eVTOL Aircraft
Volare will buy up to 20 of the Pioneer Edition executive version of the Lilium Jet and will operate charter flights in the UK and provide maintenance.
FutureFlight
Private Aviation Group Volare to Operate New Pioneer Edition Lilium Jet
The UK-based aircraft management and charter operator's new eVolare division has agreed to add up to 20 of the four-passenger eVTOL aircraft to its fleet.
FutureFlight
Savback to Market Speeder VTOL Aircraft For Military Missions in Nordic Countries
The Sweden-based helicopter distributor signed a letter of intent with Mayman Aerospace to buy 25 Speeders in an agreement valued at $45 million.
FutureFlight
Fuel Cell Developer H2Fly to Lead Europe's Project Heaven Hydrogen Aviation Initiative
The German company has started integrating fuel cells and liquid hydrogen tanks onto the HY4 technology demonstrator with plans to start ground testing in 2023.
FutureFlight On The Radar
European Commission Issues Drone Strategy Document for Advanced Air Mobility Planning
The document sets out plans by the executive branch of European Union government to develop operations by uncrewed aircraft across the continent.
FutureFlight
Volocopter Concludes European Urban Air Mobility Airspace Integration Flight Trials
The German eVTOL aircraft developer used its autonomous VoloDrone cargo delivery platform to simulate flights in Frankfurt and London during an exercise at a remote German airfield.
FutureFlight
Airbus Adds Fuel Cell Development to Its Game Plan For Hydrogen Airliners
During its Sustainability Summit in Toulouse, the European aerospace group announced it is stepping up development of a hydrogen propulsion system for medium-sized airliners using fuel cell technology.
FutureFlight
Electric Aviation Pioneers Invited To Compete in Pulitzer Air Race
The National Aeronautic Association wants to use the 1,000-nm race across America as a showcase for electric aviation.
FutureFlight On The Radar
Australian Government Seeks Industry Comments on Draft Guidelines for Vertiports
The country's Civil Aviation Safety Authority is laying the groundwork for regulations that will govern the construction and operation of vertiports used by eVTOL aircraft.
