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
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.
FutureFlight
Eve Adds Bluenest to Urban Air Traffic Management Partnership
The eVTOL aircraft developer says it plans to offer an agnostic platform that could be used by any company's vehicle to safely operate in and out of urban vertiports.
Airlines
IATA Slams 30% Increase in North Atlantic Airspace Fees
The airline industry group has demanded that Danish and Icelandic air navigation service providers reverse planned airspace fees averaging 30 percent.
Environment
UK Aerospace Industry Raises Concerns over Political Instability
Member companies of the ADS group say the UK lacks clear political leadership in the face of unprecedented challenges to the industry's competitiveness.
Aircraft
Funding Approved For Hybrid-Electric Geared Turbofan Project
MTU, Pratt & Whitney, Collins, Airbus and GKN are working together on the Sustainable Water-Injecting Turbofan Comprising Hybrid-Electric project.
FutureFlight
Funding Approved To Develop Hybrid-Electric Turbofan for Narrowbody Airliners
Five major aerospace groups are joining forces for the Sustainable Water-Injecting Turbofan Comprising Hybrid-Electrics project to cut fuel burn and CO2 emissions by 25 percent for Pratt & Whitney's Geared Turbofan.
Aircraft
Pioneers Push to Accelerate Green and Autonomous Aviation
The race is on to electrify and increasingly automate aircraft, with the first commercial applications now anticipated in the second half of the 2020s.
Engines
EasyJet and Rolls-Royce Test Hydrogen Propulsion System
The low-cost airline an the aircraft engines group have completed
FutureFlight
Rolls-Royce and EasyJet Test Hydrogen Propulsion System
The UK-based low-cost carrier and the aircraft engines group are collaborating on plans to develop a direct combustion hydrogen powertrain for narrowbody airliners.
Airlines
Removal of EU Laws Creates Uncertainty for UK's Aviation Sector
Hundreds of European Union aviation-related laws could be scrapped under "sunsetting" provisions in the UK's post-Brexit Retained EU Law Bill.
FutureFlight On The Radar
FAA Redefines Commercial Operating Rules to Include New Powered-lift eVTOL Aircraft
The U.S. agency is proposing changes to definitions used in rules covering commercial air operations so that new aircraft types can be appropriately regulated alongside existing airplanes and helicopters.
Aircraft
FAA To Add Powered-lift Aircraft to Air Carrier Category
The FAA has issued a notice of proposed amendment to prepare the way for eVTOL air taxi services with commercial carriers including United Airlines.
FutureFlight
EHang's EH216 Aircraft Tests Europe's EGNOS Satnav Deployment for eVTOL Flights
The Chinese company is deploying its autonomous two-seat aircraft at Lleida-Alguaire Airport in Spain as part of Europe's Satellite Based Augmentation System Adoption in Multicopter VTOL Aircraft (SAMVA) program.
Aircraft
Hybrid-electric Ampaire Eco Caravan Makes First Flight
The Eco Caravan made a first flight on November 18, marking a key waypoint in Ampaire’s efforts to bring the converted hybrid-electric aircraft to market.
FutureFlight
Surf Air Mobility Goes It Alone With Share Flotation After SPAC Deal Collapses
The flight booking platform and special purpose acquisition company Tuscan Holdings Corporation II have abandoned their plants for a $1.42 billion merger.
FutureFlight
Lilium Raises $119 Million For eVTOL Aircraft Program With New Share Issue
The German start-up issued more than 91 million new Class A shares priced at $1.30 in a capital raise backed by a mix of new and existing shareholders, including several board directors.
Aircraft
Gulf Region Buys Into Advanced Air Mobility Vision
In the UAE and Saudi Arabia, companies are investing time and effort to get eVTOL air services up and running with all-electric aircraft in 2025.
FutureFlight
Archer Picks Garmin Flight Deck for Midnight eVTOL Aircraft
The G3000 avionics suite, which is already used for multiple business aircraft, has also been selected by rival eVTOL aircraft developer Joby.
FutureFlight
Liquid Hydrogen Fuel Drone Tests Could Clear the Way for Larger Aircraft
GKN Aerospace used a proton exchange membrane fuel cell stack to test the use of liquid hydrogen fuel on a ground-based testbed representing a search-and-rescue drone.
FutureFlight
Evia Aero Backs Cranfield Plans for Larger Hydrogen-powered Regional Airliner
The German carrier has agreed to take 10 hydrogen-powered 19-seat aircraft being developed by Cranfield Aerospace Solutions, in addition to 15 of its planned conversions of the nine-passenger Britten-Norman Islanders.
FutureFlight
France's BeautHyFuel Green Aviation Project Pursues Cryogenic Hydrogen Propulsion Goals
The next step on a journey toward hydrogen-powered aircraft will start with the planned first flight in 2023 of an Elixir light airplane powered by a new TP-90 turbine engine.
