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
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.
Engines
EasyJet and Rolls-Royce Test Hydrogen Propulsion System
The low-cost airline an the aircraft engines group have completed
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
Aircraft
European Protestors Block Business Aviation Airports
European environmental groups demanding a ban on all private jet flights this week tried to disrupt airports in the UK, Italy, and the Netherlands.
FutureFlight
Axial-Flux Motors Can Deliver the Power Density Aviation Needs, Says Automotive Spin-off
Evolito has new financial backing to advance its plans for the electric aviation sector, where it believes the superior power density of its electric propulsion units will be transformative in delivering more range and payload.
Aircraft
China Approves Embraer's E190-E2 Airliner At Zhuhai Airshow
This week the Civil Aviation Administration of China issued type certificates to ATR and Embraer, as Boeing's 737 Max remains grounded in the country.
Accidents
SJ-182 Crash Highlights Throttle Failure and Crew Error
Indonesian air accident investigators published their final report into Sriwijaya Air's fatal accident in January 2021 involving a Boeing 737-500 aircraft.
FutureFlight
Vertical Aerospace Prepares To Expand eVTOL Aircraft Flight Testing
The company is currently employing ground power for tethered hover trials as it prepares to start using Rolls-Royce's new electric propulsion system in untethered flight tests.
FutureFlight
Vertiport Testbed Opens for Paris Air Mobility Development Project
Skyports has installed a vertiport at the Paris-area Pointoise-Cormeilles Airport to support the Re.Invent Air Mobility project. That project intends to launch eVTOL air services during the 2024 Olympic Games, which will be hosted by the French capital.
FutureFlight On The Radar
FAA Reveals eVTOL Airworthiness Criteria in Proposed Type Certification Basis for Joby's Aircraft
The U.S. air safety regulator published proposals for type certifying eVTOL aircraft and has given stakeholders until December 8 to comment on its plans.
Aircraft
Chinese Regulator Approves ATR 42-600 Regional Airliner
The Civil Aviation Administration of China has opened the door for the European airframer to re-enter the Chinese air transport market.
FutureFlight
Swiss Start-up Unveils Plans and Seeks Backers for Electric Seaplane
Jekta says its PHA-ZE 100 amphibious aircraft would have a range of up to around 150 kilometers and would support new, cost-effective air connections between communities located near seas, lakes, and rivers.
Accidents
Fatalities Confirmed After Airliner Crashes in Africa's Lake Victoria
An ATR42-500 twin turboprop operated by Precision Air crashed on approach to Bukoba Airport in Tanzania, killing 19 of the 43 people on board.
FutureFlight
Medical Delivery Group Signs Up as U.S. Launch Operator for Aero2 Drone
Air Methods' uncrewed aircraft subsidiary Spright has agreed to buy up to 140 of the Aero2 tiltwing models being developed by Swiss start-up Dufour Aerospace.
