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
Charter & Fractional
Avinode Tweaks Charter Portal To Boost Aircraft Operator Profits
Avinode adds new features to its online charter marketplace to help operators better manage their profit margins.
Aircraft
EHang Partners With Vodafone for eVTOL Connectivity
Telecommunications group Vodafone will provide SIM cards to support communications for EHang's family of Autonomous Aerial Vehicles.
Cabin Interior and Electronics
Avinode Integrates FlightBridge with Schedaero
Online charter marketplace Avinode integrated its FlightBridge travel management and Schedaero flight operations systems to help operators manage trips.
Aircraft
Is Urban Air Mobility Part of Business Aviation's Future?
Multiple exhibitors at the 2019 NBAA-BACE show are involved in developing technology for the fast-emerging urban air mobility sector
Aircraft
Vertical Says Seraph eVTOL Is Top of the Pack for Payload
Vertical Aerospace is flight testing its Seraph eVTOL prototype and has boosted its engineering capacity with the purchase of motorsport group MGI.
Charter & Fractional
Flexjet Opens London Office To Support Euro Expansion
Fractional ownership group Flexjet says its new London office will provide a hospitality center for customers.
Airports
Airports Rise to Technology Challenge Posed by Drone Threats
London and Paris airports have taken a lead in addressing drone disruption threats to operations.
Airlines
Airlines and Airports Plan For Widespread Drone Disruption
Airlines worry that political protest groups could use deliberate drone incursions to cause widespread disruption at airports.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Drone Food Delivery Service To Launch in North Carolina
Flytrex is set to use drones to delivery food in the North Carolina city of Holly Springs under FAA UAS Integration Pilot Program
Airports
Omni Handling Prepares to Expand in Portugal and Spain
Slot congestion in Lisbon has led FBO group Omni to expand its handling services at other locations in Portugal and Spain.
FBOs
Euro Jet Expands Ground Support Network
Euro Jet will soon have 13 lounges across eastern Europe with the addition of new lounges in Tirana and Bucharest
Airlines
Pilots Call Off September 27 Strike at British Airways
Pilots union BALPA called off a planned strike at British Airways on September 27, but it could take more strike action through January 2020.
Engines
Safran and Boeing Jointly Invest In Battery Specialist EPS
The investment by Safran and Boeing in EPS is expected to improve production rates and costs for electric batteries to power aircraft.
FBOs
UK FBO Chains Plan Expansion in Manchester, Bournemouth
Weston Aviation is adding its fifth UK FBO at Manchester, while XLR Executive has opened a new facility in Bournemouth.
Charter & Fractional
Industry Calls For Stronger Penalties on Illegal Charter
At the Air Charter Expo, business aviation associations called for tougher action against illegal charter flights.
Airlines
Report Alleges Monopoly Control of Heathrow Slots by IAG
A report commissioned by Virgin Atlantic argues that the expansion of London Heathrow Airport will increase competition with 350 extra daily slots.
Airlines
UK Air Transport Braces For No Deal Brexit Consequences
EU/UK air traffic rights are set to continue through October 2020, but there is still serious uncertainty what a No Deal Brexit means for air transport.
Aircraft
Magpie Vision-Based Guidance System Set To Support Autonomous Flight Operations
Daedalean says the Magpie vision-based guidance system will support development of its Artificial Intelligence-based autopilot.
Aircraft
Volocopter's eVTOL Plans Boosted by $55 Million Investment
Volocopter says a new round of funding has raised enough money to complete type certification of its VoloCity eVTOL aircraft and air taxi service.
Aircraft
EHang Conducts Passenger-carrying Autonomous Flight in China
EHang's 216 Autonomous Aerial Vehicle made a first passenger-carrying demonstration flight in Changchun, China inn August 2019.
Aircraft
Can a New Generation of Electric Aircraft Provide the Spark to Regenerate Aviation?
More than 150 new aircraft, most of them electrically-powered and many of them to be flown autonomously, are vying to radically reshape aviation's future.
Aircraft
Uber Seeks More eVTOL Partners for Ride-share Program
Uber may soon add to the six eVTOL developers who are seeking to provide aircraft for its ride-share air taxi program, which it wants to start from 2023.
Airports
Volocopter, SkyPorts To Open Vertiport in October
Volcopter and SkyPorts say the world's first vertiport is set to open on October 21 for flight trials in Singapore
Aircraft
AeroMobil Set To Unveil 6.0 eVTOL Aircraft Design
Flying car developer AeroMobil is fast-tracking a design for a flight-mode-only eVTOL aircraft designated as the 6.0
Aircraft
Volocopter eVTOL Flies Autonomously at Intl. Airport
Volocopter's 2X prototype made the first eVTOL flight integrated with both unmanned and air traffic management systems at an international airport.
Aircraft
Avia Files 737 Max Breach of Contract Lawsuit Against Boeing
Differences between the 737 Max and its predecessor should have necessitated a new TC and type-specific training, alleges the lawsuit.
Aircraft
Bell's APT 70 Utility eVTOL Achieves First Flight
Bell's APT70 Autonomous Pod Transport eVTOL aircraft is intended to carry payloads of up to 70 pounds up to 35 miles.
Avionics
T3CAS To Continue as A320 Standard Equipment
ACSS's T3CAS system combines TCAS, Mode S transponders for ADS-B, and TAWS, plus runway overrun prevention and low required navigation performance.
Aircraft
Airbus Plays Long Game To Bring Urban Air Mobility Market to Fruition
By the end of 2020, Airbus expects to have completed evaluation of its two eVTOL proof-of-concept programs, the Vahana and CityAirbus.
Aircraft
EHang Awarded Safety Clearance for Autonomous Operations With UAS 'Fence'
China's EHang has developed an electronic fence to prevent autonomous aircraft being operated in areas where they would not be safe.
