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
Eve and Skyway Will Integrate Air Traffic Management and Vertiport Navigation Services
The eVTOL aircraft developer is looking to offer an agnostic urban air traffic management platform that multiple vehicle types and operators could use.
Airlines
Airbus and Air France Deny Criminal Manslaughter Charges
More than 10 years after investigators reported on the fatal crash of Air France flight AF447, the airline and Airbus are facing manslaughter charges.
FutureFlight
UK Aircraft Modification Group Pivots to Help Bring New Aviation Technology to Market
Marshall Aerospace has formed a business unit called Futureworx that is acting as a systems and service integrator in the advanced air mobility sector, focusing on areas such as autonomous flight and hydrogen propulsion.
FutureFlight
Delta Backs Joby with Investment and Plans for Airport Rides for Passengers
The U.S. airline will invest up to $200 million in the eVTOL aircraft developer, and its customers will have exclusive access to "home-to-airport transportation" starting in New York and Los Angeles.
FutureFlight
EU Air Mobility Demonstration in Spain Concludes with EHang eVTOL Flight Tests
The Chinese eVTOL aircraft developer is one of 16 participants in in the European Union’s Air Mobility Urban–Large Experimental Demonstration, which is part of efforts to safely integrate new aircraft into urban airspace.
FutureFlight
FutureFlight Witnesses Eviation's Alice Electric Aircraft Making Its First Flight
The long-awaited start to Alice's flight test campaign last just eight minutes, but the day also brought significant news about reduced range expectations and more time needed to complete type certification.
Airlines
UK Regional Airline Loganair Seeks New Owners
The Scotland-based carrier serves around 40 destinations across the UK and Scandinavia with a fleet of 44 aircraft.
FutureFlight
4D Mapping Plots Advanced Air Mobility Routes through Korean City
MintAir and partners have developed a four-dimensional map of Seongnam, a Seoul suburb, to show how uncrewed air vehicles and piloted eVTOL vehicles could safely operate urban and regional flights.
FutureFlight On The Radar
Report Focuses on Asia-Pacific's Advanced Air Mobility Sector
Global Sky Media has profiled 19 eVTOL aircraft manufacturers with roots in the region, with many of the key players in China, Japan, South Korea, and, recently, Australia.
FutureFlight
Aerostructures Group Ruag Backs Dufour's Aero2 UAV Project
The Swiss companies will work to develop the cargo-carrying uncrewed air vehicle in a partnership that may later extend to other eVTOL aircraft projects.
FutureFlight
ZeroAvia Acquires Fuel Cell Developer HyPoint To Expand Hydrogen Powertrain Portfolio
The deal strengthens ZeroAvia's efforts to have supplemental type certificates in place to support the launch of commercial services of converted regional airliners on flights of up to 300 miles by 2025.
FutureFlight
Rome's New Vertiport Hosts Italy's First Crewed eVTOL Aircraft Flight
Volocopter is demonstrating its 2X test aircraft as part of advanced air mobility operational trials with partners Aeroporti di Roma, Atlantia, and UrbanV.
FutureFlight
Skyports Opens 'Living Lab' Passenger Terminal at Joby's eVTOL Test Base
The mobile facility will be used to determine how to optimize the experience of passengers traveling in eVTOL aircraft, as well as to demonstrate the operating concept to stakeholders around the U.S., including members of the public.
FutureFlight
Aura Aero Gathers More Commitments for Electric Regional Aircraft
The latest letters of intent from nine prospective operators of the hybrid-electric aircraft include the first for VIP and cargo versions of the design.
FutureFlight
China's AutoFlight Appoints U.S. Leadership Team for Prosperity eVTOL Aircraft
Omer Bar-Yohay, founder and former CEO of Eviation Aircraft, has become AutoFlight's president, and Joby's head of business development, Chad Cashin, is joining as chief commercial officer.
FutureFlight
How New Training Devices Could Fast-Track Pilots Into eVTOL Aircraft
The emerging advanced air mobility sector expects to need thousands of pilots to operate new eVTOL aircraft and faces a recruitment and training challenge at a time when flight crew are already in short supply.
FutureFlight
Kite Gets Funding for Electric Motor Based on Improved Magnetic Material
The Australian start-up says its material retains energy 10 times more effectively than current alternatives and will support smaller, lighter, and more efficient electric power sources for aircraft.
FutureFlight
EHang Reports Progress With Type Certification of Autonomous EH216-S eVTOL Aircraft
The company says that Chinese aviation safety regulators have now approved the Project Specific Certification Plan and that compliance testing will be stepped up in October.
FutureFlight
GlobeAir Agrees to Add a Dozen Lilium Jets to Its European Private Charter Fleet
The agreement with the Austrian company is more evidence of growing interest in eVTOL aircraft in the business aviation industry.
FutureFlight
Battery Pack Pioneer Sets Sights on Leading Role in Electric Aviation
EP Systems expects its Epic energy storage system to be in use on around 14 aircraft types in 2023, including Ampaire's EcoCaravan hybrid-electric conversion model.
Aircraft
Textron, ZeroAvia Team on Caravan Hydrogen Conversions
Under a new partnership, Textron Aviation will electrify its Cessna Grand Caravans using the ZeroAvia ZA600 hydrogen-electric propulsion system.
FutureFlight
Textron Partners with ZeroAvia to Convert Grand Caravan Aircraft to Hydrogen Propulsion
The companies see a market to retrofit some of the 2,400 turboprop utility aircraft already delivered worldwide under a supplemental type certificate for the 600-kW ZA600 powertrain.
FutureFlight
Sabrewing's Rhaegal Uncrewed Cargo Aircraft Makes First Flight with Improved Propulsion System
The first RH-1-B production aircraft is now expected to be delivered in December 2023, with the first customer set to be the UN's World Food/World Health program.
FutureFlight
Lilium Reports Full Transition Flights with eVTOL Aircraft Technology Demonstrator
Its Phoenix 2 test aircraft achieved full transitions between vertical and horizontal flight at speeds of around 100 kt during testing in Spain.
FutureFlight
MintAir Set To Employ Electra's eSTOL Aircraft for Korean Regional Flights
The new operator says the model's short-takeoff-and-landing capability and range of 800 miles will mean it can reach anywhere in Korea from its base at Seongnam City, near the capital, Seoul.
FutureFlight
Eviation's Alice Electric Aircraft Starts Flight Test Campaign
The battery-electric model is intended to carry up to nine passengers on flights of around 500 miles, and the manufacturer now aims for it to enter commercial service in 2026.
Airlines
IATA Demands ICAO States Back Net Zero Carbon Commitments
IATA's director general Willie Walsh said the 41st ICAO Assembly will be a failure it doesn't end with agreement and government action over net zero goals.
FutureFlight
With New Funding, SkyDrive Unveils Two-Seat, Short-hop eVTOL Aircraft
The Japanese start-up's SD-05 all-electric vehicle is expected to operate congestion-busting flights of up to just 10 kilometers, when it begins air taxi services at the World Expo 2025 in Osaka.
FutureFlight
Disjointed U.S. and Europe Could Lose Advanced Air Mobility Leadership to Asia, Warns eVTOL Leader
Michael Cervenka, president of UK-based eVTOL aircraft developer Vertical Aerospace told Honeywell's Air Mobility Summit that there must be alignment on policy, regulation and global collaboration.
FutureFlight
Chicago Gets a Preview of an Urban Air Mobility Future, with India Next
Working with helicopter charter flight group Blade, Eve conducted a simulation of what its eVTOL aircraft could do for travelers in the sprawling U.S. city and its suburbs. Blade plans to add eVTOL vehicles to its network in America and India.
