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.

Managing Editor

Joby Aviation says it has begun generating revenue under a U.S. Air Force (USAF) contract to conduct advanced air mobility development work as part of the Agility Prime program. The California-based start-up, which was launched just over 10 years ago, today announced the receipt of initial revenues based on its having achieved an unspecified “major milestone” in its work for Agility Prime, through which it is&nbsp;providing performance data from flight testing of its unnamed four-passenger eVTOL.
Separately, Joby also confirmed that it will use the FAA’s G1 issue paper as the basis for completing type certification of the all-electric aircraft. Last year, the U.S. agency agreed to allow the company to use its Part 23 Amendment 64 rules, covering aircraft with fewer than 19 seats and with a maximum takeoff weight not exceeding 19,000 pounds. 
The G-1 issue paper essentially spells out the specific airworthiness and environmental requirements that the aircraft will need to meet&nbsp;to be cleared to start commercial operations, which&nbsp;the company plans to do in 2024.
“While we still have several years of testing ahead of us, we now have a clearly defined&nbsp;and achievable&nbsp;path to certifying our aircraft and introducing customer flights,” commented Joby founder&nbsp;and CEO JoeBen Bevirt. 
Joby has now completed more than 1,000 test flights&nbsp;with several eVTOL prototypes. In late 2020, the USAF issued a military airworthiness approval for the aircraft.
“The Agility Prime and Joby partnership is now on an accelerated path to identify the opportunities for early adoption of these aircraft for logistics that provide flexibility to operators and savings to taxpayers,” said Col. Nathan Diller, who is director of the USAF’s AFWERX program, which oversees Agility Prime.
Several other eVTOL developers have Agility Prime contracts to support the efforts of the USAF to define how the new aircraft might support a variety of roles, including logistics and emergency medical support. These include Beta Technologies, Elroy Air, and Sabrewing Aircraft.
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Charles Alcock

Joby Aviation has been conducted test flights with the prototype for its four-passenger eVTOL aircraft to provide data to the U.S. Air Force under its Agility Prime program. (Photo: Joby Aviation)

Joby Aviation Boosted by First Revenues from USAF Agility Prime Role

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