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
FutureFlight
Amazon Makes Second Investment in Beta, Following Alia eVTOL Test Flight
Beta Technologies has been conducting multiple test flights with its Alia 250 eVTOL aircraft, which can carry passengers or freight.
FutureFlight
Tier 1 Achieves First Flight With Electrified Robinson R44 Helicopter
The company is using an electric propulsion system from MagniX, which is also converting several fixed-wing aircraft, as well as the new Eviation Alice model.
FutureFlight
H2 Clipper Completes Simulated Wind Tunnel Tests for Airship Freighter
The U.S. company's current timeline calls for the start of test flights with a subscale prototype in 2025, followed by a full-sized airship in 2028. Both dates are a year later than the company projected in 2021.
FutureFlight
Munich Airport and Airbus To Help Cities Establish eVTOL Aircraft Operations
Airbus is developing both an eVTOL aircraft called CityAirbus NextGen and its ZeroE family of hydrogen-powered airliners.
FutureFlight On The Radar
Vertical Flight Society Confronts FAA's Unwelcome U-turn on eVTOL Type Certification
Despite efforts by the FAA and some in the industry to play down the significance of recent policy changes governing approval for new aircraft, the VFS says, the FAA has mishandled the process.
Engines
Rolls-Royce Launches New Turbogenerators for Hybrid Aircraft
Rolls-Royce is developing new-generation turbogenerator technology that will be the basis for small engines to power hybrid-electric aircraft.
FutureFlight
Archer Resumes Test Flights with eVTOL Technology Demonstrator
The company is using a subscale version of its four-passenger eVTOL aircraft to help engineers complete the final design.
FutureFlight
EHang Expands Plans for eVTOL Sightseeing Flights in China
Several tourism companies in China and Japan believe they can launch sightseeing tours using the autonomous all-electric EH216 vehicle that EHang is working to certify.
FutureFlight
Kenya Airways Steps Up Plans for African Urban Air Mobility with Eve Deal
The East African carrier's Fahari Aviation division is extending a partnership with Eve to develop urban air mobility services.
FutureFlight
Rolls-Royce Launches Turbogenerator Program for Hybrid-Electric Aircraft
The German government is funding further research and development work to advance turbogenerator technology.
FutureFlight
Heart Switches to CS-25 Certification Plan for ES-19 Electric Regional Airliner
The Swedish start-up has abandoned plans to certify its aircraft under CS-23 rules but still aims to complete certification by 2026.
FutureFlight
U.S. Air Force Funds Transcend Air for More Work on VTOL Operations
VTOL aircraft developer Transcend Air is partnered with the aerospace engineering department of Alabama's Auburn University.
FutureFlight
New York Helicopter Bans Raise Questions about eVTOL Operations
Noise from helicopter flights in the New York City area has prompted support for tough restrictions on non-essential flights.
FutureFlight
UK Adopts EASA's Special Conditions Approach to Certifying VTOL Aircraft
The UK Civil Aviation Authority's deferral to EASA's standards marks a turnaround in post-Brexit policy after the country left the EU, thereby ending its membership in the European regulatory agency.
FutureFlight
How Hybrid-Electric Aircraft Could Transform Caribbean Island-hopping Flights
Ampaire aims to have a supplemental type certificate to convert the Cessna Grand Caravan EX turboprop aircraft by 2024.
FutureFlight
New German Airline Evia Aero Plans Hydrogen Islander Operations
The operator is joining Cranfield Aerospace Solutions' Project Fresson to develop supplemental type certificates to convert piston and turboprop aircraft to hydrogen power.
Aircraft
Otto Reveals Plan for Hydrogen-powered 19-Seat Celera
Otto Aviation has confirmed plans for a 19-seat, hydrogen-powered version of its Celera aircraft that could be operated on flights of up to 1,000 nm.
Aircraft
Airbus's New Long-Range A321XLR Makes First Flight
The A321XLR single-aisle airliner is intended to serve commercial airline routes as long as 4,700 nm when it enters service in 2024.
FutureFlight
Spanish Airline Prepares To Launch Airship Services in 2026
Air Nostrum says it is investing in airships to help meet its objectives under European Union requirements to achieve a 55 percent cut in emissions by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2050.
FutureFlight
Lilium Looks to New Seats for Big Weight Reduction in eVTOL Aircraft
The aircraft developer says that lighter seats will improve the energy efficiency of its six-passenger eVTOL model, which is now set to complete type certification in 2025.
FutureFlight
Otto Reveals Plan for Hydrogen-Powered 19-Seat Celera Aircraft
The distinctive oval-shaped fuselage of the Celera aircraft could be well-suited to storing large quantities of hydrogen fuel.
Aircraft
Spanish Airline Plans Airship Services From 2026
Air Nostrum says it plans to be the launch operator for Hybrid Air Vehicles' 100-seat Airlander 10 airship on domestic routes of up to around 265 miles.
FutureFlight
Biometric Technology Will Be Tested To Ease Passengers' eVTOL Journeys
Operational trials at Cergy-Pontoise Airport near Paris are part of a 30-partner initiative to prepare for eVTOL air taxi services to start in the French capital in time for the 2024 Olympic Games.
FutureFlight
Hanwha Boosts Backing for Overair's Butterfly eVTOL Aircraft with $145 Million Investment
The South Korean company was an early investor in California-based Overair and is also providing motors and batteries for the six-seat eVTOL aircraft through its aerospace division.
FutureFlight
Ampaire Steps Up Plans To Help Airports Prepare for Electric Aircraft
The company's partnership with sustainable infrastructure specialist Black & Veatch will also cover the expansion of the sustainable aviation fuel supply chain.
FutureFlight On The Radar
New Index Identifies Likely Early Leaders in Race To Provide Advanced Air Mobility Ground Infrastructure
SMG Consulting is taking an objective look at prospects for establishing vertiports and other facilities, and the group says there is a lot more work to do.
Airports
Airports Group Plans Vertiports with eVTOL Developers
Corporacion America Airports this week signed partnership with Eve and Vertical Aerospace to developer plans for eVTOL air taxi ground infrastructure.
Maintenance and Modifications
Bogus Parts Could Indefinitely Ostracize Russian Air Transport
Russia's aviation regulator is facilitating the use of unapproved parts, compromising asset values and longer-term relations with the global industry.
FutureFlight
Eve Teams with Airports Group To Develop Vertiport Network
Corporacion America Airports operates 53 airports in six countries across three continents. These include Argentina, Uruguay, Italy, and Brazil, where the company runs airports in the capital, Brasilia, and Natal.
FutureFlight
Falcon and Eve Plan To Launch eVTOL Services in Dubai
The United Arab Emirates-based operator says questions need to be resolved about how eVTOL aircraft will perform in the region's high temperatures.
