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
Aircraft
U.S. and EU Declare Truce over Boeing and Airbus Subsidies
U.S. and European Union trade representatives have been given four months to try to find compromise in the long-running dispute over aerospace subsidies.
FutureFlight
Merged Astro and Horizon Will Develop Three eVTOL Aircraft
Texas-based Astro Aerospace, which is already working on the Elroy and Alta designs, is acquiring Canada's Horizon Aircraft, which has the Cavorite X5 model in the works.
FutureFlight
Miami Stakes Its Claim to an Urban Air Mobility Future
Miami Mayor Francis Suarez says he wants eVTOL aircraft providing flights across the South Florida city by 2024.
FutureFlight
Aurora Insists It Is Still an Advanced Air Mobility Contender with eVTOL Technology in the Works
Funding cuts at parent company Boeing have slowed the pace of some work, but the technology continues to mature behind closed doors.
FutureFlight
Urban Air Mobility Start-up Pushes for Lower-cost Training eVTOL Aircraft 'Operators'
Varon Vehicles is partnering with Paladin AI to tap machine learning and artificial intelligence to train a new breed of flight crew for eVTOL aircraft.
FutureFlight
FAA Creates Advanced Air Mobility Council as eVTOL Type Certifications Increase
Almost one-fifth of the 37 aircraft that the FAA is evaluating for type certification are eVTOL designs.
FutureFlight
AeroMobil 4.0 Meets Airworthiness Targets in Flight Tests
The Slovakian company says it is on track to achieve EASA CS-23 type certification by the end of 2023.
FutureFlight
Volocopter Takes Total Funding to Almost $400 Million with Series D Round
The company says an additional $240 million raised from new and existing investors is sufficient to complete type certification of its VoloCity eVTOL aircraft.
FutureFlight
Baaz Unveils Plans for a Folding-Wing eVTOL Aircraft with Ducted Propellers
The privately owned German company says that its B5 aircraft can be certified and in commercial service by the end of 2025.
FutureFlight On The Radar
U.S. Congress Calls for Wider Federal Action to Support Advanced Air Mobility
Proposed legislation would result in the Department of Transportation leading a new multi-agency working group and new federal funding to support the development of an AAM ecosystem.
Engines
Hydrogen Pioneers Step Up Plans to Convert Regional Airliners
Universal Hydrogen is finalizing the design of its hydrogen powertrain and has forged a fuel supply agreement with new investors Plug Power.
New Bills To Step Up Federal Coordination of AAM
Lawmakers in the House and Senate have introduced legislation to lay a foundation for government facilitation of AAM.
FutureFlight
Baaz Banks On Folding Wings and Ducted Propellers to Overtake eVTOL Rivals
The German company intends to recruit contractors to build most aircraft components and systems, but will retain control of overall design, technology integration and final assembly.
FutureFlight
HyPoint Unveils More Powerful Air-Cooled Hydrogen Fuel Cells
The company has built a prototype for its hydrogen fuel cell technology and says it can start delivering equipment to aircraft developers in 2022.
FutureFlight
Falck Aims to Reconfigure Kitty Hawk's Heaviside eVTOL for Emergency Medical Support
Other eVTOL aircraft developers are targeting emergency medical support services, including Jump Aero, Jaunt Air Mobility, Urban Aeronautics, EHang, and Volocopter.
FutureFlight
Plug Power and Universal Hydrogen Step Up Plans to Convert Airliners to Green Fuel
The partners aim to be ready to start flight testing a regional airliner modified for hydrogen propulsion by 2023
FutureFlight
Turkey's Next Attack Helicopter Will be Electrically Powered and Unmanned
The new T629 combat rotorcraft was unveiled in Turkey last week and is set to make its first flight before the end of 2021.
FutureFlight
When It Comes to Clearing the Way for Advanced Air Mobility Infrastructure, It's Never Too Soon to Start
Winning public acceptance and not taking the multifaceted approval processes for granted will be critical to getting the infrastructure in place to support advanced air mobility services.
FutureFlight
With Certification Close, Bye's eFlyer 2 Is in Serial Production
Fuselages for the two-seat, all-electric aircraft are being made by Composite Universal Group under contract from Bye Aerospace.
FutureFlight
PS&S Architects and Engineers Back Varon's Plans for Urban Infrastructure
Colombia-based Varon Vehicles is developing plans to support urban air mobility infrastructure and services in various Latin American cities.
FutureFlight
NASA Seeks Contractors for Megawatt-class Powertrain Demonstrations
NASA is also about to start high-voltage functional ground-testing on its X-57 electric aircraft technology demonstrator.
FutureFlight
AeroDelft Student Team Unveils Hydrogen-powered Aircraft
The unmanned Phoenix PT aircraft will run on liquid hydrogen and has been built entirely from carbon fiber composites.
Avionics
Satcom Direct and Polaris Help Flight Crew Manage Risk
Polaris Aero's FlightRisk app is now available through the Satcom Direct SD PreFlight app, facilitating the risk assessment and mitigation process.
FutureFlight
EASA Clears the Way for Pal-V to Certify Its Liberty Flying Car
The vehicle will be able to drive up to around 800 miles or fly just over 300 miles and then drive another 100 or so miles on one tank of gas.
FutureFlight
EHang Tests EH216 with Flights in the South China Sea and Icy Beijing
EHang claims to have made more than 10,000 test flights with the EH216 model, which it has indicated could complete Chinese type certification in 2021.
Avionics
Automated Data Systems Extend Engine TBOs for Citations
Data acquisition and recording systems from Latitude Technologies are helping operators of older Cessna Citations extend engine overhaul intervals.
Charter & Fractional
Pilots and Charter Exec Convicted over Ghosn Escape
Two former pilots and an executive with Turkish charter operator MNG were found guilty of smuggling indicted auto executive Carlos Ghosn out of Japan.
FutureFlight
Joby Goes Public in $1.6 Billion SPAC Flotation with Reinvent
The California-based eVTOL aircraft start-up estimates a post-money equity valuation of $6.6 billion.
FutureFlight
Terrafugia Owner Moves Transition Flying Car Program to China
Automotive group Zhejiang Geely will now seek certification for the flying car through the Civil Aviation Administration of China.
FutureFlight
For the Covid-battered Aerospace Sector, new eVTOL Partners Offer a Chance to Diversify
Aerostructures specialist Aciturri has forged a new long-term partnership to build primary structures for Lilium's new eVTOL aircraft.
