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
Archer Prepares for Takeoff with $1.1 Billion SPAC Flotation and Provisional Launch Order from United Airlines
The merger with a special purpose acquisition company called Atlas Crest Investment Corp. is expected to be closed during the second quarter of 2021.
Aircraft
United Unveils Plans for eVTOL Aircraft Airport Shuttle Rides
United Airlines and its partner Mesa Airlines have provisionally agreed to buy up to 200 of Archer Aviation's four-passenger, all-electric eVTOL aircraft.
FutureFlight
Ferrovial Seeks European Funding For Spanish Vertiport Network
The company's urban air mobility infrastructure plans for Spain appear unconnected to the air taxi flight trials that air navigation agency Enaire intends to conduct in Barcelona and Santiago de Compostela in 2022.
FutureFlight
Joby Aviation Boosted by First Revenues from USAF Agility Prime Role
The eVTOL aircraft developer also confirmed that the FAA has cleared it to use the G1 airworthiness requirements to complete type certification under Part 23 Amendment 64 rules, clearing its path to commercial service.
FutureFlight
Turin Offers Site For Advanced Air Mobility Development Hub
The SkyGate will be at the northern Italian city's Torino Aeritalia Airport on the premises of the historic AeroClub Torino.
FutureFlight
Russia's Hover Confirms Flight Testing of Two-seat eVTOL Air Taxi
Hover is one of many technology startups based at the Skolkovo Innovation Center near Moscow.
FutureFlight
Next Phase of SESAR's Gulf of Finland Airspace Integration Project Starts
The Gulf of Finland 2.0 Integrated Urban Airspace Validation builds on 2019 flight trials for SESAR's U-Space program.
FutureFlight
New Connection Technology Keeps Electric Aircraft Ahead of the Power Curve
Current standards for components like cables don't take account of much higher voltages and the aviation industry is having to urgently address this change.
FutureFlight
U.S. Air Force Backs Jaunt-led Study on Thermoplastics and Manufacturing
The Air Force's AFWERX program wants to accelerate service entry for advanced air mobility aircraft that could be used in military missions.
FutureFlight On The Radar
Are Air Taxis Ready For Prime Time? Let's Ask Lufthansa
A new market study from the German flagcarrier casts a dispassionate eye on the prospects for the much-vaunted urban air mobility sector.
FutureFlight On The Radar
New Vista Acquisition SPAC Seeks $200 Million Investment Pot for Advanced Air Mobility
Special-purpose acquisition companies appear to be at the forefront of the next investment wave for the sector as cash-hungry startups crave more capital.
FutureFlight
UK Launches Two Projects to Prepare for Commercial eVTOL Aircraft Services
Both have received funding from the UK government's Future Flight Challenge initiative to promote new, reduced-carbon modes of air transporation.
FutureFlight
New Industry Standards Could Ease Type Certification Complexity for eVTOL Aircraft
The volunteer committees of groups such as SAE International, ASTM, and Eurocae are establishing standards that plug gaps in how regulators can certify aircraft.
FutureFlight
GKN To Explore the Case for a Large eVTOL Aircraft Called Skybus
GKN and 15 partners are being supported by a new £4.5 million grant from the UK government's Future Flight Challenge Fund.
FutureFlight
Bell's APT70 Cargo Drone Conducts Flight Trials at AllianceTexas Mobility Innovation Zone
The rotorcraft manufacturer has yet to detail its plans to bring the freight-carrying unmanned aircraft into commercial service.
FutureFlight
NASA Outlines Its National Campaign with Test Flights to Start in April
Joby Aviation and Wisk are among the vehicle partners supporting the U.S. agency's Advanced Air Mobility program
FutureFlight
Manufacturing and Materials Experts Assess the Challenges Facing Advanced Air Mobility
Currently, only a few thousand civil aircraft are built worldwide each year, but the new AAM sector claims it will be turning out tens of thousands of units annually.
FutureFlight
Blue Bear to Lead UK's INCEPTION Electric Propulsion Project
The program has received a government grant worth almost $4 million, following recent support for hydrogen propulsion projects.
FutureFlight
Jaunt Sets Its Sights on Latin America with Infrastructure Partner Varon
The partners may put their first set of vertiports in Colombia, with commercial operations possibly starting in 2026.
FutureFlight
GKN Leads UK Group Developing Hydrogen Propulsion For Sub-Regional Aircraft
Initially, H2GEAR will power aircraft with up to 19 seats, but it could be further developed for larger airliners later.
FutureFlight
Venture Capitalist Makes the Case For Bets On Advanced Air Mobility
Cyrus Sigari told the Vertical Flight Society's Electric VTOL Symposium that the time is right to back new aircraft developers and service providers.
FutureFlight
Lilium Enlists Ferrovial to Grow Its Air Mobility Network Across Florida
Lilium has previously announced plans for a first vertiport to be built at Lake Nona near Orlando.
FutureFlight
Airflow Will Use Cessna 210 as a Technology Demonstrator for Its eSTOL Freighter
The aircraft will serve middle-mile freight distribution routes of between 50 and 300 miles when it enters service in 2025.
FutureFlight
$22 Million Funding Round Boosts Wingcopter's Drone Delivery Plans
Its drones are delivering medications in Malawi and will soon be delivering Covid vaccines elsewhere in Africa and also in Southeast Asia.
FutureFlight
Swansea University Extends Its Collaboration For Bio Electric Hybrid Aircraft
Faradair aims to have a prototype of the BEHA aircraft built by 2024.
FutureFlight
New Numbers Show Strong Business Case For Advanced Air Mobility In Vancouver
Vancouver, on Canada's Pacific Coast, already has 54 heliports and is viewed as a likely early-adopter city for advanced air mobility.
Aircraft
Lilium To Expand Planned Florida eVTOL Network
Lilium is partnering with infrastructure group Ferrovial to build a network of vertiports across Florida to support commercial eVTOL aircraft operations
Engines
GKN Leads Hydrogen Propulsion Plan For Sub-Regional Aircraft
GKN and other UK partners have received government backing for their H2GEAR hydrogen propulsion system that could eventually power larger airliners.
FutureFlight
FAA Expects First Advanced Air Mobility Aircraft to be Certified in 2021
The agency is now working on type certification with the developers of 30 electric and hybrid-electric aircraft and also with seven manufacturers of new propulsion systems.
FutureFlight
Joby Says It Is On Track to Launch eVTOL Air Taxi Services
The company sees the "first mile" of multimodal transportation networks involving eVTOL aircraft as being critical to public acceptance.
