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
Airbus Commits to Hydrogen Airliners Entering Service in 2035
Airbus unveiled three concepts for the aircraft, which could carry between 100 and 200 passengers on flights of up to around 2,000 nm.
Charter & Fractional
EBAA Survey Highlights Business Travel Expectations
More than half of responses to an EBAA survey see growth in business travel over the next five years, and many expect progress with electric aviation.
Aircraft
Conversion Plan Set To Promote Early Switch to Hydrogen Fuel
Universal Hydrogen proposes converting Dash 8 and ATR 42 regional airliners to hydrogen power while avoiding the need for costly refueling infrastructure.
FutureFlight
General Motors Hints at Offering Ultium Batteries for eVTOL Aircraft
GM chief executive told an investment conference this week that the carmaker sees aerial mobility applications for its new electric batteries.
FutureFlight
Boeing Pulls Plug On NeXt Innovation Group, Casting Doubts On Its Urban Air Mobility Plans
Boeing says it will be gradually shutting its Boeing NeXt unit, but still needs to consider its commitment to Wisk, Aurora Flight Sciences and Aerion.
FutureFlight
Lockheed Martin Backs Sensor Specialist Hidden Level to Support Autonomous Flight
Lockheed Martin Ventures has made an investment in Hidden Level to kick off a Series A funding round.
Aircraft
Boeing NeXt To Close, Raising Doubts over eVTOL Activities
The closure of Boeing NeXt raises questions about the aerospace giant's future in the eVTOL aircraft and supersonic business jet sectors.
FutureFlight
New Fuel Distribution Plan Would Avoid Prohibitive Infrastructure Costs For Hydrogen Aircraft
Universal Hydrogen proposes to convert aircraft to allow fueling by hydrogen via modules supplied directly from fuel hubs.
FutureFlight
Volocopter Starts Taking Reservations for Early eVTOL Aircraft Flights
The company is accepting an initial 1,000 bookings for flights in its VoloCity eVTOL aircraft, indicating service launch will happen within "two or three years."
FutureFlight On The Radar
Australia's Deakin University Mobility Experts Assess the Case for Advanced Aerial Mobility
Their white paper addresses the potential for eVTOL aircraft to transform transportation options in the country, but questions still remain as to when ride-hailing pioneer Uber may launch trials in Melbourne.
FutureFlight
Ampaire's New Electric EEL Demonstrator Flies Ahead of Hawaii Trials
Ampaire says it has introduced improvements to the second technology demonstrator of its Electric EEL aircraft based on Cessna's 337 Skymaster.
Aircraft
Military Materials, Mods Could Cut Airliner Fuel Burn
Alpine Advanced Materials is pressing the case for its HX5 composite, while sister company Metro Aerospace is looking to cut drag with its Microvane mod.
FutureFlight
Autoflight Unveils Cargo eVTOL and Plans for Passenger Aircraft
The Chinese company has introduced the V400 Albatross, which will be available with all-electric and hybrid propulsion systems.
Charter & Fractional
European Bizav Assesses Its Regulatory Headaches
EBAA webinar highlights regulatory concerns over training, charter, maintenance, plus new sustainability and cybersecurity requirements.
FutureFlight
Lilium Works With German Airports to Establish Air Mobility Network
The company has partnered with Dusseldorf and Cologne-Bonn airports to explore ways to integrate its planned eVTOL air taxi services with existing air, road, and rail infrastructure.
FutureFlight
Hyundai Joins General Aviation Manufacturers Association
Hyundai Motor Group's Urban Air Mobility division announced plans to develop an eVTOL aircraft in January 2020.
FutureFlight
Connect Skies Aims to Make Business Aviation More Sustainable
Connect Skies is a new UK-based venture being launched by veteran aircraft and charter broker Gabriella Somerville.
FutureFlight
Honeywell's New Lab Gives UAM Aircraft Developers Hands-on Experience of Flight Controls
Honeywell has equipped a research and development lab in Phoenix with a replica cockpit for a generic urban air mobility aircraft.
Charter & Fractional
EBAA Renews Calls For Transparency in Charter Contracts
EBAA's September 3 webinar focused on what changes might be needed for aircraft charter, sales and acquisitions, as well as finance.
Aircraft
Connect Skies Broker To Focus on Sustainable Aircraft
Veteran broker Gabriella Somerville is launching Connect Skies to promote more sustainable business aircraft and charter operations.
FutureFlight
Pipistrel Unveils Nuuva Family of Hybrid-Electric Cargo UAVs
The Nuuva V300 is for heavier, long-range missions, while the smaller V20 UAV is for light courier, last-mile services.
FutureFlight
Piper Sues eVTOL Startup Archer Aviation For Alleged Trademark Infringement
Archer Aviation launched its eVTOL program in May 2020, but has yet to announce a name for the four-seat, fixed wing model.
Aircraft
Piper Sues eVTOL Startup Archer for Trademark Violation
Archer Aviation is developing an as-yet unnamed four-seat, all-electric eVTOL aircraft that it launched in May 2020.
FutureFlight
Samad Aerospace Prepares to Fly Half-scale e-Starling eVTOL Prototype
Despite Covid delays, the UK-based company still hopes to get the full-scale version in the air during 2023.
FutureFlight
Private Flight Group Surf Air Steps Up Expansion Into Air Mobility Services
Surf Air Mobility is going public with a $200 million investment from Global Emerging Markets Group.
FutureFlight
Happy Takeoff Fast-tracks Prism Hydrogen-Powered eVTOL For 2023 Service Entry
Wichita-based Happy Takeoff is working on a fixed-wing design that will be able to connect city pairs such as San Francisco and Los Angeles.
FutureFlight
Faradair Sees New UK Base As a Springboard For Its Bio Electric Hybrid Aircraft
The fixed-wing Bio Electric Hybrid Aircraft is expected to make a first flight by early 2024, with the first versions being ready to enter service in 2026.
Aircraft
Faradair's Hybrid Electric Aircraft Finds Fresh Impetus in New Duxford Home
After almost abandoning the UK for the U.S., Faradair is staying on home turf to step up plans to get its BEHA hybrid-electric to market by 2024.
FutureFlight
Otto Taps Piston Power and Laminar Flow For Celera Pusher Prop Bizplane
The Celera 500L promises significantly lower carbon emissions and fuel consumption than existing business jets.
FutureFlight
U.S. Energy Department Supports Hybrid Propulsion Programs With $33 Million Funding
Seventeen different propulsion technology programs are being supported under the U.S. government's ASCEND and REEACH programs.
