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
SkyDrive Takes Funding Past $50 Million and Flies SD-03 Car In Public
Ten companies led by the Development Bank of Japan raised an additional $31 million for SkyDrive in a Series B funding round that closed on August 28.
FutureFlight
Hybrid Air Vehicles Breathes New Life Into Its Multi-Role Airship Program
The UK-based Airlander hybrid airship program received new government funding but needs far more money to achieve a first flight for the long-running program.
FutureFlight
Vertical Aerospace Unveils Fixed-Wing, Tiltrotor eVTOL
The VA-1X eVTOL will deliver almost three times as much range as the earlier Seraph technology demonstrator that it has replaced.
Charter & Fractional
Vertical Aerospace Unveils VA-1X Fixed Wing eVTOL
The all-electric VA-1X aircraft is expected to enter service in 2024 and will be able to carry four passengers up to 100 miles at speeds of around 150 mph.
FutureFlight
Developer of Diamond Battery Says a Self-Charging Power Supply for eVTOL Aircraft Is Coming Soon
NDB is pioneering the use of nanodiamond batteries that recharge themselves and have almost unlimited life.
FutureFlight
EHang Discloses Plans For Longer-Range Autonomous Aerial Vehicle
The Chinese company says it is close to unveiling an eVTOL design with a range of more than 60 miles, which is almost three times more than its current 216 AAV model offers.
Engines
Self-charging Diamond Batteries Set To Power Aircraft
NDB says its self-charging nano diamond batteries will be far more efficient than current technologies and will not require any supporting infrastructure.
FutureFlight
Ambular Promotes Universal Air Ambulance Concept
An volunteer group called Ambular is designing a dedicated eVTOL air ambulance aircraft and has the support of the International Civil Aviation Organization.
FutureFlight
Could New U.S. Ban On Government Use of Chinese Drones Impact Autonomous eVTOLs?
An amendment to ban U.S. government use of Chinese drones appears almost certain to become law within weeks.
FutureFlight
Xwing Unveils Plans For Autonomous Cargo Operations
The company plans to start cargo operations before the end of 2020, initially with a pilot onboard a Cessna 208B Grand Caravan aircraft.
FutureFlight
Urban Aeronautics Launches Plan For EMS CityHawk EVTOL
Urban Aeronautics is working with EMS operator Hatzolah Air to adapt its planned CityHawk VTOL aircraft for emergency service applications.
Aircraft
Urban Aeronautics Launches Plan for EMS CityHawk VTOL
Urban Aeronautics is working with EMS operator Hatzolah Air to adapt its planned CityHawk VTOL aircraft for emergency service applications.
Aircraft
Xwing Unveils Plans for Autonomous Cargo Operations
Xwing is about to start cargo operations in a Cessna Grand Caravan equipped with its autonomous flight control system, but initially with a pilot onboard.
FutureFlight
EHang Prepares to Start Urban Air Mobility Operational Trials in Linz
Flight trials with the 216 AAV are set to start before the end of 2020, leading to construction of vertiports in the Austrian city during 2021.
FutureFlight On The Radar
Happy Takeoff White Paper Makes the Case for Hydrogen to Power Advanced Air Mobility
The aircraft developer says that by 2026 hydrogen fuel cells will be more viable for aircraft propulsion than batteries or internal combustion engines.
FutureFlight
Engine Maker MTU Teams with DLR on Hydrogen Fuel Cell Propulsion Project
The companies will jointly develop the technology for fixed-wing aircraft.
Aircraft
MTU Teams with DLR To Advance Hydrogen Fuel Cells
MTU Aero Engines and Germany's DLR aerospace research center intend to flight test a hydrogen-powered version of a Dornier Do228 aircraft.
Airlines
Traffic Data Shows How Southwest Overtook U.S. Rivals
Throughout the first seven months of 2020, low-cost carrier Southwest Airlines consistently flew more than U.S. rivals American, Delta, and United.
FutureFlight On The Radar
EmbraerX's eVTOL, Formerly Known As DreamMaker, Resurfaces As Eve
It turns out that in late July 2020, the company filed a U.S. trademark application for its proposed all-electric, four-seat aircraft.
FutureFlight
Bell's New Manufacturing Facility Could Be Used For Nexus eVTOL Program
Bell unveiled its new manufacturing technology center in Fort Worth, Texas, on August 10.
FutureFlight
Bye's eFlyer 2 Aircraft Will Feature ASR's Parachute Recovery System
Aviation Safety Resources is to develop a three-parachute recovery system for Bye Aerospace's eFlyer 2 electric aircraft.
Aircraft
Vertical Aerospace Set To Unveil Fixed-wing eVTOL Design
Vertical Aerospace this week teased eVTOL watchers with a short animation of what appears to be a new tiltwing eVTOL with four propellors.
Aircraft
MagniX Sees Regional Operators as Electric Aviation Pioneers
Electric propulsion specialist MagniX is stepping up flight testing of electric versions of the Cessna Caravan and DHC-2 Beaver.
FutureFlight
MagniX Advances Three Electric Aircraft Programs with Sights Set on 2022 Service Entry
MagniX is focusing its electric propulsion efforts on electrifying the Caravan and Beaver aircraft, as well as on Eviation's new Alice design.
FutureFlight
Jump Aero Pushes the Case For eVTOL Emergency First-Response Use Over Air-Taxi Operations
Jump Aero says it is developing a single-seat eVTOL to be self-piloted by paramedics, but it has so far declined to release any projected performance details.
Accidents
Air India Express 737 Crashes At Calicut Airport
India's Directorate General of Civil Aviation confirmed that an Air India Express aircraft broke into two pieces after skidding off the end of the runway.
Avionics
BAE Prepares for Fly-by-Wire Tests on eVTOL Aircraft
BAE Systems believes that fly-by-wire flight controls will be critical to the success of eVTOL aircraft and is working with several prospective partners.
Maintenance and Modifications
Aviaa Adds New World Aviation to MRO Support Network
New World Aviation provides support for a wide range of business aircraft from its headquarters in Allentown, Pennsylvania.
Maintenance and Modifications
GDC Delivers VIP Boeing 777 to Head of State Customer
The Boeing 777-300ER features a lightweight interior, full connectivity and a crew rest areas plus "fly-away kits" for repairs away from base.
Cabin Interior and Electronics
Voting Now Open in Private Aviation Design Competition
A mix of leading business aircraft manufacturer design and completions specialists are competing in the 2020 International Yacht & Aviation Awards.
