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.

Managing Editor

Charles Alcock

Collins Aerospace this week launched the 2025 edition of its Powered by Collins Initiative to provide collaborative opportunities for small- and medium-sized deep tech enterprises. Announcing the third annual program during the Aero India show in Bangalore, the RTX group company said the key focus for selected projects will be material informatics and quantum-enabled navigation for civil aviation and defense applications.
From February 12, proposals are being accepted for companies wanting to work with Collins engineers in three key areas: accelerating the discovery and use of new lightweight polymer composite materials; helping airports to recover from irregular disruptive operational events; and dealing with safety risks to commercial flights from unexpected navigational deviations and false positive navigation errors.
The closing date for <a href="https://www.collinsaerospace.com/poweredbycollins">receiving applications</a> is May 16 and Collins will hold a “Collaboration Day” event in June. The proof-of-concept projects will be selected in August, at which point the companies will finalize the scope of what they aim to demonstrate.
According to Collins, the purpose of the program is to get novel solutions to its customers faster, and it some cases the company provides funding. The first annual collaborative process was run in 2023 and Collins said that it is now in advanced discussions with a number of participating companies about commercializing the outcomes from joint work.
For example, in 2024 software group Parasanti contributed to Collins’ RapidEdge Mission System for Uncrewed Launched Effects air vehicles. In March, the Texas-based company demonstrated how its Unite microservice for sharing containerized data from sensors could be used to “teach” multiple vehicles how to operate during flight missions without human intervention. The two companies’ teams took just three months to modify the existing Parasanti applications to be integrated with the RapidEdge technology.
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New developments at airports including regulations and noise issues; legal disputes; openings, acquisitions and mergers.

Collins Seeks Collaboration on Materials, Airport Operations and Navigation

Applications for Powered by Collins program close on May 16

Collins Aerospace wants to collaborate with small- and medium-sized companies on new materials, airport operations and navigational safety issues.

Collins Seeks Collaboration on Materials, Airport Ops and Navigation

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

News, issues, personnel, equipment and developments about air traffic management.

News and issues relating to business, corporate and private aviation, primarily regarding turbine-engine-powered airplanes and helicopters. Subjects include aircraft, engines, maintenance, operations, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security, and training.

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News and issues relating to civil and military unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS) of all kinds and sizes, including those used for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), combat (unmanned combat air vehicles, or UCAVs), law enforcement, research and other applications. Of particular focus is the FAA's planned integration of UAS into the U.S. national airspace system.

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News and developments about airplanes, helicopters and unmanned air vehicles used in all varieties of operations, including airlines, military, business, commercial, general aviation and private.

News about bills, laws, regulations and other governmental decisions affecting aviation and aerospace. Topics include FAA re-authorizations, taxes on fuel and aviation activities, environmental legislation, ICAO decisions, governmental mediation of labor conflicts and World Trade Organization disputes and decisions.

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New developments at FBOs including regulations and noise issues; legal disputes; openings, acquisitions and mergers.

News and issues relating to international air transport and cargo carriers, national airlines and regional airlines, including aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

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News and information on safety procedures and concerns.

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News and issues relating to the aerospace industry that are related to the science, engineering and business of flight in space involving civil, industrial and military applications, and similar topics related to flight in the atmosphere of the Earth that are not covered more directly by other AINonline subject channels. In other words, both astronautical and aeronautical subjects, except for those aeronautical topics that are specifically covered elsewhere on this website.

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