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 is a prominent aerospace and defense company specializing in the development and manufacture of advanced technology solutions. They offer a wide range of products and services, including avionics, aircraft interiors, mission systems, and space systems. 

Collins Aerospace’s Engineering Center of Excellence in the UK is now fully operational with a key role in the company’s efforts to develop a new electric thrust reverser actuation system (ElecTRAS). The RTX group subsidiary announced the full opening of the facility in Wolverhampton on July 9.
According to Collins, the ElecTRAS technology will eliminate the need for hydraulic actuation interfaces and fluids, using electric motors that draw power from the aircraft’s electrical network. The system’s integration with aircraft could reduce engine nacelle weight by 15% to 20% by eliminating hardware such as hoses and tubes.
Announced in 2025, the new engineering facility provides modular and scalable test capabilities for actuation system design and certification that replicate real-world aircraft operations. Briefing reporters before the Farnborough International Airshow, Collins representatives explained how the setup lets engineers fold early-stage test results into system analysis, helping them resolve technical issues faster, reduce development delays, and support design work for future actuator applications.
“This unique modular approach supports the industry’s transition to more-electric systems, aligning with original equipment manufacturers’ forward-looking goals while improving fuel efficiency, operational performance and ease of maintenance,” explained Ajay Mahajan, president of Collins Aerospace’s Advanced Structures business unit.
The ElecTRAS technology is already in commercial service on Airbus A350 widebody airliners, which are powered by Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engines. To date, these actuation systems have logged more than 15 million flight hours and 2.2 million flight cycles on more than 700 in-service aircraft.
Now Collins is working on thrust reverser solutions for the widely anticipated next-generation narrowbody airliner, with a view to delivering equipment that could be more cost-effective to produce. Mahajan said the company is working with other aircraft and engine manufacturers, including its RTX sister company Pratt &amp; Whitney. He added that the electric actuation technology could be applied in other ways, such as tilting mechanisms on new aircraft designs.
Collins no longer produces hydraulic actuation systems itself, having sold this business to Safran, including another site in Wolverhampton. However, the company still employs around 6,000 people in the UK and has many suppliers there.

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