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.

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Charles Alcock

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L3Harris Commercial Aviation Solutions is now trading as Acron Aviation after private equity group TJC completed its acquisition of the avionics, training, and data analytics specialist. According to Acron CEO Alan Crawford, who was previously president of the L3Harris business unit, the takeover will release investments in products, people, and processes as the company seeks to be more responsive to customers’ priorities.
With operations in the U.S., UK, Thailand, and India, Acron will continue to produce and develop avionics products, including flight recorders, displays, surveillance systems, and flight data monitoring systems. It also specializes in simulators, devices, and software, as well as training services.
According to Crawford, Acron will now be freer to respond quickly and proactively to civil customers’ needs, having been somewhat constrained by the largely defense-oriented corporate structures of L3Harris. He said that TJC, which manages around $30 billion in assets, has indicated that funds will be available to invest in market sectors, such as advanced air mobility, for which it could provide technology including surveillance, detect and avoid, flight recorders, and training devices.
Acron is also expecting to move fairly quickly to acquire other businesses that could result in expanding its presence in aviation data analytics and applying commercial technology for military customers needing more cost-effective solutions. The company has been somewhat stalled strategically because the acquisition by TJC took around 16 months to complete due to a now-resolved dispute between L3Harris and Thales over their ACSS training joint venture.
“Our customers will see more agility and speed in terms of better and quicker decisions, plus more responsiveness to queries and improved operational performance,” Crawford told AIN. “We need to turn around our aftermarket support by investing in our colleagues and processes. In the future, we will have greater ability to control our own destiny, and customers will see a positive impact day to day.”

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