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

The GDC Group’s new GDC Middle East subsidiary is expanding its activities into aircraft operations, engineering training and development of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) equipment. It is working closely with sister companies GDC Technics, which is the group’s Texas-based aircraft completions center, and also with maintenance and aircraft engineering specialist GDC Engineering in Germany.

 


The Riyadh-based company announced a five-year contract to operate VIP-configured helicopters for undisclosed clients in Saudi Arabia. According to the company, GDC Middle East will provide full support for the helicopters, including flight crew, maintenance, flight planning and dispatch, training and spare parts management. “This is a significant contract for our newly created company GDC ME,” said CEO Fawaz Sharabi. “We are very proud to have been chosen by an esteemed customer.”

 


Separately, during the Dubai Airshow, GDC Middle East reported that it has signed a cooperation agreement with Turkish ISR group ESEN System Integration. The Ankara-based company was formed in February 2012 through a partnership with Sierra Nevada Corp. of the U.S.

 


Finally, GDC Middle East also announced that it is to start training Saudi Arabian aerospace engineers under a new five-year program. The training is to be provided by GDC Technics and GDC Engineering.

 


Earlier this year, the GDC Group announced plans to establish a new GDC Africa subsidiary in Morocco, providing completions and maintenance services.

GDC Expands Into Helicopter Ops, ISR and Training

GDC Middle East is a new subsidiary of the GDC Group, which specializes in aircraft completions, maintenance and engineering.

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