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

Aviation insurance group USAIG is seeking to boost participation in the Operational Risk and Resilience Accreditation (ORRA) initiative run by Vertical Aviation International (VAI) by making it available to eligible policyholders through its Performance Vector program. Under an offer announced today, each eligible policyholder will be able to choose one of the ORRA programs as an annual benefit.
The ORRA program is intended to help helicopter operators take a new approach to managing risk with improvements to their operational processes. It replaced VAI’s earlier Accreditation Program of Safety and is jointly run with VLinc Corp.
Aircraft operators participating in ORRA are encouraged to adopt its standards and recommended practices to better manage operational risk and be more resilient. They are supported in this effort by a VLinc coach who helps participants progress through a four-tier path to attain the Gold Level, at which point the operation is assessed as “effective” following an onsite validation.
USAIG, which offers the Performance Vector program to most policyholders operating turbine-powered aircraft, has agreed to cover up to $2,500 of the cost of participating in ORRA.&nbsp;“It’s undeniably tough to add fortifying operational policies and driving positive cultural change to the long list of challenges that confront helicopters, but ORRA’s coach-assisted model provides a clear path to achieve those aims,” said USAIG president and CEO John Brogan.

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