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

French accident investigators concluded that the pilots of a Pilatus PC-12 heavily damaged on Feb. 17, 2024, when it collided with the steep runway slope at Courchevel Airport (LFLJ) in the Alps had insufficient experience operating in mountainous regions. In a <a href="https://bea.aero/fileadmin/user_upload/OO-PCN.pdf">report</a> published by the Bureau d’Enquêtes et d’Analyses (BEA) on Wednesday, the agency found that the turboprop single’s pilot in command (PIC) had flown a steeper glide path than the standard 5 degrees after initiating the descent late.
During final approach, the PC-12, flying at 85 knots and descending at 700 fpm, was below the 5-degree glide path at 0.75 nm from the 1,758-foot Runway 22, which has an 18.6-degree slope at the threshold. The aircraft’s main and nose landing gear collided with the slope before it veered to the left on the runway. It then hit a snow drift that separated the wing and spun the airplane 180 degrees, with additional damage to the propeller blades.
The Belgian-registered aircraft (OO-PCN) was operated by a shared-use cooperative company called European Aircraft Private Club (EAPC). It was flying into the ski resort from the Brussels-area Charleroi Airport to collect seven passengers.
The 31-year-old PIC had around 2,400 hours TT, including 800 in the PC-12, and had earned authorization to fly into Courchevel for about a month after some recent training. The 35-year-old copilot had 645 hours TT, including 97 in the PC-12, but he did not hold mountain flying approval or specific authorization for the 6,371-foot altitude airport, which ICAO designates as an “altiport.”
EAPC operates nine PC-12s and two PC-24 jets, and had made around 800 flights to Courchevel in the previous five years, including one in 2017 in which another PC-12 was damaged in a rough landing there. Since the accident, the company, which solely flies for its member shareholders, has agreed to deploy only pilots holding mountain flight qualifications for trips into airports at high altitudes or with short/steep approaches.

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Pilatus PC-12 Series

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