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

Bombardier manufactures a variety of business aircraft models, provides engineering, and aircraft maintenance services.

The perception that business aviation struggles to recruit young talent was vividly challenged during the internship program that the Air Charter Association (ACA) staged earlier this month at London Biggin Hill Airport. During a week-long training schedule, a group of 15 college-age recruits got an inside track on the career options offered by charter operators and brokers, FBOs, and maintenance, repair, and overhaul providers.
Now in its second year, the program—according to ACA’s chief executive, Glenn Hogben—has already guided several interns into their first jobs in the industry. After their time at Biggin Hill, the candidates will begin a week’s placement with member companies of the industry group.
They are also expected to prepare a 10-minute presentation and a 1,200-word report on an aspect of the business. ACA will honor the best of these presentations during its annual awards evening, to be held in November.
At Biggin Hill, Hogben and ACA training manager Julie Ellis provided instruction covering multiple topics, including safety-critical aspects of ground handling, airport operating restrictions, limitations such as air crew recurrency training, and cost factors for charter flights. One of the key lessons illuminated vividly how brokers and handling agents often have to think quickly to work around challenges associated with delivering the flexibility for which private aviation is so valued.
The interns visited multiple business aviation companies based at the London-area airport, including helicopter shuttle operator Castle Air, the Jetex FBO, aircraft broker Wallcourt Aviation, and Bombardier’s extensive MRO facility. They got some fascinating insights into the realities of private aviation, including the high levels of efficiency achieved in dispatching flights and even what happens to aircraft repossessed by lenders when their owners aren’t paying the bills.
<h2>Closing the Supply/Demand Gap</h2>
“We identified a gap between demand [for new industry professionals] and supply, and decided to try to make the right connections,” Hogben told AIN. “Air charter is a great profession because there are so many roles, including lawyers, accountants, operational specialists, and brokers. It’s hard for some of our member companies to make time for recruitment, so we’re helping them with the vetting process.”
<figure role="group" class="caption caption-img">
<img alt="The Air Charter Association" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="88833654-a82b-42cd-8921-a2b35f9c0c43" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/IMG_6618%202.JPG" width="4032" height="3024" loading="lazy">
<figcaption>Julie Ellis (left) and Glenn Hogben led the Air Charter Association’s internship program at London Biggin Hill Airport.</figcaption>
</figure>

More than 100 people applied for the program this year. &nbsp;A shortlisted group was invited to London as part of the selection process, or allowed to participate remotely for those outside the UK. Some of this year’s successful candidates came from Kazakhstan, Romania, Ireland, and Dubai, with ACA covering travel and accommodation costs for those chosen to participate.
“We doubled the pool of candidates this year, and we expect half of them to end up working in the industry,” Hogben explained. “We want it to be a tangible opportunity, so we provide some mentoring, plus we’re setting up a WhatsApp group for the interns to stay in contact, and we’re in talks with recruitment consultants to support the program.”
Meanwhile, privately-owned Biggin Hill Airport operates its own initiative to give young people the chance to connect with the industry. Through its Futures Week, the company hosts groups of 15- to 18-year-old local high school students for a week at a time during school breaks.
Several of those participating in previous years now work at the airport, including one of Biggin Hill’s senior ground handlers and several apprentices at Bombardier. Biggin Hill has its own full-time ambassador engaging with local schools on science and technology topics. In some cases, young people have gravitated to other aviation opportunities, such as British Airways’ flight crew academy and the Royal Air Force.

News about simulators and training procedures, as well as workforce.

Air Charter Group Expands Talent Pool with Internship Program in London 

Biggin Hill Airport hosted a week-long training program for aspiring industry professionals

The Air Charter Association wants to help its members recruit the next generation of professionals through a carefully curated internship program.

Air Charter Group Expands Talent Pool with Internships

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Sarah Rose

News and issues concerning general aviation, specifically airplanes and helicopters powered by piston and alternative engines (i.e., non-turbine powered aircraft). Subjects include aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

Career fair expands at the 2025 show

NBAA-BACE To Launch New Career Zone in October

Jessica Reed

News and issues relating to business, corporate and private aviation, primarily regarding turbine-engine-powered airplanes and helicopters. Subjects include aircraft, engines, maintenance, operations, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security, and training.

Shawn O’Brien is now COO and Martin Elliott is CFO

Go Rentals Names New COO and CFO for Expansion

Kerry Lynch

Essential news and analysis on the defense aerospace business. Your trusted source for new and ongoing programs and requirements in military aircraft (manned and unmanned), engines, avionics, weapons and associated systems, including ground-based air defense.

Daylong event will enable military personnel to network and learn about business aviation

NBAA To Host Military Connect Career Event During BACE

People in Aviation - August 2025

News and developments about airplanes, helicopters and unmanned air vehicles used in all varieties of operations, including airlines, military, business, commercial, general aviation and private.

U.S./Italian partnership will compete with Boeing’s T-7A and Lockheed Martin T-50A

Textron Unveils M-346N Jet Trainer for U.S. Navy Bid

Matt Thurber

Test prep app will help mechanic candidates prepare for examinations

King Schools Announces Scholarship Winners, New Courses

News about commercial airlines, including regulations, aircraft orders, safety, acquisitions, and mergers.

News and issues relating to international air transport and cargo carriers, national airlines and regional airlines, including aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

7000XR Series full-flight simulator features CAE’s Prodigy visual system

Porter Pilots Start Training on CAE’s E195-E2 Simulator

Curt Epstein

News and issues about aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), covering all segments of the aviation industry; and modifications for aircraft and engines. Subjects include product support of aircraft, engines and avionics, MRO company mergers, acquisitions, announcements and personnel, Airworthiness Directives, Supplemental Type Certificate approvals and other topics.

News and issues relating to the aerospace industry that are related to the science, engineering and business of flight in space involving civil, industrial and military applications, and similar topics related to flight in the atmosphere of the Earth that are not covered more directly by other AINonline subject channels. In other words, both astronautical and aeronautical subjects, except for those aeronautical topics that are specifically covered elsewhere on this website.

In this article

JetEx

Biggin Hill Airport

Bombardier

More In Training and Workforce

NBAA-BACE To Launch New Career Zone in October

Career fair expands at the 2025 show

Go Rentals Names New COO and CFO for Expansion

Shawn O’Brien is now COO and Martin Elliott is CFO

NBAA To Host Military Connect Career Event During BACE

Daylong event will enable military personnel to network and learn about business aviation

People in Aviation - August 2025

People in Aviation - August 2025

Textron Unveils M-346N Jet Trainer for U.S. Navy Bid

U.S./Italian partnership will compete with Boeing’s T-7A and Lockheed Martin T-50A

King Schools Announces Scholarship Winners, New Courses

Test prep app will help mechanic candidates prepare for examinations

Porter Pilots Start Training on CAE’s E195-E2 Simulator

7000XR Series full-flight simulator features CAE’s Prodigy visual system

Thrust Flight adds A&P, Dispatcher Training

The company previously offered only flight training

AIN Products

SUBSCRIPTIONS

RESOURCES

ABOUT AIN