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

After several years of being somewhat regarded as upstarts on the fringes of the industry, advanced air mobility (AAM) pioneers are preparing to take center stage at one of the world's biggest business aviation trade shows in May. The annual European Business Aviation Convention &amp; Exhibition in Geneva will feature an enlarged Innovation Zone and eVTOL aircraft developers and other AAM ecosystem stakeholders will be prominent speakers in the daily&nbsp;conference program.
While maintaining the promise of democratizing air transportation, increasingly new electric and hybrid-electric aircraft are being positioned for early adopter business models in the private aviation sector. That will be much in evidence in the EBACE Innovation zone and also on the outdoor static display where&nbsp;VoltAero’s Cassio 330 hybrid-electric aircraft will be making its EBACE debut.&nbsp;Attendees at EBACE 2024 will have the opportunity to look inside the <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/advanced-air-mobility/2023-06-20/voltaero-debuts-cassio-330-hybrid-electric-aircraft">Cassio 330</a>, which is designed to seat four or five occupants, at the static display. It is the first of three hybrid-electric aircraft that VoltAero intends to produce for cargo, air taxi, and medevac applications.
Other AAM companies exhibiting at EBACE this year (May 28-30) include German eVTOL developer <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/video/lilium-gives-travelers-taste-future-flight-lilium-jet-evtol-aircraft">Lilium</a>, French hydrogen-electric business jet developer <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2023-06-19/hydrogen-business-jet-could-turn-private-aviation-green">Beyond Aero</a>, and Dutch electric regional airplane developer Electron. <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/news-article/2023-08-18/business-aircraft-operator-backs-vaeridions-plans-electric-microliner">Vaeridion</a>, another German AAM company, will present its all-electric Microliner at the convention. California-based <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/general-aviation/2022-07-23/hydroplane-waitlisting-orders-fuel-cell-powerplant">Hydroplane</a> will also showcase the hydrogen fuel cells it is developing to power various types of aircraft.
“Innovation is always front and center at EBACE, and this year is no exception,” said EBAA conference and innovation lead Rachel Clementi. “There is perhaps no better example of game-changing innovation underway in business aviation than with the advent of electric, hybrid, and hydrogen propulsion systems for aircraft. EBACE 2024 is proud to feature the latest of these pioneering technologies poised to enter the market.”
One of the early conference sessions on the first day of EBACE is entitled&nbsp;Future of Flight—the Balance Between Technology and the Human Touch. This will feature speakers from hybrid hydrogen-electric eVTOL developer Lyte Aviation, as well as Volatus and Vaeridion.
On day two, attention will turn to the potential role of eVTOL vehicles and drones in emergency medical and humanitarian missions. This session will be moderated by Dan Sloat from the AAM Institute and will include speakers from Jump Aero and Dronamics.
On the final day of EBACE 2024, another session will focus on hydrogen propulsion's role in achieving net zero carbon objectives. Speakers for this session will include leaders from Hydroplane and Beyond Aero.
AIN Media Group will produce daily editions at the EBACE show, including full coverage of all news from the business aviation industry.&nbsp;

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