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

Read the latest news about Archer Aviation. 

On reflection, it makes perfect sense that an aviation industry sector fueled by hype should gravitate toward the UAE—the world capital of hype. It is in Dubai and Abu Dhabi that eVTOL aircraft developers <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/futureflight/2025-09-29/joby-skyports-ink-air-taxi-deal-uae-emirate">Joby</a> and <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/futureflight/2025-07-02/archer-flies-midnight-evtol-prototype-abu-dhabi">Archer</a> expect their four-passenger air taxis to find their first commercial use cases, with both U.S. companies already actively engaged with local partners in the country.
What remains unclear, is on what basis the UAE’s General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) will permit passenger-carrying commercial flights or even the planned public demonstration flights. At face value, the agency would simply wait until the FAA issues type certification for the new eVTOL vehicles and then validate that documentation under bilateral agreements. But work with the FAA appears set to drag into 2026, which could delay plans in the UAE unless the authorities are willing to grant special permission to operate—as has been the case with eVTOL development in China.
Both Joby and Archer are exhibiting examples of their rival eVTOL models at the Dubai Airshow. Several other advanced air mobility (AAM) players are among the exhibitors, including Embraer spin-off Eve, Hanwha (which was a backer for the now-defunct Overair), Skyports Infrastructure, and WeflyAviation.
<h2>Other Contenders in the AAM Frame</h2>
Senior leaders from Archer and Joby are prominent on the agenda of the AAM stage for the Dubai Airshow’s Aviation Mobility conference track, along with&nbsp;GCAA director general Saif Mohammed Al-Suwaidi. Skyports CEO Duncan Walker is also among the speakers, as is Ramandeep Oberoi from <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/futureflight/2025-04-25/uae-approves-first-hybrid-heliport-design">Archer’s local partner</a> Falcon Aviation Services, and Bai Zhiliang, CEO of TransFuture Aviation from China, which is developing the Honghu eVTOL and a family of drones.
WeFly Aviation, another Chinese company, is promoting its autonomous W280 eVTOL, which it flew for the first time in July. Abu Dhabi-based Autocraft is another eVTOL developer making a Dubai Airshow debut with plans for a vehicle called the E20+. From India, Sharla Aviation will be showcasing its plans for the six-seat Shunya air taxi.
Abu Dhabi-based Autocraft is stepping up its plans to operate eVTOL air taxi services. Earlier this year, it announced a deal with Shanghai-based&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/futureflight/2025-03-27/chinas-tcab-tech-raises-more-funds-e20-evtol-aircraft">TCab Tech</a>&nbsp;to order up to 350 of its five seat E20 vehicles to be&nbsp;deployed across the Middle East and North Africa.

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