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

Latest news about Textron's eAviation division.

A 4AIR Rating provides a comprehensive, turnkey solution for any person or company's sustainability goals

Electric aircraft are already permanently based at 14 UK airfields, according to the British Business and General Aviation Association (BBGA). On Monday, the group announced that another 36 airfields around the country are in the process of installing electric charging equipment to meet anticipated demand for aircraft with no direct carbon emissions from operations.
For now, Pipistrel’s Velis Electro two-seater is the only electric aircraft approved by the UK Civil Aviation Authority for passenger flights. The aircraft, which is manufactured by Textron eAviation’s Slovenia-based subsidiary, is increasingly in demand as a flight training platform.
The most recent addition to the UK fleet is a Velis Electro leased by Synergy Flight Training from Pipistrel’s UK distributor NeboAir. The aircraft is based at the London-area Fairoaks Airport and has been partly funded with support from aviation sustainability group 4Air, a sister company to business aircraft charter group Flexjet.
“The Pipistrel Velis generates emissions only during its construction, repair, and maintenance, [as well as] its eventual end-of-life disposal and from the electricity used for charging,” commented 4Air’s president, Kennedy Ricci. “Through our partnership with Synergy Flight Training, student pilots of the future—and qualified pilots too—will experience new forms of decarbonized flying which will become more commonplace over the next decade.”
Other airfields where NeboAir has now placed Velis Electros include Norwich, Duxford, Great Oakley, Humberside, Old Buckenham, Popham, RAF Cranwell, Redhill, Rochester, Sibson, Shipmeadow, and Wickenby. At Norwich, charter operator SaxonAir has leased one of the Velis Electros since October 2023 and has used it for flight training alongside Pipistrel’s piston-powered Explorer model.
From its Klyne Business Aviation Centre, SaxonAir has run the Air League’s inaugural Electric Flying Scholarship program using power generated by rooftop solar panels. The company is preparing to receive the 2025 cohort of students at its flight training center.
<img alt="Glen Heavens (left) CEO of Synergy Flight Training and Adam Twidell from Flexjet with a Velis Electro aircraft at Fairoaks Airport." data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="8f1c87e0-4daf-405d-aa05-75d077e1e321" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/Glen_Heavens_CEO_Synergy_Flight_Training_and_Adam_Twidell_Fairoaks_Airport.jpeg" width="1000" height="852" loading="lazy">
Synergy Flight Training is now recruiting flight instructors to conduct training in the Velis Electro at Fairoaks. Company owner and CEO Glen Heavens, who will be instructing on the aircraft himself, is offering instructor rating sponsorships for commercially-rated pilots.
“General aviation has always been a valued innovation incubator for commercial aviation,” said BBGA’s managing director, Lindsey Oliver. “The achievements lauded here serve to enhance and benefit our whole sector.”

News about environmental issues relating to aircraft operations, including noise issues, emissisions, and regulations. See Fuel for biofuel.

UK's Electric Aircraft Fleet Grows, Mainly for Training

Pipistrel's Velis Electro two-seater is the only electric aircraft certified for passenger flights in the UK

Training organizations like Synergy and SaxonAir see growing demand for instruction in electric aircraft, resulting in deliveries of Pipistrel's Velis Electro.

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Kerry Lynch

New developments at FBOs including regulations and noise issues; legal disputes; openings, acquisitions and mergers.

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.

AvfuelZero Portal houses all necessary documentation for SAF and carbon emissions reporting

Avfuel Launches Portal To Streamline SAF Documentation

News and developments about aircraft engines, including turbofan, turboprop, turboshaft and piston.

News about bills, laws, regulations and other governmental decisions affecting aviation and aerospace. Topics include FAA re-authorizations, taxes on fuel and aviation activities, environmental legislation, ICAO decisions, governmental mediation of labor conflicts and World Trade Organization disputes and decisions.

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.

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.

Airbus and 10 European partners have launched the PACIFIC program 

Study Targets Clarity for Mitigating Contrail Impact

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.

News, issues, personnel, equipment and developments about air traffic management.

Aerospace and defense group partners with Solar Impulse Foundation

Airbus Doubles Down on Aviation Decarbonization Commitment

Curt Epstein

News and developments about aviation fuel, including jet fuel, aviation gasoline, and biofuel.

FBO chain bringing sustainable aviation fuel to six of its FBOs in the UK and France

Signature Aviation To Add More European SAF Locations

The service provider is among the first in South Florida to do so

Banyan Air Service Is Latest To Stock Permanent SAF Supplies

A new deal will see the airport receive more than 3 million gallons of SAF a year

Farnborough Airport Ups Its SAF Game

News and issues regarding all manner of civil and military rotorcraft and their powerplants, including helicopters, tilt rotors and unmanned air vehicles.

In this article

Textron eAviation

4Air

Flexjet

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