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

Volocopter this week officially opened the hangar&nbsp;that will house the production line for its family of eVTOL aircraft. On April 4, the company held a ribbon-cutting ceremony at its headquarters in Bruchsal, Germany, to show off the purpose-built facility&nbsp;in which manufacturing equipment is now being installed on the airfield site it uses for flight testing.
Since receiving EASA production organization approval in 2021, <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2022-11-01/volocopter-draws-182-million-funding-saudi-chinese-interests">Volocopter</a> has been preparing to start assembling its two-seat <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/aircraft-program/volocity">VoloCity </a>vehicle at an initial annual rate of at least 50 units following anticipated type certification in 2024. The facility will be used to manufacture carbon fiber parts&nbsp;and electric propulsion units, as well as for final assembly. Volocopter is still determining the production plans for&nbsp;its <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2021-07-01/volocopter-and-db-schenker-prepare-blueprint-evtol-cargo-operations">VoloDrone freighter</a> and larger, longer-range&nbsp;<a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2022-06-07/first-voloconnect-takeoff-volocopter-has-three-evtol-models-test-flights">VoloConnect </a>eVTOL aircraft, and these should be settled by the end of this year when decisions about the outsourcing of some manufacturing have been finalized.&nbsp;
The ceremony was attended by Germany’s minister for digital affairs and transport, Volker Wissing, along with Anna Christmann, the federal government’s aerospace policy coordinator, and Winfried Kretschmann, a minister in the state government of Baden-Württemberg. During the event, Volocopter conducted a piloted flight demonstration with its 2X technology demonstrator.
“Germany is already a world leader in the development of air taxis, thanks in part to Volocopter’s great pioneering spirit,” Wissing commented. “I would like to support and build on this leading role by creating a framework that enables innovation and progress. We are working with key industry players on a strategy for air taxi operations here in Germany&nbsp;in which all technical and legal issues are addressed without delay.” 
Volocopter says it intends to launch commercial air taxi services with the VoloCity vehicle in locations including Singapore, <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2022-10-06/romes-new-vertiport-hosts-italys-first-crewed-evtol-aircraft-flight">Rome</a>, Saudi Arabia, and <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2022-03-22/paris-evtol-flight-trials-aim-make-big-quiet-impact-air-mobility">Paris</a>. Rival advanced air mobility pioneer Airbus, which is developing its CityAirbus eVTOL aircraft at <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2022-07-28/airbus-builds-test-center-work-cityairbus-nextgen-evtol-aircraft">Donauwörth</a> in Bavaria, is working with multiple stakeholders on plans to start operations in the <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2022-06-23/munich-airport-and-airbus-help-cities-establish-evtol-aircraft-operations">southern German state</a>.
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Charles Alcock

Volocopter opened its eVTOL manufacturing facility at Bruchsal on April 4, 2023., with government leaders in attendance, including German aerospace policy coordinator Anna Christmann, seen speaking here. (Image: Volocopter)

Volocopter Opens eVTOL Aircraft Manufacturing Facility in Germany

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