<p>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.</p>
<p>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.</p>


Managing Editor

<h3 class="subheading"><strong>NASA Flight Trials Evaluate Communications Infrastructure for Advanced Air Mobility</strong></h3>
<p><span><span><span>NASA is deploying a Pilatus PC-12 for test flights in the Cleveland area as part of its work to pave the way for the autonomous operations envisaged for the advanced air mobility sector. The flights started on May 18 and will run through June 25, with the agency’s pilots following roadways over Cleveland, Lodi, Mansfield, and Medina in Ohio to test communications technology expected to be used by eVTOLs and other new air vehicles.</span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span>The space agency's PC-12 has been fitted with monitors to measure cell tower signal strength at various altitudes in urban, suburban, and rural areas. It will fly no lower than 1,000 feet in populated areas and no lower than 500 feet outside towns.</span></span></span></p>
<h3 class="subheading"><strong>Electra.aero eSTOL Developers Honored for Aeronautics Breakthroughs</strong></h3>
<p><span><span><span>The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) is recognizing the achievements of two members of hybrid-electric eSTOL aircraft developer <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2023-02-28/kinectair-plans-add-electras-estol-aircraft-its-charter-booking-network">Electra.aero</a>. Founder and CEO John Langford is to receive the 2023 AIAA Reed Aeronautics Award, which is the highest honor the association bestows for notable achievements in aeronautics. The Virginia-based company’s senior technical advisor, Mark Drela, has been recognized as a Class of 2023 Honorary Fellow.</span></span></span></p>
<figure role="group" class="caption caption-drupal-media align-center">
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            <div class="field field--name-field-media-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item">  <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/futureflight/import/demonstrator%20NYvertiport%20midRes%203.jpg" width="2554" height="1680" alt="Electra.aero eSTOL aircraft." title="Electra.aero's eSTOL aircraft will be able to operate from very short landing strips in urban settings. (Image: Electra.aero)">

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            <div class="field field--name-field-caption field--type-string-long field--label-hidden field__item">Electra.aero's eSTOL aircraft will be able to operate from very short landing strips in urban settings. (Image: Electra.aero)</div>
      
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<figcaption>Electra.aero's eSTOL aircraft will be able to operate from very short landing strips in urban settings. (Image: Electra.aero)</figcaption>
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<p><span><span><span>Langford and Drela have worked together for 45 years since they first collaborated at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology on projects such as the Chrysalis, Monarch, and Daedalus. Most recently, they were partnered at Aurora Flight Sciences, which Langford formed in 1989. Both are members of the National Academy of Engineering and hold doctoral degrees from MIT’s Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics.</span></span></span></p>
<h3 class="subheading"><strong>ZeroAvia Announces Another Hydrogen Infrastructure Partner</strong></h3>
<p>Hydrogen infrastructure specialist Gen-H2 is partnering with ZeroAvia to prepare to support operators of regional airliners<span><span><span><span><span>&nbsp;converted to use the ZA600 and ZA2000 powertrains. Under a memorandum of understanding signed on Tuesday, Florida-based GenH2 will explore the use of its liquefaction, storage, and dispensing systems, ranging in capacity from 20 to 5,000 kilograms&nbsp;per day, which could operate on the airside of airports as ground-support refueling units and primary sources of liquid hydrogen fuel for aircraft. ZeroAvia has previously announced similar infrastructure <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2023-03-21/zeroavia-partner-nordic-energy-company-fortum-hydrogen-hubs-airports">partnerships</a> with companies in Europe.</span></span></span></span></span></p>
<h3 class="subheading"><strong>Moove Offers Software To Assess Time, Cost, and Environmental Benefits of AAM</strong></h3>
<p><span><span>Moove has introduced an advanced air mobility trip-modeling tool&nbsp;described as a direct sales and passenger platform and a multimodal door-to-door portal offered to future eVTOL aircraft operators and airports. The French tech start-up’s software allows every stakeholder and future passenger to easily visualize flights, their benefits in travel time savings, and reductions in carbon dioxide emissions.</span></span></p>
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            <div class="field field--name-field-media-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item">  <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/futureflight/import/The%20Advanced%20Air%20Mobility%20trip%20simulator%20by%20Moove%20%28c%29%20Moove%20small%20%20-%20Grande.jpeg" width="1280" height="720" alt="Moove has devised software to allow companies and individuals to model the benefits of advanced air mobility flights." title="Moove has devised software to allow companies and individuals to model the benefits of advanced air mobility flights. (Image: Moove)">

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            <div class="field field--name-field-caption field--type-string-long field--label-hidden field__item">Moove has devised software to allow companies and individuals to model the benefits of advanced air mobility flights. (Image: Moove)</div>
      
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<figcaption>Moove has devised software to allow companies and individuals to model the benefits of advanced air mobility flights. (Image: Moove)</figcaption>
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<p><span><span>Moove launched its planning portal to offer a glimpse of future suburban and regional travel, and to generate data on factors such as time and productivity benefits. “In the future, with shorter-distance&nbsp;aerial travel, competition with ground transportation will be at the core of passengers' decisions while environmental footprint would need to be demonstrated each time they want to fly,” said Moove founder Arthur Ingles.</span></span></p>
<h3 class="subheading"><strong><span><span><span>Ryse Patents Carbon Fiber Frame for Personal eVTOL Vehicle</span></span></span></strong></h3>
<p><span><span>Ryse Aero Technologies has filed a patent application for the carbon fiber frame used to manufacture its <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2023-02-06/ryse-plans-first-deliveries-recon-personal-evtol-q3-year">Recon personal eVTOL</a> vehicle. The manufacturer is replacing the aluminum frames used in earlier prototypes with what it says will be a lighter and more economical approach for series production aircraft.</span></span></p>
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            <div class="field field--name-field-media-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item">  <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/futureflight/import/Ryse%20DSC05487.jpeg" width="6000" height="4000" alt="Ryse's Recon single-seat eVTOL vehicle." title="Ryse will use a new carbon fiber frame to build its Recon single-seat eVTOL vehicle. (Image: Ryse)">

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            <div class="field field--name-field-caption field--type-string-long field--label-hidden field__item">Ryse will use a new carbon fiber frame to build its Recon single-seat eVTOL vehicle. (Image: Ryse)</div>
      
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<figcaption>Ryse will use a new carbon fiber frame to build its Recon single-seat eVTOL vehicle. (Image: Ryse)</figcaption>
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<p><span><span>Ohio-based Ryse said it will be ready to start delivering the first Recons to customers later this year. Because the Recon is an ultralight aircraft covered by the FAA’s Part 103 rules, operators don’t need a license and the vehicle doesn't have to go through the rigorous FAA type certification process that's required for&nbsp;other eVTOL aircraft intended for commercial uses, such as air taxis.</span></span></p>
<h3 class="subheading"><strong>Afwerx High-Speed Vertical Takeoff and Landing Contributors Identified</strong></h3>
<p><span><span><span>The U.S. Air Force’s Afwerx program has disclosed the identities of companies that participated in the Phase 1A stage of its <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2022-02-08/jaunt-makes-cut-air-forces-hsvtol-challenge">High-Speed Vertical Takeoff and Landing</a> (HSVTOL) Concept Challenge. During the Vertical Flight Society’s Forum in West Palm Beach. Florida, last week, it was confirmed that Transcend Air, Bell, Jaunt, Jetoptera, Piasecki, and VerdeGo Aero were down-selected from an earlier list of 11 companies. The first five companies are all developing aircraft, while VerdeGo is developing a hybrid-electric propulsion system. The<span><span>&nbsp;Air Force and the U.S. Special Operations Command sponsored the engineering project.</span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>


Charles Alcock

NASA is assessing communications infrastructure for low altitude flights in urban areas around Cleveland. (Image: NASA)

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