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

Autonomous flight technology pioneer Xwing has applied for FAA approval to add its experimental Cessna 208B Grand Caravan aircraft to the Part 135 operations certificate of its subsidiary San Antonio Air Charter. The company has converted the turboprop single workhorse to test and certify its optionally piloted systems on commercial cargo services.
The approval process involves filing a petition for exemption from Federal Aviation Regulations. The FAA published notice of the proposed exemption on August 31, giving interested parties the chance to comment through September 20. The application refers to the aircraft being flown&nbsp;“as if it is unmanned from a ground control station, but is actually under the supervision of an on-board pilot in command, who is able to disconnect the auto-flight system and assume traditional control of the aircraft should an off-nominal situation arise.”
In April, Xwing reported that it had conducted the first fully autonomous gate-to-gate operation with the adapted Grand Caravan on a non-commercial flight. The aircraft flew from its base at Buchanan Field Airport in Concord, California, with the aircraft being remotely monitored from its mission control center&nbsp;and with a pilot on board as a backup.
The aircraft taxied from the gate to the runway,&nbsp;took off,&nbsp;and&nbsp;subsequently landed&nbsp;and taxied&nbsp;back to the gate in a fully autonomous operation. All interactions with air traffic controllers were conducted by the ground-based pilot who monitored the flight via data links with multiple redundancies.
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Charles Alcock

Xwing Seeks FAA Clearance for Commercial Remotely Piloted Flights

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