Charles Alcock
Managing Editor
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.
Latest from Charles Alcock
Aircraft
Spanish Airline Plans Airship Services From 2026
Air Nostrum says it plans to be the launch operator for Hybrid Air Vehicles' 100-seat Airlander 10 airship on domestic routes of up to around 265 miles.
FutureFlight
Biometric Technology Will Be Tested To Ease Passengers' eVTOL Journeys
Operational trials at Cergy-Pontoise Airport near Paris are part of a 30-partner initiative to prepare for eVTOL air taxi services to start in the French capital in time for the 2024 Olympic Games.
FutureFlight
Hanwha Boosts Backing for Overair's Butterfly eVTOL Aircraft with $145 Million Investment
The South Korean company was an early investor in California-based Overair and is also providing motors and batteries for the six-seat eVTOL aircraft through its aerospace division.
FutureFlight
Ampaire Steps Up Plans To Help Airports Prepare for Electric Aircraft
The company's partnership with sustainable infrastructure specialist Black & Veatch will also cover the expansion of the sustainable aviation fuel supply chain.
FutureFlight On The Radar
New Index Identifies Likely Early Leaders in Race To Provide Advanced Air Mobility Ground Infrastructure
SMG Consulting is taking an objective look at prospects for establishing vertiports and other facilities, and the group says there is a lot more work to do.
Airports
Airports Group Plans Vertiports with eVTOL Developers
Corporacion America Airports this week signed partnership with Eve and Vertical Aerospace to developer plans for eVTOL air taxi ground infrastructure.
Maintenance and Modifications
Bogus Parts Could Indefinitely Ostracize Russian Air Transport
Russia's aviation regulator is facilitating the use of unapproved parts, compromising asset values and longer-term relations with the global industry.
FutureFlight
Eve Teams with Airports Group To Develop Vertiport Network
Corporacion America Airports operates 53 airports in six countries across three continents. These include Argentina, Uruguay, Italy, and Brazil, where the company runs airports in the capital, Brasilia, and Natal.
FutureFlight
Falcon and Eve Plan To Launch eVTOL Services in Dubai
The United Arab Emirates-based operator says questions need to be resolved about how eVTOL aircraft will perform in the region's high temperatures.
FutureFlight
Wisk Expands Autonomous eVTOL Operations Plans to Australia
Brisbane in the state of Queensland is a likely early adopter of eVTOL air services, with plans underway for ground infrastructure.
FutureFlight
Electra and Airflow Join Forces to Bring eSTOL Aircraft Family to Market
The merged company will focus on hybrid-electric propulsion to start, but wants to eventually build hydrogen-powered aircraft.
Volocopter's VoloConnect eVTOL Prototype Takes to Skies
Volocopter's VoloConnect four-seat full-scale eVTOL prototype is now in flight test, joining the two-seat VoloCity and freight-carrying VoloDrone.
FutureFlight
With First VoloConnect Takeoff, Volocopter Has Three eVTOL Models in Test Flights
The four-passenger VoloConnect has joined the smaller VoloCity and VoloDrone prototypes in flight testing.
FutureFlight
Lilium To Step Up eVTOL Program Expenditure Under New CEO Klaus Roewe
In a shareholders' letter, the company says it aims to have the basis for type certification of its seven-seat eVTOL aircraft fully agreed to by EASA by the end of 2022.
Airlines
Eurocontrol Pushes Back Covid Recovery as Delays Worsen
The air traffic management agency published a revised short-term forecast for European air traffic, as airlines and airports face serious staff shortages.
FutureFlight On The Radar
Deloitte Study Considers How Advanced Air Mobility Stacks Up as a Mass-transit Contender
The consulting group focuses on how eVTOL air taxi services will compete on cost and price points with ground-based alternatives and also with scheduled airlines.
FutureFlight
NASA Adds More Partners to its Advanced Air Mobility National Campaign
The program is intended to promote public confidence and accelerate the realization of emerging aviation markets for passenger and cargo transportations in urban, suburban, rural and regional environments
FutureFlight
VX4 eVTOL Operators, Lessor, and Airports Group Plan Brazilian Vertiports
Brazil is emerging as a likely early adopter of eVTOL air taxi services, in part because of strong existing demand for helicopter charter flights.
Eve Turns to Porsche for Mass-production Expertise
Porsche Consulting will provide insight on supply chain for high-volume production, as well as strategy for global manufacturing and logistics.
FutureFlight
Honeywell Reports Progress with One-MW Turbogenerator Tests
The company says the turbogenerator could power hybrid-electric aircraft and also be used for ground-based battery recharging units.
FutureFlight
EASA Announces Tenders for New Aviation Safety Research Projects
New European Union-funded research includes technology of direct relevance to the advanced air mobility sector.
FutureFlight
Vertiko and Jaunt Announce Plans for eVTOL Air Taxi Network Across Quebec
Vertiko intends to build a network of vertiports in the Canadian province of Quebec and operate a fleet of at least 70 Jaunt Journey eVTOL aircraft from 2026.
FutureFlight
TCab Tech Chooses Safran's Motors To Power Five-Seat E20 eVTOL Aircraft
The Chinese start-up, which was founded by former Geely Terrafugia and Autoflight executives, aims to certify its aircraft in China in 2025.
FutureFlight
Lilium Reports Hover-to-Cruise Airflow Transition Breakthrough in eVTOL Test Flights
The transition was achieved with the company's Phoenix 2 eVTOL technology demonstrator during test flights in Spain.
FutureFlight On The Radar
Tampa Airport Studies Innovative Future Mobility Options
The Florida airport's latest master plan makes it clear that Tampa Bay area officials are willing to consider radical transportation options that could include eVTOL aircraft and much more.
FutureFlight
Lilium Selects Partners For Propulsion Flaps and Lithium Battery Technology
The German eVTOL aircraft developer made three significant supply chain partnership announcements in the space of a week.
FutureFlight
Eviation Says Alice Electric Commuter is Set For Summer Flight Test Lift-off
The start of flight testing for the redesigned Alice aircraft has been delayed for some time, but the company says it will still be ready for the FAA to assess the aircraft in 2024.
FutureFlight
Japanese Parking Lots Could Be Launch Pads for eVTOL Air Taxis
Skyports is expanding its plans to build vertiports through a new alliance with partners in Japan.
FutureFlight
FAA Certification Leader Joins Autonomous Flight Pioneer Xwing
Outgoing FAA executive director for certification Earl Lawrence was responsible for the oversight of all categories of aircraft certification as well as production and airworthiness approvals.
Aircraft
TBM Co-ownership Could Make Private Flying Affordable
Moove is marketing co-owned shares in the TBM 960 single-engine turboprop to small companies that might find it hard to access affordable charter services.
