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
FutureFlight
Autonomous Flight Opens Order Book For Y6S Plus eVTOL Aircraft
From January, prospective customers will be able to place pre-orders for the six-seat eVTOL, which from 2024 is expected to operate on routes of up to 100 miles.
FutureFlight
EHang Announces Launch Order For Longer-range VT-30 eVTOL Aircraft
Japan’s Okayama Kurashiki Mizushima Aero & Space Industry Cluster Study Group is working with the Chinese manufacturer to develop use cases for eVTOL aircraft.
Cabin Interior and Electronics
New Approach to Emergency Cabin Oxygen Could Cut Fuel Burn
Limitations of current emergency oxygen systems and safety concerns over some countries, like Afghanistan, are forcing airlines to fly longer-routes.
FutureFlight
Joby Advances Work on eVTOL Radar With Inras Acquisition
The Austrian start-up, which is a specialist in radio frequency technology, has been helping Joby develop a customized radar system for its eVTOL aircraft.
FutureFlight
Hill Helicopters Founder Slams eVTOL Technology and Business Case
Arguing that the UK start-up's new single turbine light helicopters will be more competitive for new air mobility missions, CEO Jason Hill was dismissive of his eVTOL rivals.
FutureFlight On The Radar
EASA Opens Consultation Over New Aircraft Airworthiness Requirements
The European safety agency is looking to close what it acknowledges are gaps in current regulations that create obstacles to certifying and operating new types of aircraft, including those with electric propulsion.
FutureFlight On The Radar
Finance Community Sees Opportunity in Advanced Air Mobility, But Also Risk
With an increase in prospective orders for eVTOL aircraft, operators and manufacturers might increasingly turn to sources of finance such as leases, but aviation consultant Alton says the risk must be fully understood.
FutureFlight
Eve Urban Air Mobility Set to Go Public Through Merger With Zanite Acquisition
The eVTOL aircraft developer expects to complete a New York Stock Exchange share flotation in the second quarter of 2022 as new customers SkyWest, Republic and Azorra commit to aircraft purchases.
FutureFlight On The Radar
Eve and Zanite Make the Case For Yet Another SPAC-backed eVTOL Landing on Wall Street
The Embraer subsidiary aims to fund its four-passenger eVTOL aircraft with a New York Stock Exchange listing in the second quarter of 2022, but will the bubble have burst by then?
Aircraft
Airlines Back Embraer eVTOL Subsidiary's Plans to Go Public
With new airline orders in hand, Eve is merging with Zanite and intends to float share on the New York Stock Exchange in the second quarter of 2022.
FutureFlight
Archer Achieves First Flight with Maker eVTOL Technology Demonstrator
The company confirmed that the Maker's first hover flight was made at an undisclosed test site location on December 16, marking the start of a flight-test program that is due to culminate in type certification in 2024.
FutureFlight
Ground Infrastructure Experts Wrestle With Vertiport Challenges
Commercial eVTOL aircraft services could require many thousands of vertiports in cities and communities around the world, and that will require a huge planning task, according to companies preparing the way.
FutureFlight
U.S. Lawmakers Back Government Support for Advanced Air Mobility
A proposed bill in the House of Representatives has won support from industry groups including the National Business Aviation Association and the Helicopter Association International.
FutureFlight
Bristow Evaluates Overair's Butterfly eVTOL for Advanced Air Mobility Plans
The helicopter operations group has made provisional commitments to add up to 250 eVTOL and eSTOL aircraft to its fleet through agreements with Overair, Eve Urban Air Mobility, Vertical Aerospace, and Electra Aero.
Rotorcraft
Bristow Teams With Overair on Butterfly eVTOL
Helo operator Bristow has launched a collaboration with Overair, marking its fourth such deal with an aircraft OEM in the advanced air mobility sector.
FutureFlight
Vertical Makes Wall Street eVTOL Takeoff with $300 Million Flotation
The UK-based company's four-passenger VX4 eVTOL will have range of over 100 miles, and prospective launch customers have committed to buy up to 1,350 of the aircraft.
FutureFlight
Vermont Stakes Its Claim as a Launch Pad for Aerospace Innovation
The Hula technology campus and business accelerator vertical capital fund is looking to attract start-ups in the advanced air mobility sector to Burlington, where Beta Technologies' Alia 250 eVTOL is taking shape.
Rotorcraft
Vertical Aerospace Makes $300M Wall Street Takeoff
Shares in eVTOL aircraft developer Vertical Aerospace began trading on the New York Stock Exchange and are expected to raise $300 million.
Aircraft
Qantas Chooses to Rebuild Narrowbody Fleet With Airbus
The Australian carrier announced potential orders for up to 134 A321XLR and A220 airliners after a competition between Airbus, Boeing, and Embraer.
FutureFlight
DeHavilland to Power New-Build Dash 8 Regional Airliners With Hydrogen
Under a provisional agreement with ZeroAvia, the Canadian airframer intends to deliver hydrogen-powered versions of its twin turboprop airliner, as well as being able to retrofit existing in-service aircraft with the next five years.
FutureFlight
H2 Clipper Hydrogen Airship Boosted by Dassault's Support
The California-based start-up is joining Dassault Systèmes’ 3DExperience Lab business accelerator as it steps up plans to bring a hydrogen-powered airship to market.
FutureFlight On The Radar
Element 1 and Nexa Make the Case For Methanol-to-Hydrogen Propulsion
The partners say that methanol-to-hydrogen generators can provide a cost-effective and sustainable basis for fuel cell-based powerplant for electric aircraft.
Safety
European Bizav Community Responds To Safety Challenges
This week's EBAA Safety Summit is addressing how operators and other member companies are dealing with pressures brought about by the Covid pandemic.
FutureFlight
Drone Maintenance Group Targets eVTOL Aircraft Support Requirements
Robotic Skies runs a global network of independent service centers for uncrewed aircraft systems that it says could soon be providing maintenance, repair, and overhaul support for eVTOL air taxi operations.
FutureFlight
New U.S. Scheduled Carrier Commits to Using Universal's Hydrogen Conversion
Connect Airlines has committed to converting up to 24 Dash 8-300 regional aircraft to hydrogen propulsion by installing Universal Hydrogen's technology.
FutureFlight
Australian Government Launches Advanced Air Mobility Initiative
The country's federal government is to work more closely with state authorities in Victoria to accelerate the development of eVTOL aircraft and cargo drone services, as well as the wider AAM industry.
FutureFlight
Volocopter Presents Blueprint for Urban Air Mobility Ground Infrastructure
The eVTOL aircraft developer says partners can use a handbook based on its VoloPort concept to develop landing sites for air taxi operations in cities.
FutureFlight
Heart's Electric Regional Airliner Will Use Garmin Flight Deck
The U.S. avionics manufacturer's G3000 integrated flight deck is gaining traction in the advanced air mobility sector, having now been selected by electric aircraft manufacturers Heart Aerospace and Joby Aviation.
FutureFlight
Ameriflight Will Convert Freighter Fleet for Autonomous Flight
The U.S. cargo carrier has become the second prospective operator for the autonomous flight system being developed by Merlin Labs for service entry in 2023.
FutureFlight On The Radar
EASA Seeks Input on Flight Crew Licensing and Training
The European agency's notice of proposed amendment covers changes to pilot licensing requirements for aircraft it classes as gyroplanes and is open for industry comment through mid-January.
