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.

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Charles Alcock

As part of Boeing’s ongoing reboot of its leadership team, Brian Yutko has been moved from his role as CEO of the aerospace and defense giant’s eVTOL aircraft subsidiary, Wisk Aero, to serve as vice president for product development with Boeing Commercial Airplanes. Stepping into his shoes at Wisk is Sebastien Vigneron, who has been the company’s senior vice president of engineering and programs.
The succession plan at Wisk would appear to suggest that Boeing sees its advanced air mobility business unit as part of its longer-term plans. Recently, the group has agreed to sell parts of its <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/air-transport/2025-04-22/thoma-bravo-buying-boeing-digital-aviation-solutions">Digital Aviation Solutions</a> division, including Jeppesen, ForeFlight, AerData, and OzRunways, to software investment firm Thoma Bravo for $10.55 billion as part of efforts to rebuild a balance sheet battered by a succession of troubled programs in its civil and defense businesses.
Earlier this month, Boeing and NASA scrapped plans to build and fly the <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/futureflight/2025-05-06/boeing-and-nasa-shelve-x-66-sustainable-flight-demonstrator">X-66 experimental airplane</a>&nbsp;that had been viewed as a development platform for new single-aisle airliners. In his new role, Yutko will be responsible for defining and leading Boeing’s plans for new commercial aircraft for the 2030s and beyond, at a time when airlines are eagerly awaiting confirmation of what they can expect from the U.S. airframer and its European rival Airbus.
According to Wisk, it is close to being ready to start flight testing its sixth-generation eVTOL aircraft. The company is committed to bringing the four-passenger model into commercial service certified to operate autonomously with no pilot onboard.
Vigneron has managed Wisk’s teams handling hardware and software engineering, simulation, systems and flight tests (of early technology demonstrators), and program management. He joined the California-based company in 2021 from Virgin Hyperloop, where he was vice president of product development engineering and chief engineer. He has previously held leadership roles at business aircraft manufacturers Bombardier and Dassault Aviation.

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