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

Charles Alcock

Escalating military conflicts, NATO’s future in flux, and aerospace and defense companies absorbing the impact of U.S. tariffs compose a backdrop to what could be the most consequential Paris Air Show in years. The fallout from these vexatious issues seems set to reshape industry alliances and market expectations for aircraft and equipment sales.
But geopolitics will not eclipse the prominent profile of cutting-edge technology this week during the 55th biennial salon at Le Bourget. In the absence of major new airliners or military aircraft, electric aircraft will provide much of the novelty, and industry leaders will debate the growing role of artificial intelligence, future propulsion systems, autonomy, and the interminable struggle to fix stubborn supply-chain weaknesses.
Recent surveys conducted by consulting group Accenture found that 65% of aerospace factory managers are now prioritizing investment in technologies that are “foundational to achieve hyper-automation, such as digital product, process, and systems twins.”
According to Accenture global aerospace and defense lead John Schmidt, the drive to improve productivity is based on the commercial aerospace executives’ expectation of a 61% increase in revenue growth over the next six months, rising to 76% over the next year. He told AIN&nbsp;that this represents “a sign of growing confidence in supply-chain improvements and production scalability.”
Under Trump administration pressure, European NATO member states are now ramping up military spending. However, Schmidt acknowledged this trend could have unforeseen consequences for U.S. defense contractors. “A shift we’re seeing is a big push for Europe to buy from Europe,” he said.
On Thursday, President Trump signaled that in two or three weeks, he will press ahead with full implementation of tariffs on multiple nations ahead of his previously set July 9 deadline for trade deals to be sealed. Schmidt, who is a board member of the Aerospace Industries Association, told AIN he remains optimistic that concerns raised by U.S. business leaders may be making some impression on the White House. But the tumultuous unwinding of the tariff strategy has left long-standing European partners of the U.S. industry feeling more like adversaries.
In the meantime, companies are facing additional costs as they scramble to dual-source components. According to Schmidt, they are also scouring contracts to work out whether customers or suppliers will take the worst hit.
<h2>Air India Accident Clouds Show</h2>
Beyond Le Bourget, but much on the minds of several prominent Paris Air Show exhibitors, is the question of what caused Thursday’s fatal accident of an Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner that crashed into a building right after takeoff from Ahmedabad. The accident claimed the lives of 270 people, including all but one of the 242 passengers.
Some airshow exhibitors, including Boeing and engine makers CFM International and GE Aerospace, canceled planned events at the airshow due to the accident. In fact, Boeing Company president and CEO Kelly Ortberg and his counterpart at Boeing Commercial Airplanes, Stephanie Pope, canceled plans to come to Paris.
India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau appears to still be in the early stages of understanding what caused the first-ever 787 hull loss. The flight data recorder was recovered on Friday from the rooftop of the BJ Medical College hostel, where the aircraft’s tail was embedded in the wall of the two-story building.
At press time, the cockpit voice recorder had yet to be found. However, Indian aviation minister Samir Kumar Sinha confirmed on Saturday that the pilot-in-command had issued a distress call less than a minute after taking off but had not responded to air traffic controllers before the aircraft crashed.

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