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
Otto Unveils Plans For a Zero-Emissions Alternative to the Piston-Powered Celera
The U.S. company will power a new version of its diesel-fueled Celera 500L with either electricity or hydrogen.
Charter & Fractional
Volocopter To Launch eVTOL Taxi Services in Singapore
The eVTOL aircraft developer plans to have air taxi operations running from 2023 after announcing a partnership with local regulators.
Aircraft
Joby Taking Over Uber Elevate's Urban Air Taxi Plans
The eVTOL aircraft developer is taking control of Uber Elevate in a move that will exclude other program partners ahead of planned service launch in 2023.
Safety
London Biggin Hill Takes Covid Testing to the Tarmac
Business aircraft passengers and crew can take a variety of Covid tests at Biggin Hill's new facility in a bid to shorten or avoid quarantine requirements.
FutureFlight
Odds Narrow For Divestiture of Uber Elevate to an eVTOL Aircraft Developer
Self-driving vehicle specialist Aurora is taking a majority stake in Uber's Advanced Technologies Group.
FutureFlight
Joby Selects Toray to Supply Carbon Fiber for eVTOL Aircraft
The long-term agreement represents another step in the development of the four-seat all-electric model.
FutureFlight
Funding Round Boosts D3's Plans to Deliver Integrated Air Traffic Management
The German start-up now has funds to launch trial flight operations in 2021.
FutureFlight
Lufthansa to Help Lilium Recruit and Train eVTOL Aircraft Flight Crew
The two companies will liaise with European and U.S. regulators to define pilot-training requirements for new eVTOL aircraft.
FutureFlight
Electra Set to Complete Preliminary Design for eSTOL Technology Demonstrator
Blue Force Technologies has been chosen as lead designer and manufacturer for Electra's six-seat aircraft.
FutureFlight On The Radar
India Seeks Industry Input on Plans for Unmanned Traffic Management
The country's Ministry of Civil Aviation has issued a discussion paper laying out its thinking on forging policy for a wide array of unmanned aircraft operations that might eventually include autonomous passenger flights.
FutureFlight
Diamond Aircraft Owner Forms Electric Aviation Partnership
Wanfeng Aviation and the Wolong Electric Drive Group will collaborate to develop new electric motors for aircraft.
FutureFlight
Electric EEL Demonstrates Hybrid Propulsion's Potential on Hawaiian Airline Route
The six-seater conversion of the Cessna 337 Skymaster is flying daily between the islands of Maui and Hana in Hawaii.
Aircraft
Consultant Assesses Green Credentials of Aircraft
ConnectSkies is providing information and guidance to prospective buyers of private aircraft, helping them to assess their environmental performance.
Regulations and Government
UK Lifts Quarantine for Approved Senior Executive Trips
Senior executives traveling to the UK can avoid its 14-day quarantine if they can prove their visit will likely deliver "significant economic benefit."
FutureFlight On The Radar
EASA Invites Questions On Means of Compliance for VTOL Special Conditions
EASA's Rotorcraft and VTOL webinar on December 9 will include discussion of the proposed means of compliance for certifying new VTOL aircraft under EASA's special conditions.
FutureFlight
Avions Mauboussin Heads Back to the Future With New Hybrid-Hydrogen Duo
The company expects the two-seater Alérion aircraft to enter service by the end of 2024, with the six-seater Alcyon following a year or two later.
FutureFlight
Embraer Lays Plans for Melbourne Air Taxi Operations with Australian Partner
Embraer's new Eve subsidiary will work with Airservices Australia on an air taxi operational plan while it develops its eVTOL aircraft.
FutureFlight
VerdeGo Aero's Hybrid-Electric Powertrain Will Drive Airflow's eSTOL Freighter
Airflow is aiming to get its short takeoff and landing, fixed-wing design into production by 2025.
FutureFlight
Samad Aerospace Begins Flight Testing of e-Starling Demonstrator
The company is seeking further investment in its eVTOL project and appears to be taking steps to relocate from its base in the UK.
FutureFlight
Chinese Government Signals Acceleration of Plans for Urban Air Mobility
The country's eVTOL aircraft developer would appear to be the most immediate beneficiary of the new government policy, given its already close cooperation with the Civil Aviation Administration of China.
FutureFlight
UK's Future Flight Challenges Prepares Path to Flight Demonstrations
In 2021, the Future Flight Challenge will launch a competition to select three aircraft types to participate in flight trials to be conducted in 2023.
FutureFlight On The Radar
Uber Elevate's 2020 White Paper Spells Out Next Steps For Urban Air Mobility
The document arrives four years after Uber's first urban air mobility white paper and with speculation building that it intends to sell the Uber Elevate division.
Aircraft
First Praetor 600 Joins Flexjet's European Fleet
The super-midsize aircraft will be part of Flexjet's Red Label fractional ownership program in Europe.
Charter & Fractional
Bizav Flight Activity Decline May Be Stabilizing
Latest data from WingX's Global Market Tracker shows recent flight activity to have been 19 percent down on 2019.
Airlines
Airlines and Airports Call for Extended Slot Rule Flexibility
The Worldwide Slot Board says air transport cannot recover from the Covid-19 pandemic without changes to "use-them-or-loose-them" slot allocation rules.
FutureFlight
EMEC Delivers First Mobile Hydrogen Refueling System
ZeroAvia is developing hydrogen propulsion technology to replace fossil-fuel engines on existing aircraft.
FutureFlight
Ampaire's Electric EEL Demonstrator Set to Take Off in Hawaii Flight Trials
The so-called Hawai'i Bird test aircraft will be operated on market survey flights with local operator Mokulele Airlines.
Aircraft
Brazil Follows FAA in Lifting 737 Max Grounding
Brazil's ANAC aviation authority is adopting FAA's airworthiness directive to allow the Boeing 737 Max airline to resume operations.
Airlines
IATA Calls for Rapid Covid Tests as Europe Struggles
The association says the tests must replace quarantines and that slot allocation waivers must be extended to allow for a slow air transport recovery.
Airlines
IATA Opens Aviation Carbon Exchange To Facilitate Offsets
JetBlue Airways is the first carrier to purchase carbon offset credits through IATA's new trading platform.
