Charles Alcock
Managing Editor
Charles Alcock is a senior editor with AIN, 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 Manchester University in the northwest of England and earned an honors degree in Politics and Modern History. He speaks English and French, and some German.
Latest from Charles Alcock
FutureFlight
Varon Selects Software Partner for Its Urban Air Mobility Network
Real-Time Innovations is to support Varon Vehicles' plans to develop UAM networks by providing its Connext data distribution software to connect vehicles and supporting infrastructure.
FutureFlight
Dufour Reveals Updated Design for Aero3 Tiltwing eVTOL Aircraft
The new version of the Aero3 features six propellers on a tilting wing, plus two more installed on a new-look tail. Dufour is developing the aircraft in tandem with a smaller unmanned model called the Aero2.
Regulations and Government
Soccer Star's Private Jet Transfer Flags Privacy Issues
Almost 120,000 soccer fans tracked Lionel Messi's Global 7500 flight with VistaJet from his former club Barcelona to his new job with Paris Saint-Germain.
Aircraft
Transcend Air Taps Kaman To Make High-speed VTOL
Transcend Air announced today that it has selected Kaman Aerospace Group to build its planned Vy 400 tiltwing, which is slated to enter service by 2025.
FutureFlight
Transcend Air Selects Kaman To Make Its High-speed Tiltwing
The helicopter specialist will manufacture Transcend's five-passenger turbine-powered Vy 400 at its plant in Florida to support efforts to bring it to market by 2025.
FutureFlight
Tetra Personal eVTOL Prototype Starts Test Flights As Customers Commit
The Japanese start-up unveiled its Mk 5 eVTOL aircraft at July's EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, and has stayed in the U.S. for flight testing.
FutureFlight
Embraer Commits to Hydrogen Propulsion Trials, As Electric Flight Testing Begins
As part of its new commitment to environmental sustainability, the Brazilian airframer is increasing research and development investment in green technologies, and plans to fly a hydrogen technology demonstrator by 2025.
Airlines
JetBlue Launches A321LR Narrowbody Transatlantic Service
The launch of JetBlue's new transatlantic services between the U.S. and Britain has boosted hopes for recovery as Covid travel restrictions start to ease.
FutureFlight
Ampaire Starts UK Hybrid-electric Flight Trials in Scotland
The company's Electric EEL technology demonstrator flew from Kirkwall in the Orkney Islands to Wick on the Scottish mainland to demonstrate the potential for hybrid-electric aircraft to connect remote communities.
FutureFlight
Overair Lifts the Veil to Reveal Its Butterfly eVTOL Aircraft Design
The company says it will have a prototype flying in 2022, as it heads for FAA Part 23 type certification in 2025, and the start of commercial advanced air mobility services in 2026.
FutureFlight
JetPack's Speeder Joins Jetoptera and Other HSVTOL Contenders in Pentagon Challenge
JetPack's Speeder VTOL vehicle is one of 35 selected for evaluation by the U.S. Air Force and Special Forces in a challenge event organized by the Afwerx division of the Air Force Research Laboratory.
FutureFlight
ZeroAvia Enlists Military Truck For Hydrogen Propulsion Ground Tests
The start-up's HyperTruck has been fitted with the 600 kW powertrain that it intends to use to convert 19-seat aircraft to hydrogen-electric propulsion.
FutureFlight
Archer Seeks $1B Damages over Wisk's Trade Secrets Lawsuit
The intellectual property lawsuit between rival eVTOL aircraft developers has become increasingly hostile, with defendant Archer now seeking substantial damages from plaintiff Wisk.
Aircraft
Joby Powers Up eVTOL Program with $2B IPO
Joby Aviation today became the first U.S.-based eVTOL developer to go public with a flotation on the New York Stock Exchange.
FutureFlight
Russian Government Backs Hybrid-electric Aircraft Developments
President Vladimir Putin viewed several of the new eSTOL aircraft programs being advanced by state-backed scientific research institutes and aerospace companies.
FutureFlight
Joby Claims Lead in eVTOL Gold Rush With Wall Street Flotation
The California-based company is the first of several leading advanced air mobility start-ups going public via a merger with a special purpose acquisition company.
FutureFlight
Vertiport Offers a Warm Welcome to Chicago for eVTOL Aircraft Operators
The vertiport facility, which opened in 2015, was designed mainly with helicopters in mind, but the 10-acre site has space to accommodate eVTOL aircraft, too.
FutureFlight
SkyDrive Evaluates Flying Car Rotors in Wind Tunnel
The Tokyo-based start-up has been approved to use the wind tunnel facilities of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency.
Aircraft
Boeing 737 Max Arrives in China Seeking To End Grounding
The airliner made a three-sector 7,567-nm trip from Seattle to Shanghai to start validation flight trials with Chinese aviation safety officials.
FutureFlight
Boeing's HorizonX Venture Fund Joins Forces With Private Equity Group
The HorizonX fund will now be managed through a partnership between AE Industrial Partners and Boeing's Enterprise Technology Office and Applied Innovation team.
FutureFlight On The Radar
Teal Group Analyst's Sobering Take On Prospects For Advanced Air Mobility
Investors beware, warns Teal Group's Richard Aboulafia. The eVTOL air taxi scene isn't quite the armageddon that the very light jet revolution was, but you can see it from here.
Aircraft
Qatar Grounds More A350 Widebodies Over Fuselage Issues
Qatar Airways is replacing grounded A350s with A330s, while it seeks to resolve what it says is an ongoing quality issue with manufacturer Airbus.
FutureFlight
Opener Close to Accepting Orders For Its BlackFly Personal eVTOL Aircraft
The company appears to be making progress in its efforts to bring the BlackFly to market for personal air transportation under FAA's Part 103 rules for ultralight aircraft.
FutureFlight
Archer Bolsters Board Ahead of Merger With Atlas Crest SPAC
Four senior executives from the aviation, automotive, technology and finance sectors have been nominated as directors for the company to be formed by merging the eVTOL aircraft developer with the special purpose acquisition company.
FutureFlight
Starburst Accelerator Raises New Fund to Back Rising Aerospace Talent
Start-up accelerator Starburst Aerospace is preparing to launch its new Blast program in September to incubate new aviation, defense and space start-ups.
Aircraft
Boeing 737 Max Heads to China Seeking to End Grounding
Flight testing of a 737 Max is expected to start in China on August 11 with a view to allowing the airliner to resume commercial service in the country.
Aircraft
Gol Refreshes Narrowbody Fleet With 737 Max Lease Package
The Brazilian airline is replacing Boeing 737 NGs with the Max in order to cut operating costs and emissions, while also having more fleet flexibility.
FutureFlight
Universal Assembles Hydrogen Aircraft Conversion Team in Washington State
Universal Hydrogen and Plug Power are forging an alliance with electric propulsion unit developer MagniX and aircraft conversion specialist AeroTec based in a new facility in Moses Lake, Washington.
FutureFlight
Lockheed Martin Backs $40 Million Funding Round For Cargo VTOL Maker Elroy
Elroy has now raised $48 million and expects to have a complete prototype of its Chaparral autonomous cargo VTOL aircraft in flight test operations with the U.S. military during 2022.
FutureFlight On The Radar
With IPO Pending, Lilium Updates Investors On Path to eVTOL Commercial Services
The company has resumed flight testing with its eVTOL technology demonstrator and has published estimated per passenger pricing the Lilium Jet flight network.
