Charles Alcock

Charles Alcock is a senior editor with AIN Publications, having returned to the company in 2019 to launch FutureFlight.aero. He has been an aviation journalist since 1986, and previously worked for AIN from 1990 to 2017, most recently as editor-in-chief. In his new UK-based role, he focuses on covering new aerospace technologies and 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.

News

How CityAirbus NextGen Could Be Just the First Movement in an Advanced Air Mobility Symphony

The European aerospace group says its approach to the advanced air mobility sector will resemble its path to a strong presence in the mainstream air transport market, which is characterized by product families and global customer support.

In September, Airbus became the latest major aircraft manufacturer, after Embraer, Boeing, and Bell, to announce plans to bring an eVTOL aircraft to market. The CityAirbus NextGen is a fixed-wing, four-passenger design promising range of up to around 50 miles that is expected to enter commercial service in 2025. Despite the battering its airliner business has taken from Covid, Airbus is ready to make big investments in the electric aircraft as part of its wider strategy to decarbonize air transport.

News

Japan Airlines Could Take Up to 100 eVTOL Aircraft as Air Taxi Plans for 2025 Osaka Kansai Expo Advance

The Japanese carrier is taking a leading role in plans to launch urban air mobility services, with agreements and partnerships in place with Vertical Aerospace and Volocopter.

The Japanese carrier has agreed to either lease or purchase up to 100 of Vertical Aerospace's VA-X4 four-passenger eVTOL aircraft from leasing group Avolon, which has provisionally agreed to include up to 500 of the vehicle in its portfolio. Japan's declared plans to support the launch of urban air mobility services include a high-profile public launch around the Osaka Kansai Expo in 2025, and Avolon, Vertical, and rival eVTOL developer Volocopter are all now involved as partners.

On The Radar

Vertical Aerospace and Partners Demand Strong UK Government Action To Support Electric Aviation

A new white paper published by the eVTOL aircraft developer and multiple partners says the UK government needs to do more to stimulate the launch of electric flights between British cities by 2025.

News

Amedeo Commits to Adding 200 Electric Regional Aircraft to Its Lease Portfolio

French start-up Aura Aero is working to bring its 19-seat hybrid-electric aircraft into commercial service by 2026 and is also developing an all-electric training aircraft called the Integral E.

Leasing group Amedeo believes that airlines will see the Electric Regional Aircraft as an opportunity to open scheduled regional passenger and cargo services to smaller airports that can't support larger equipment. It has signed a letter of intent with Aura Aero to take delivery of 200 of the hybrid-electric model starting in 2026.

News

VoloDrone Will Operate Remotely and Flexibly Using Purpose-built Trailer

The Mobile Vertipad is like a standard transport trailer that can quickly convert into a mobile takeoff and landing base for Volocopter's cargo-carrying, autonomous eVTOL.

Austrian company Schwarzmuller has developed a trailer that it calls a Mobile Vertipad to allow Volocopter's VoloDrone to operate almost anywhere without the need for special ground infrastructure. The autonomous eVTOL can carry freight loads of up to 440 pounds on trips of up to around 25 miles. It was publicly demonstrated for the first time this week in an operation conducted with Volocopter logistics partner and investor DB Schenker.

News

Air One eVTOL Lures Owner-Flown Customers with 'Fly by Intent" Simplicity

The Air One's developer is channeling cost- and weight-saving techniques from the automotive world in a bid to transform the economics of private aviation and expand the market for eVTOL personal transportation.

Israel-based Air this week unveiled the design for its fixed-wing, two-seat Air One eVTOL, which it aims to bring to market in 2024. The company expects to begin unmanned flight trials with a full-scale prototype early in 2022, with piloted flights set to commence next June. It has started to take preorders for the vehicle, with a base price yet to be published.

News

Reliable Robotics Gets $100 Million Funding Boost for Remotely Piloted Technology

The autonomous flight technology pioneer is working to certify aircraft to be remotely piloted in commercial cargo operations, which it says could be more cost-effectively expanded to relatively remote communities.

Reliable Robotics has now raised more than $133 million to support its ambitions to certify an existing cargo aircraft to be operated remotely in commercial cargo services. The company, which has been flight testing a Cessna 208 Grand Caravan, is in the process of establishing its own cargo operation to serve as an early adopter and test bed for the autonomous technology, which includes full autoland capability.

News

Universal Hydrogen Raises a Further $62 Million To Support Airliner Conversion Plan

The company aims to make a first flight with a hydrogen-powered 40-seat regional airliner in 2022, as part of its effort to certify its propulsion system for commercial use by 2025.

Aircraft engine maker GE Aviation is among 11 new investors in Universal Hydrogen, which is working on plans to convert aircraft to hydrogen propulsion. This involves storing green liquid hydrogen in capsules that can be delivered directly to aircraft without requiring any new ground infrastructure.

News

Plug Power Invests in a Hydrogen-Powered Version of Airflow's eSTOL Aircraft

The hydrogen propulsion and fuel specialist will support Airflow in the development of an alternative to the hybrid-electric powertrain already in development for its eSTOL models.

Plug Power will work with Airflow to develop a ground-based test bed for a full-scale hydrogen fuel cell test bed and intends to subsequently convert its new partner's planned hybrid-electric aircraft to this system. The company is already investing in Universal Hydrogen, which is working to convert regional airliners to the carbon-free power source.

News

Diamond Unveils Plans for All-Electric eDA40 Training Aircraft

The four-seater model will feature the EPiC Ecosystem battery and motor technology developed by Electric Power Systems, which is already a supplier to NASA, Bell, and Embraer.

Diamond Aircraft says its first all-electric aircraft will be ready to enter service in 2023, with flight testing due to start in the second quarter of 2022. The four-seat aircraft will compete in the flight training sector with rivals such as Bye Aerospace's eFlyer family. According to the company, it will take just 20 minutes to recharge and be able to fly for up to 90 minutes, delivering 40 percent operating cost savings compared with current piston-powered aircraft.