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

Honeywell and Denso Join Forces to Make Electric Motors For Lilium Jet

Lilium announced the key partnership at the European Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition.

Each of Lilium Jet's 30 fan engines fitted in the wings and canard will have its own electric motor. Lilium has chosen Honeywell Aerospace and Japanese automotive group Denso to develop these 100 kW motors, which will each weigh just 4 kg.

News

Joby Boosts Software Capabilities by Acquiring Specialist Avionyx

The deal to buy Avionyx follows Joby's recent acquisition of radio frequency technology group Inras.

The company will accelerate the complex process involved in verifying software systems for Joby's eVTOL aircraft. Its team will work from tandem testing facilities at Joby's headquarters in California and the Avionyx base in San Jose, Costa Rica.

Joby's eVTOL aircraft uses multiple software systems.

News

VoltAero Offers Fractional Shares in Hybrid-Electric Cassio Aircraft

Some of the "partially refundable" deposits will be applied to the costs of certifying the new aircraft.

A network of operators will provide flights in a fleet of VoltAero's Cassio hybrid-electric aircraft for customers who will acquire a 20 percent stake to share access to between 800 and 1,000 flight hours per year. VoltAero now says it will start deliveries in 2024 of the four-passenger Cassio 330 model, which will be followed by the larger Cassio 480 and 600 models.

VoltAero Cassio hybrid-electric aircraft.

News

Surf Air To Fund Hybrid-Electric Fleet Conversion Plan Through Initial Public Offering

The company is also set to acquire regional airline Southern Airways and convert its Grand Caravan fleet to hybrid-electric propulsion.

Flight booking platform Surf Air Mobility, which markets scheduled regional services and charter flights, aims to convert large numbers of Cessna Grand Caravan aircraft to hybrid-electric propulsion in partnership with MagniX and AeroTec. Through a business combination with special purpose acquisition company Tuscan Holdings, it aims to raise around $467 million.

Surf Air wants to convert Cessna Grand Caravan aircraft to hybrid-electric propulsion.

News

Solithor Raises Funding To Develop Solid-State Lithium Batteries for Electric Aviation

The Belgium-based company has been founded by Huw Hampson-Jones, who previously ran lithium-sulfur battery developer Oxis Energy.

Having raised €10 million ($10.4 million) in seed funding, Solithor will step up the development of solid-state lithium batteries that it says will outperform current technology by at least 30 percent. The start-up is part of the Imec group and is operating from the EnergyVille research and development hub in Leuven, Belgium.

Solithor is based at the EnergyVille research park in Belgium.

News

Microsoft Will Develop Cloud-based Platform for Urban Air Mobility Operations

Volocopter will be the first to use the cloud-based technology it is developing with Microsoft, which has previously invested in the start-up.

The VoloIQ system being developed by eVTOL aircraft developer Volocopter to support its passenger- and cargo-carrying operations will benefit from data-processing technology based on the Microsoft Azure platform. It is intended that the technology will support the company's planned transition to autonomous flight operations.

Volocopter's VoloIQ IT platform will manage all aspects of eVTOL aircraft operations.

News

Piaggio Makes Plans for Hydrogen-Electric Business Aircraft

The Italian company is in administration, awaiting possible acquisition by new owners, who would determine whether to invest in a new aircraft.

To prepare its next Technology Development Plan for 2023-27, Piaggio Aerospace has worked on plans for hybrid- or all-electric versions of its P180 Avanti Evo twin-turboprop business aircraft. It has concluded that only hydrogen-electric propulsion makes sense, and that will require a new, larger airframe designed from scratch.

News

Battery Supplier Amprius To Boost Electric Mobility Ambitions with Equity Flotation

The company is combining its business with special purpose acquisition company Kensington Capital and hopes to raise $430 million with a New York Stock Exchange flotation.

Amprius believes its high-energy-density lithium-ion batteries could transform the performance of new electric aircraft, including eVTOL models. It is looking to raise $430 million by combining its business with a special purpose acquisition company and then going public on the New York Stock Exchange.

Airbus's Zephyr solar-powered surveillance drone.

News

Ampaire Says Caravan Conversion Represents Fast-track to Viable Electric Aviation

In addition to Textron's Grand Caravan, the company says it could convert models such as the Twin Otter, the SkyMaster, and ATR's regional airliners.

Having parted company with prospective investor and launch customer Surf Air Mobility, Ampaire is opening the door to new investors seeking a stake in its plans to convert thousands of existing aircraft like Textron's Grand Caravan to hybrid-electric power. The company recently started ground testing its propulsion system as it prepares to start test flights in the second half of 2022.

Ampaire has fitted a Cessna Caravan aircraft with its hybrid-electric propulsion system.

News

Joby Sees No Delay to Approval of eVTOL Aircraft From FAA Rule Changes

Operating losses for the first quarter of 2022 increased as the company has almost doubled its investment in research and development work, but it still holds $1.2 billion in cash and other capital on its balance sheet.

Joby Aviation's founder and CEO JoeBen Bevirt told financial analysts that reported changes to the FAA's for approving eVTOL aircraft and how they are operated will not delay anticipated service entry in 2024. The company says that it expects no change in type certification requirements, having had almost 80 percent of its means of compliance agreed by the aviation safey agency.