Sharing and gleaning insight - globally Charles Alcock, Senior Editor, AIN Publications.

Charles Alcock is Senior Editor of AIN Publications - Aviation International News, Business Jet Traveler and new venture, Future Flight. During the lockdown, from his Surrey, UK home, Charles has been drawing in hundreds of attendees from all over the world to AIN’s insightful webinars.

How has business life changed for you since the lock down?

I largely work from home so the lock down hasn’t changed that much, although it does feel different being ‘required’ to stay put. The main change has been the lack of industry events, conferences, press briefings or air shows to attend which just increases the sense of isolation. I do have a very strong daily connection with my US colleagues via Zoom and Slack. I’ve had to structure just about every day around webinars and conference calls. I find it surprisingly exhausting, even when I’m not required to speak!! In fact, so much time can be spent in online events and briefings that it can be hard to make time for writing. Let’s just say some of these are more valuable than others!

Who and what has been stand out for you in your industry interviews?

I’ve been hosting some webinars for AIN, and recording video interviews with various industry leaders and fellow AIN reporters. I’ve been pleasantly surprised at how honest and direct most of the webinar participants and interviewees have been. Maybe this unprecedented crisis is encouraging people to speak more freely about what they are seeing. At a time when it’s virtually impossible for anyone in the industry to meet in person, I think our audience has a strong connection with those appearing online.

Among the ones I’ve recorded lately, AirX chairman John Matthews made a big impression by conveying the intense personal difficulty of making the tough decisions that have had to be made. EBAA chief executive Athar Husain Khan was impressive in our kick-off webinar. He seems to be a very effective lobbyist. I was also impressed by Per Marthinsson at Avinode, Richard Koe at WINGX and Travis Kuhn at Argus International. The data they produce provides a compelling insight into the real state of the industry. I love talking with data experts, because they have nothing to sell other than their expertise and the harsh reality of the numbers! It was great too interviewing AIN colleague Gregg Polek about the shambolic collapse of Boeing’s takeover of Embraer, and editor-in-chief Matt Thurber explaining what happens when ATC service isn’t available at US airports.

When the recovery comes do you think we will finally be able to improve the general perception of bizav?

I do hope business aviation will be more appreciated for the efficiency it can bring to so many people. It’s quite possible that some people will try chartering for the first time, largely due to their concerns over airline service. The next few months would be a good time for a concerted marketing and communications effort to talk up the benefits of charter. That said, I think pricing will still be an issue given the terrible economic harm resulting from Covid-19. The industry will only improve its overall public perception if it works relentlessly to tackle the harm done by issues such as illegal charter and the damage being done (at least to the UK industry) by Brexit. In my personal opinion, the industry has been too cautious in its lobbying of these issues, too reluctant to speak plainly to politicians and demand attention.

In my view, the UK industry was blindsided by the government’s precipitous and unnecessary decision to withdraw from EASA. I know many people view Grant Shapps as a friend to UK aviation, but in my view he screwed the industry over that decision. It was disgraceful that this was first revealed in an interview with Aviation Week on the other side of the Atlantic. He didn’t even do the industry the courtesy of letting them know first. Senior sources at ADS have told me they now regret having tried to avoid public criticism of the government over Brexit, thinking that it would mean they could get some sort of compromise. They wish they had spoken out more forcefully in public. I accept that Brexit is a reality, but I do not accept self-destructive decisions like leaving EASA that seem to have been taken for no other reason than to keep Brexit hardliners happy.

The industry needs to stop treating illegal charter like an embarrassing uncle that no one in the family likes to talk about. Call this out for the severe danger that it represents and give the authorities workable solutions to stop the problem. I believe you will be taken more seriously if you are willing to confront this head on. Business aviation is always going to be on the receiving end of snide comments about luxury. Ignore them. Get a thicker skin, and focus on what will make a difference.

What measures do you expect to see at airports when we next fly again?

I think there will be very significantly reduced commercial airline service, leading to higher fares and less choice. I doubt that social distancing can be reasonably enforced on airliners (at least in economy class, where I always fly). I’m getting a good mask for my first flight (whenever that might be). I think we’ll all have to pay very close attention to shifting requirements such as quarantines. I fear it will be all too easy to be caught out by changing rules. I’m also not quite sure how some of the new requirements will be applied to business aviation.

You are working on a new title called Future Flight - tell us about that

FutureFlight.aero is a new source of news and information about cutting edge aviation technology and business models. The main focus, for now, is on the new electric aircraft, mainly eVTOL designs, and how these might be used for so-called urban air mobility. The launch got somewhat delayed by Covid distractions, but we should be going live in June. It includes a database of all the main companies involved in this field, with searchable information about the aircraft and our independent analysis of how likely the programmes are to succeed.

We will miss Farnborough Air Show. Are you and the AIN team planning something special (virtually)?

Yes. I’m still gutted to have lost my local air show! We’re still working on how we will fill the gap. To be honest, I’m not sure you really can do justice to an event that has been cancelled with some sort of virtual replacement. I think we’ll just focus on our 24/7 mission to cover whatever news comes from the industry. I’m sure that a lot of important announcements have been deferred. Sadly, tough times for the industry still means there’s plenty of news to report; it’s just that not all of it is good news.

What do you plan to do when we see the first relaxation on June 15 - and where will you holiday this year ?

I’m still waiting to see what the relaxation of rules actually means in practice before changing my own pattern of life. That said, I do find myself yearning to be able to go to theatres and restaurants. I’ve got tickets for the cricket test match against the West Indies, but I very much doubt I’ll get to see that. I’m not making any holiday plans for now. The main possible travel plan on the horizon is whether or not the NBAA show goes ahead in Orlando in October. For me, that would involve a visit to my family on that side of the Pond, so fingers crossed.

BlueSky Business Aviation News | 4th June 2020 | Issue #560

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