Gregory Polek
Senior Editor
Gregory Polek has spent his entire career in aviation journalism with AIN, starting as a proofreader and assistant to then-managing editor Mary Mahoney in 1995 after serving an internship with New Jersey Monthly magazine and completing his B.A. degree in English/Writing at New Jersey’s William Paterson College. By 1997 Polek accepted a position as an associate editor, covering the regional airline beat for Aviation International News in place of retiring industry veteran Don Anderson. The assignment took Polek across North America and Europe to profile regional airlines varying in size and mission from the likes of floatplane operators Kenmore Air and Chalk’s Ocean Airways to regional jet operators such as SkyWest and American Eagle. Today, in his dual role as Air Transport Editor and International Airshow Editor, Polek writes, edits, and manages AIN’s commercial aviation content while overseeing each of the company’s daily international air show publications in Paris, Farnborough, Singapore, and Dubai. Most recently Polek has assumed oversight of daily coverage of the Helicopter Association International’s annual Heli-Expo convention.
Latest from Gregory Polek
Airlines
British Airways Proposes Short-haul Unit Based at Gatwick
Talks between BA and its unions over a proposal to launch a new short-haul subsidiary have begun.
Airlines
Delta Air Lines To Impose Surcharge on Unvaccinated Workers
While stopping short of a vaccine mandate, Delta Air Lines will impose a $200 monthly health insurance surcharge for employees who don't get shots.
Aircraft
IAI Signs Deal with Etihad on 777-300 P2F Conversion Lines
A contract between IAI and Etihad Engineering calls for the establishment of two Boeing 777-300ER P2F conversion lines in Abu Dhabi.
Aircraft
Delta Orders 30 More Airbus A321neos
The addition of another 30 A321neos to the Delta Air Lines orderbook raises the carrier's total commitment to 155 airplanes.
Airlines
U.S. Airliners Activated for Afghanistan Airlift
The U.S. Defense Department has activated the Civil Reserve Air Fleet (CRAF) for the third time in its 70-year history.
Airlines
EU, UK Digital Covid Certificates Recognized by IATA Travel Pass
Airline passengers carrying the European Union Digital Covid Certificate and UK NHS Covid Pass now can upload Covid information to IATA’s Travel Pass.
Aircraft
Values of Older Widebodies Continue to Deteriorate
IBA has adjusted downward Boeing 777-300 base values by up to 30 percent and A330ceo values by as much as 33 percent.
FutureFlight
Pipistrel Selects Honeywell Compact Satcom for UAVs
The 2.2-pound satcom system designed for small unmanned air vehicle platforms weighs 90 percent less than Honeywell’s next-smallest system.
Aircraft
Embraer Sees Commercial Deliveries Surging in 2022
A delivery projection of between 45 and 50 airplanes this year reflects what Embraer executives see as baseline for its recovery.
FutureFlight
Eve Partners with Kenya Airways on Urban Air Mobility
The Embraer subsidiary and Kenya Airways launched collaborative studies into urban air mobility operational models to support key markets in Africa.
Aircraft
Amazon Opens Cincinnati Air Freight Hub
After four years of planning and construction, Amazon Air’s Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Airport hub opens for business.
Aircraft
SkyWest Orders 16 More Embraer E175s
A new order for 76-seat E175s will bring the number of the Embraer jets in the SkyWest fleet to 240.
Aircraft
Boeing Sees Chinese Max Certification by Year-end
While political risks remain a consideration, Boeing CEO David Calhoun expressed a belief that China has more to gain than lose by certifying the 737 Max.
Airlines
U.S. Airlines Wrestle with Fuel Shortages
An unexpectedly rapid rise in travel demand and western U.S. wildfires contribute to a shortage of fuel at mainly smaller airports.
FutureFlight
Eve Guarantees eVTOL Flight Hours to Flapper Charter Platform in Latin America
Embraer’s Eve subsidiary aims to provide on-demand charter broker Flapper with up to 25,000 hours of flight time in its planned eVTOL aircraft across several Latin American cities.
Engines
Rolls Readies Hybrid Airliner Propulsion Trials
Rolls-Royce has delivered the generator and related power electronics for its new electric propulsion system to its testbed in the UK.
Aircraft
Cape Air Prepares To Operate Eviation's Alice Electric Commuter
The New England-based regional airline sees strong benefits from electric aircraft services but admits the business case for the switch is not yet proven.
Airlines
UAL Sees Return to Profit in Q3 Despite Covid Surge
United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby predicts that increasing vaccination rates will mitigate any negative affect on demand caused by Covid’s Delta variant.
Aircraft
Airbus Delivers First A350 from Chinese Completion Center
Delivery of an A350 from the Tianjin completion and delivery center marks a new milestone in Airbus’s partnership with China.
Airlines
Most Airline Passengers Support Mask Wearing: IATA
An IATA survey shows that passengers remain willing to wear masks to mitigate the risk of Covid transmission.
FutureFlight
European Reseller Commits to Orders For Five eFlyer 800 Electric Aircraft
Rheinland Air Service commits to the eight-seat eFlyer 800 electric aircraft with a comprehensive contract that includes MRO provision in Central Europe.
Engines
Pratt & Whitney Hybrid-electric System To Fly in a Dash 8 in 2024
The governments of Canada and Quebec have committed to providing half of a C$163 million investment in Pratt Canada’s hybrid-electric demonstrator program.
Environment
Airbus Joins Canada’s SAF+ Sustainable Fuel Consortium
Europe’s dominant airframe maker has committed to invest in SAF development and production in North America.
Environment
Boeing Partners with SkyNRG on Sustainable Fuel Initiative
Collaboration among Boeing, SkyNRG, and SkyNRG Americas will lead to more availability of SAF globally and use by the airframer for its own operations.
Aircraft
United Airlines Backs Heart's Plans For Electric Regional Airliner
Heart Aerospace now says it has commitments for more than 400 of its ES-19 electric aircraft, which will carry 19 passengers up to around 250 miles.
Aircraft
New Quality Problem Further Delays Boeing 787 Deliveries
Boeing engineers found gaps between two sections of the 787’s forward pressure bulkhead, requiring new inspections and repairs.
Aircraft
Boeing Wins Order for Twelve 737-800BCFs from BBAM
A firm order for a dozen 737 Boeing Converted Freighters signals continuing strength in the air cargo market.
Aircraft
Porter Airlines Revealed as Major Embraer E-Jet Customer
A firm order for 30 E195-E2s makes Porter Airlines the North American launch customer for the Embraer series of jets.
Aircraft
Aerospace Suppliers in for Uneven Recovery
While most Tier 1 OEMs carry the financial muscle to rebound quickly from the Covid pandemic, diversification proves key to long-term prospects.
Aircraft
Airbus Delivers 77 Airliners in June
Europe’s dominant airframer sees deliveries accelerate as pandemic effects begin to wane.
