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
Aircraft
Air Canada Commits to Moving Ahead with A220, 737 Max Buys
The government of Canada will own a portion of the flag carrier under a provision of a C$5.879 billion aid package.
Airlines
United Airlines Launches SAF Purchasing Alliance
The Eco-Skies Alliance program aims to help create the economies of scale needed to make sustainable aviation fuel commercially viable.
Aircraft
Airlines Ground Several 737 Maxes for Electrical Problem
Boeing has advised 16 customers to take Maxes out of service for inspection and possible repairs.
Aircraft
Airbus Reports Buoyant Delivery Performance in March
The European airframe maker delivered 72 airplanes in March, bringing the year’s total to 125.
Engines
Qatar’s Al Baker Challenges GE on Future Engine
Qatar Airways’ CEO has called on GE to accelerate efforts toward a “future-technology” engine.
Airlines
Japan Airlines Permanently Grounds PW4000-powered 777s
JAL has accelerated the retirement of its Boeing 777s by a year.
Airlines
U.S. Airlines Commit to Carbon Neutrality by 2050
As part of its environmental commitment, A4A has called for a rapid expansion of SAF production.
Aircraft
Airbus’s Faury Pushes for Coordinated Sustainability Efforts
While Airbus pursues a hydrogen-powered airplane design, creating the conditions for its application must take priority.
Engines
Rolls-Royce Starts Work on First UltraFan Engine
Planning to complete its UltraFan demonstrator by year-end, Rolls begins to build the engine’s first example in Derby, UK.
Aircraft
Southwest Airlines Orders 100 Boeing 737 Max 7s
The latest batch of Boeing narrowbodies on order from Southwest calls for first deliveries in 2022.
Aircraft
Finnair Plans To Electrify Fleet with Heart ES-19 Aircraft
A dozen airlines have now signed letters of interest covering potential orders for more than 300 of Heart Aerospace's all-electric 19-seat aircraft.
FutureFlight
Finnair Signals Plans to Electrify Fleet With Commitment to Heart's ES-19 Airliner
The 19-seat all-electric aircraft is intended for use on routes of up to around 250 miles, with service entry projected for 2026.
Accidents
2020 Accident Rate Raises Questions about Covid’s Safety Effect
The number of airline accidents fell in 2020, but last year’s 1.17 per million flight rate of frequency exceeded the five-year average by 0.33 points.
Aircraft
Aviation’s Hydrogen Targets Tied to a Renewables ‘Ecosystem’
The industry needs a ready supply of relatively cheap hydrogen and a developed distribution infrastructure to meet its goals for 2035.
Aircraft
New SAF from Food Waste Promises Net-Zero Emissions
Researchers in the U.S. have developed a process to make SAF from discarded food and sewage.
Aircraft
Aerospace Partners To Test 100 Percent SAF in a Widebody
Airbus, DLR, Rolls-Royce, and Neste have launched a study into the benefits of flying a widebody airliner on 100 percent SAF.
Airlines
Outgoing IATA DG Laments Covid-induced ‘Fragmentation’
IATA director general Alexandre de Juniac called for better coordination between governments in ensuring freedom of movement.
Airlines
UK NATS Records Day with No Westbound Transatlantic Tracks
Air traffic control providers eschewed the organized track structure on March 9.
Airlines
DOT Clears Neeleman’s Breeze Airways for Launch
Breeze Airways will begin service by the middle of the year flying Embraer E-Jets.
Aircraft
GE Reaches $30 billion Deal To Sell Gecas to AerCap
A Gecas-AerCap combination would result in a combined portfolio of more than 2,000 aircraft, 900 engines, and 300 helicopters.
Aircraft
Boeing Gets Boost from Improving Order, Delivery Performance
The year-to-date net order count turned positive for Boeing in February while 2021 deliveries have risen to 48.
Airlines
Singapore Airlines To Pioneer IATA Travel Pass Deployment
SIA passengers flying from Singapore to London from March 15 to 28 can opt to use Travel Pass to verify health status.
Engines
Safran Gets €500 Million Loan for Clean Engine Development
The European Investment Bank will make available a 10-year credit line to Safran for the development of environmentally friendly engine technology.
Engines
MTU Maintenance Weathers 2020 Largely Unscathed
The MRO arm of MTU Aero Engines saw the number of incoming engines decline only 18 percent compared with 2019.
Airlines
Air Canada Partner Sky Regional To End Operations
Following Air Canada’s decision to end its flying agreement, Sky Regional must end operations on March 31.
Airlines
Air Cargo Demand Returns to Pre-Covid Levels
According to the International Air Transport Association, global demand for air cargo in January increased by more than 3 percent over December 2020.
Airlines
Mesa Air Group Looks To Enter European Market
U.S. regional carrier Mesa Air and UK consultancy Gramercy Associates plan to launch a new CRJ900 airline in Europe by the end of the year.
Aircraft
UAL Boosts Boeing with Follow-on 737 Max Order
With a new order for 25 airplanes, United Airlines now expects to receive 94 Boeing 737 Maxes in 2022 and 2023.
Airports
Airport Assessment 101: Careful Planning Is Key
Pfizer flight operations manager Chad Patnode and veteran BBJ and Challenger captain Steve Feldman talk risk assessment strategies when planning a trip.
Engines
NASA Calls for Proposals for Electrified Powerplants
Deadline for submitting proposals to NASA for Electrified Aircraft Propulsion (EAP) technologies set for April 20.
