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
American Airlines Resumes 737 Max Service
The first 737 Max revenue flight in the U.S. since March 2019 took American Airlines passengers from Miami to New York.
Aircraft
N219 Turboprop Gains Indonesian Certification
Type approval for the N219 marks Indonesia’s successful return to civil aircraft development.
Aircraft
Aeromexico Reintroduces Boeing 737 Max
Scheduled service between Mexico City and Cancun marks the start of Aeromexico’s return of six 737 Max 8s to service.
Airlines
EASA Details Dry Ice Hazards during Vaccine Transport
Further recommendations on dry ice handling from EASA follows a more general FAA safety alert.
Aircraft
Transport Canada Validates 737 Max Changes
Following Thursday’s validation of design changes to the Max, Canadian authorities expect to issue an airworthiness directive in January.
Airlines
Rex Calls on Government To Halt Covid Relief for Qantas
Planning to launch 737-800NG service between Sydney and Melbourne in March, Regional Express charges Qantas with an effort to flood regional markets.
Aircraft
Ilyushin Il-114-300 Regional Airliner Makes First Flight
The Russian turboprop-equipped version of the Pratt & Whitney-powered Il-114-100 took to the air for the first time from the Zhukovsky airfield.
Aircraft
Airbus Unveils ‘Podded’ Engine Design for ZEROe Program
A new design featuring six eight-bladed pods mounted beneath the aircraft wing represents Airbus’s latest effort to “scale up” hydrogen-powered engines.
Aircraft
First MC-21 Powered by Russian Engines Takes Flight
The MC-21-310 narrowbody flew for one hour and 25 minutes following its first takeoff from Irkutsk.
Aircraft
Top Analysts See Widening Airbus-Boeing Divide amid Covid
Teal Group vice president Richard Aboulafia and AeroDynamic Advisory director Kevin Michaels believe narrowbody trends favor Airbus.
Regulations and Government
FAA Warns of CO2 Hazards as Airlines Prep To Move Vaccines
A Safety Alert for Operators outlines steps to consider when transporting large volumes of dry ice.
Airlines
ICAO Stops Short of Branding Testing a Panacea for Airlines
Airline groups expressed encouragement over language in the UN aviation body’s manual for testing and cross-border risk management.
Charter & Fractional
Lilium Seeks Commercial Pilots for eVTOL Aircraft Services
Lufthansa Aviation Training is to help eVTOL aircraft developer Lilium to recruit and train pilots for its planned air mobility service.
Airlines
ALPA Calls on FAA To Approve Covid Vaccines for Pilots
While calling on the FAA to approve Covid shots for pilots, ALPA also urges legislators to ensure flight crews get priority access to the vaccines.
Aircraft
JetBlue’s First Airbus A220 Takes Flight
Airbus completed the first flight of JetBlue’s inaugural A220 on Wednesday evening at the Mobile Aeroplex in Alabama.
Engines
IAE, MTU Sign 11-Year Deal for PW1100G Maintenance
MTU says its new contract with IAE covering the A320neo’s engine sends a “clear and strong signal” of its commitment to the PW1100G.
Aircraft
UK To Suspend EU Tariffs on Boeing Jets
Britain’s “independent approach” to European trade conflicts with the U.S. leads to concessions on aircraft tariffs.
Aircraft
Virgin Australia Restructures Max Order, Delays Deliveries
Now owned by Bain Capital of the U.S., Virgin Australia sets its sights on domestic and short-haul international flying with Max 10s.
Airlines
IATA Laments Slow Government Action on Quarantines
International Air Transport Association director general Alexandre de Juniac called governments’ moves toward rapid testing “cautious and slow moving.”
Aircraft
Brazil's Gol To Become First To Resume Boeing Max Service
Brazil’s largest domestic carrier Gol plans to launch Max service from Sao Paulo on December 9.
Airlines
Cathay Pacific Provides Passengers with Free Covid Insurance
Passengers flying on Cathay Pacific starting Monday will automatically get Covid insurance covering testing and treatment outside their home countries.
Airlines
Delta, KLM Offer Quarantine-free Corridor from ATL to Schiphol
Passengers flying from Atlanta to Amsterdam can avoid a 10-day quarantine in the Netherlands by submitting to three Covid tests.
Airlines
Gulf Air To Forge Ties with El Al, Launch Tel Aviv Service
An MOU between Gulf Air and El Al calls for the start of negotiations over code-share arrangements, maintenance cooperation, and other ties.
Aircraft
Boeing Lands Milestone Max Order from Ryanair
Ryanair placed a follow-on order for 75 Boeing 737-8-200s, giving a major boost to the Max program.
Avionics
CCX Brings Cybersecurity Line to Bizav
Three cybersecurity offerings from CCX monitor and defend a business aircraft’s onboard network.
Safety
Universal Weather To Donate Services for Covid Relief
Universal Trip Support will waive its fees on various services for operators attempting humanitarian flights involving Covid-19 delivery.
Airlines
Aviation Groups Applaud EASA/ECDC Quarantine Rebuke
New recommendations from European aviation and health authorities against quarantine requirements also cited the ineffectiveness of systematic testing.
Aircraft
Embraer Sees Covid Leading to a Return to ‘Rightsizing’
Brazilian airframer Embraer bases new market demand conclusions on a muted projection for air travel growth through 2029.
Airlines
Singapore-Hong Kong Travel Bubble Delayed until 2021
A rapidly deteriorating Covid situation in Hong Kong prompted authorities to delay implementation of a travel bubble for the second time.
Aircraft
Hackers Gain Access to Embraer IT Systems
Embraer IT specialists have isolated certain systems to protect the overall computer network after a cyberattack.
