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
Embraer Wins Certification for Extra Cargo in RJs, Turboprops
Brazilian authorities have given the green light for E-Jets, ERJ-145s, and EMB-120s to carry supplemental cargo.
Aircraft
Airbus Makes Final Overture To End WTO Dispute
The governments of France and Spain have agreed to amend repayable launch investment contracts for the Airbus A350.
Airlines
Wizz Air Proves “Cash is King”
Privately owned Wizz Air carries some two to three years’ worth of liquidity.
Aircraft
FAA Ready To Issue NPRM on 737 Max
U.S. authorities expect to propose rulemaking for an AD specifying new 737 Max design changes and crew procedures “in the near future.”
Aircraft
Embraer Takes Long View Following Boeing Deal Debacle
The reintegration of Embraer’s commercial aviation unit with the wider enterprise has advanced on schedule.
Aircraft
Air Baltic Stays Nimble in Face of Covid Uncertainty
Turning to maximizing efficiency of a uniform A220 fleet, Air Baltic sees a return to its pre-Covid business plan’s targets by the end of 2022.
Engines
Pratt & Whitney Finds Silver Lining in Pandemic
Geared turbofan fixes accelerate as Pratt & Whitney gains more ready access to fleets.
Engines
Rolls Reaches Single-digit AOG Goal with Trent 1000
Rolls-Royce has mounted a series of solutions to improve durability of its Trent 1000 series engines.
Aircraft
Seat Partitions To Block Covid Raise Feasibility Questions
IATA and engineering experts expressed skepticism about the regulatory and cost viability of proposed seat dividers to block Covid virus.
Aircraft
British Airways Retires Its Boeing 747s
Covid-19 claims its latest airplane victim as BA grounds its 747-400s.
Aircraft
FAA Review of 737 Max Reaches Final Stages
The Max’s July 10 operational suitability flight marked one of the last procedural hurdles the program must clear before the FAA lifts its grounding.
Airlines
FAA Demotes Pakistan to Category 2, Banning PIA from U.S.
The Federal Aviation Administration moves to bar Pakistani carriers from flying into the U.S.
Airlines
Virgin Atlantic Secures £1.2 billion Rescue Package
A new five-year business plan at Virgin Atlantic calls for a return to profitability by 2022
Airlines
EC Approves Major Aid Package for KLM
The European Commission determined that a €3.4 billion Dutch aid package to KLM fits within a temporary framework adopted to address the Covid-19 crisis.
Airlines
Breeze To Launch Scheduled Service in May 2021
David Neeleman’s U.S. startup has reached a deal with Nordic Aviation Capital to lease 15 Embraer E190s.
Engines
Rolls-Royce Sees Gradual Recovery but More Covid Uncertainty
UK engine maker Rolls now expects a 55 percent decline in engine flying hours for widebodies this year.
Airlines
United Airlines Warns of Up to 36,000 Furloughs
UAL calls its decision to institute involuntary furloughs starting October 1 “a last resort.”
Aircraft
Airbus Sees Modest Climb in Deliveries in June
The European airframe maker sent 36 commercial airplanes to customers in June, compared with 24 in May and 14 in April.
Aircraft
Avolon Cancels Order for 27 Boeing 737 Max Jets
Dublin, Ireland-based lessor Avolon registers its second Max order cancellation this year, raising the number of withdrawn commitments to 102.
Aircraft
Brussels Warns U.S. of Escalation of Aerospace Subsidy Dispute
European Union trade commissioner Phil Hogan accused the U.S. of rejecting the EU's attempts to finally settle their dispute over aerospace subsidies.
Airlines
Breeze Airways Delays Launch Until 2021
Underserved midsize cities will have to wait for launch of David Neeleman’s U.S. low-fare airline.
Aircraft
ATR To Cut Regional Airliner Production by Half
A 50 percent reduction in airplane output by ATR this year will accompany the loss of 204 jobs.
Aircraft
FAA and Boeing Complete 737 Max Certification Flights
Following three days of flight testing the 737 Max, the FAA must now evaluate data on changes to the airplane’s flight control system.
Airlines
International Air Traffic Founders as Covid Rates Surge
The International Air Transport Association cites Covid case rates in the U.S. and half of emerging economies as an impediment to air traffic recovery.
Aircraft
IG Report Says Boeing Withheld Max Data from FAA
The Department of Transportation’s Inspector General’s office faulted Boeing for failing to submit documents detailing modifications to the 737 Max’s MCAS.
Aircraft
Airbus to Slash 15,000 Jobs, Cut Output by 40 percent
European airframe maker Airbus reveals latest plans to address what it calls the gravest crisis the industry has ever faced.
Airlines
EASA Bans Pakistani Carriers from European Airspace
EASA suspended flight authorization for Pakistan International Airways and Vision air following findings of invalid pilot licenses.
Aircraft
Senators Accuse FAA of Dodging Calls for 737 Max Documents
Senate Commerce Committee chairman Roger Wicker grilled FAA Administrator Steve Dickson on what the senator called a lack of cooperation by the agency.
Aircraft
Gameco Inaugurates Boeing 737-800 Freighter Conversion Line
China’s Guangzhou Aircraft Maintenance Engineering Company has opened the sixth 737-800BCF conversion line in the People’s Republic.
Airlines
IATA Reticent on Covid Testing for Passengers
The International Air Transport Association has raised concerns over cost, speed, scalability, and accuracy of current Covid 19 testing.
