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&nbsp;New Jersey Monthly&nbsp;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&nbsp;Aviation International News&nbsp;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.

Senior Editor

Gregory Polek

Sierra Nevada Corporation&nbsp;(SNC)&nbsp;has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Turkish Ministry of Transport, Maritime Affairs &amp; Communications to build the now out-of-production Dornier 328&nbsp;aircraft in Turkey. SNC's plans, announced on May 27, call for the U.S. company to design an upgrade to the 328Jet and turboprop&nbsp;version&nbsp;and to collaborate with Turkish engineers to produce the country’s first domestically-built passenger aircraft. The design of what SNC calls a new high-tech product, the 628 aircraft series, would start at the same time as production of the 328 series. The 628 jet and turboprop models would carry roughly double the 32-passenger seating capacity of the 328s.

 


Based in Sparks, Nevada, privately held SNC plans to collaborate with Savunma Teknolojileri Mühendislik ve Ticaret (STM) on the project on an upgrade of the existing Dornier 328, marketed under the name TRJ328 for the jet version and T328 for the turboprop version. SNC subsidiaries 328 Support Services GmbH, 3S Certification LLC and 3S Engineering LLC would support SNC in the aircraft’s manufacture and serial production, including helping to establish a European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA)-approved 21G aircraft production facility in Turkey.

 


SNC acquired Dornier 328 type-certificate holder 328 Support Services in February. Headquartered in London and basing its main operations at Oberpfaffenhofen Airport, near Munich, Germany, 328 Support Services performs full supplemental type certificates (STCs) and “build-and-certify solutions” for customers such as Airbus, Lufthansa and Turkish Technic. It also owns the type certificate and intellectual property (IP) rights for design, manufacture, maintenance and certification of the 200 existing Dornier 328 turboprop and jet aircraft.

 


“This&nbsp;project is a natural progression for SNC and our subsidiaries as we continue to capitalize on our decades of extensive experience in aircraft design modifications and our innovative, agile ability to create value for our customers,” said SNC president Eren Ozmen. “We also possess a unique capability to expedite obtaining the required certifications for numerous markets based on the D328’s proven technology and our aviation certification expertise.”

News and developments about airplanes, helicopters and unmanned air vehicles used in all varieties of operations, including airlines, military, business, commercial, general aviation and private.

Sierra Nevada Unveils Plans to Build Dornier 328 in Turkey

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News about bills, laws, regulations and other governmental decisions affecting aviation and aerospace. Topics include FAA re-authorizations, taxes on fuel and aviation activities, environmental legislation, ICAO decisions, governmental mediation of labor conflicts and World Trade Organization disputes and decisions.

News and issues concerning general aviation, specifically airplanes and helicopters powered by piston and alternative engines (i.e., non-turbine powered aircraft). Subjects include aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

Fastest single-engine aircraft in Piper’s history gets nods from EASA and other agencies

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News and issues relating to international air transport and cargo carriers, national airlines and regional airlines, including aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

Marks the operator's sixth nomination for the International Travel & Health Insurance Journal (ITIJ) Awards

FAI Rent-a-jet Nominated for ITIJ Air Ambulance Award

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Four-week strike will affect aircraft deliveries in the fourth quarter

Textron Aviation Ships 41 Bizjets in 3Q Despite Strike

Essential news and analysis on the defense aerospace business. Your trusted source for new and ongoing programs and requirements in military aircraft (manned and unmanned), engines, avionics, weapons and associated systems, including ground-based air defense.

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