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

South Korean leasing company Solyu has signed a letter of intent with Eviation covering 25 Alice all-electric commuter aircraft, the companies announced on&nbsp;Wednesday. The LOI, which includes an option for an additional 25 aircraft, marks the first such “order” for the nine-seat Alice since Eviation <a href="https://futureflight.aero/news-article/2023-08-04/eviation-outsources-design-all-electric-alice-commuter-airplane">outsourced its design work</a> to Seattle-based engineering firm TLG Aerospace.
Eviation claims now to have secured $5 billion worth of orders since it began marketing the aircraft in 2015. The vehicle became the <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2022-09-27/eviations-alice-electric-aircraft-starts-flight-test-campaign">first all-electric commuter aircraft to take flight</a> when it took off last September from Grant County International Airport in Washington State. However, it has yet to fly again, and development has slowed while TLG works on designing the production configuration and Eviation looks for “key production partners.” Eviation said it expects to gain FAA certification under Part 23 rules in 2027.
"With aviation regulations focusing on sustainability and airlines demanding to reduce their carbon footprint, we see Alice as a major contributor to meeting those targets,” said Solyu president Andrew Claerbout. “In addition to its zero emissions, Alice's flexible layout and low operating costs will provide operators opportunities to open new markets."
Despite the apparent slowdown in development, the Alice continues to draw commercial interest. Apart from the Solyu LOI, UK-based aircraft leasing group Monte signed a letter of intent covering the purchase of up to 30 Alice aircraft. Other customers include DHL Express (12 aircraft), Cape Air (75), Australia’s Northern Territory Air Service (20), Air New Zealand (23), Mexican regional airline Aerus (30), German regional airline Evia Aero (25), and Miami-based charter and cargo flight provider GlobalX (50). 
&nbsp;

Latest news about Eviation's Alice all-electric commuter airplane. 

Gregory Polek

Korea's Solyu has signed on LOI covering a firm order for 25 Alice aircraft along with options for another 25. (Image: Eviation)

Korean Lessor Solyu Orders 25 Eviation Alice Aircraft

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

In this article

Eviation

AIN Products

SUBSCRIPTIONS

RESOURCES

ABOUT AIN