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
Accidents
China, Ethiopian Airlines Ground Their Max 8 Fleets
The Civil Aviation Authority of China grounds more than a quarter of the global fleet of Boeing 737 Max 8s.
Accidents
Ethiopian Airlines 737 Max 8 Crashes, Killing 157
Flight ET 302 lost contact with ATC six minutes after taking off from Addis Ababa.
Aircraft
Airbus Starts A380 Transition Talks with Labor Groups
The European airframer estimates the superjumbo’s cancellation will result in the loss of as many as 3,500 jobs.
Accidents
Search Crews Find CVR from Doomed Atlas Air 767
The NTSB has sent the airplane’s cockpit voice recorder to Washington, D.C., for analysis.
Engines
Rolls-Royce Withdraws from Boeing NMA Competition
Two companies—CFM and Pratt & Whitney—remain in the mix for the propulsion contract for Boeing’s proposed midsize airliner.
Airlines
Kashmir Hostilities Severely Disrupt Airline Operations
Operators can no longer use Pakistani and Afghani airspace while India closes eight airports.
Aircraft
Air Vanuatu Signs For Four A220s
Airbus wins its first orders of the year for the former C Series jet.
Aircraft
Embraer Shareholders Approve Joint Venture with Boeing
More than 96 percent of participating shareholders vote in favor of the transaction between the Brazilian and U.S. airframers.
Aircraft
Southwest Airlines Launches Probe into Flight Disruptions
An unusual number of maintenance-related flight cancellations and delays continue to dog the U.S. low-fare carrier.
Aircraft
Etihad Restructures Airbus, Boeing Widebody Orders
The Abu Dhabi-based airline tempers its ambitions to compete globally with high-powered Gulf neighbors.
Aircraft
EASA Personnel Perform First MC-21 Certification Flights
The Russian narrowbody flew sorties as long as four hours in duration at altitudes as high as 32,000 feet.
Aircraft
Boeing, Safran Name APU Venture Initium Aerospace
Design work on new Initium auxiliary power units has begun in San Diego.
Aircraft
Embraer Meets E-Jet Delivery Target for 2018
The Brazilian manufacturer ships 90 airliners following busy fourth quarter.
Aircraft
Delta Air Lines’ First A220s Enter Service
The first of the Airbus narrowbodies to carry paying passengers in the Americas flew from New York to Boston.
Aircraft
Qantas Order Cancellation Strikes Latest Blow to A380
The Australian flag carrier confirms that its fleet and network planning has not considered the order for eight airplanes “for some time.”
Aircraft
Pemco Launches Full Conversion Program for 737-700
Bahrain’s Texel Air plans to fly the first example of the Boeing narrowbody cargo mod.
Aircraft
Bombardier Launches Three-class 50-seat CRJ
United Airlines plans to deploy at least 50 of the reconfigured CRJ700s with regional partner GoJet by the summer of 2020.
Aircraft
Airbus in A380 Talks with Emirates
The European airframer confirms reports of negotiations but declines to get specific.
Aircraft
Boeing Dispatches Team to CFM to Speed 737 Recovery
Leap-1B supply deficit continues to hamper Max ramp-up effort.
Aircraft
Mitsubishi Countersues Bombardier in Trade Secrets Spat
U.S. subsidiary Mitsubishi Aircraft America claims Bombardier engaged in “anticompetitive behavior.”
Aircraft
A330-900 Certified for ‘Beyond 180-minutes’ ETOPS
The first of two A330neo models can fly routes with a diversion distance of some 2,000 nm.
Aircraft
Delta Delays A220 Service Launch
Government shutdown forces the Atlanta-based airline to shift first revenue flight of the former C Series from January 31 to February 7.
Airports
ATC Staff Shortage Halts Flights at New York La Guardia
Air traffic management program has delayed outgoing flights by more than an hour at nearby Newark Airport.
Airlines
Government Shutdown Disrupts Service Launch at Paine Field
Federal Aviation Administration furloughs have forced Alaska Airlines to delay the launch of service to the Seattle-area reliever airport.
Aircraft
Aeroflot 737 Lands Safely after Hijacking Attempt
A passenger aboard the flight ordered pilots to divert to Afghanistan.
Aircraft
Airbus Breaks Ground on A220 Plant in U.S.
CEO Tom Enders led the celebration for the new plant in Mobile, Alabama.
Aircraft
Airbus Preparing for ‘Worst’ Brexit Outcome
As the European airframer breaks ground on an A220 plant in Alabama, anxiety about its supply of UK-made parts intensifies.
Aircraft
Transport Canada Grants A220 ETOPS Approval
The former C Series becomes the first commercial aircraft to receive ETOPS approval from Canadian authorities.
Aircraft
Government Shutdown Grounds Two American Airlines Max 8s
Flight and operational authorizations have stopped, raising hurdles to service entry of newly delivered aircraft.
