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
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.
Aircraft
Search Teams Recover CVR from Ill-fated Lion Air 737
The flight data recorder could hold vital clues about Flight 610’s last moments.
Aircraft
Boeing Delivers Record 806 Airplanes in 2018
The 737 program yielded 69 deliveries, just shy of what the company needed to meet its total goal of 810.
Airlines
Herb Kelleher Dead at 87
The Southwest Airlines founder left an indelible stamp on the industry.
Aircraft
Airbus Seals Deals for 120 A220s
JetBlue and Neeleman’s Moxy each plan to take deliveries of the narrowbodies from Airbus’s new U.S. factory in Mobile.
Airlines
Qatar Airways Takes Stake in China Southern
The Gulf airline’s latest acquisition spreads its influence into the world’s fastest-growing market.
Aircraft
Brazil Files Formal Arguments to WTO over C Series Subsidies
The program now known as the Airbus A220 benefitted from $4 billion in improper government support, according to Brazilian trade officials.
Airlines
Wow Air To Cut Fleet Nearly in Half, Lays Off 111 Staff
The Icelandic low-fare carrier starts a restructuring exercise amid talks of a rescue plan with Indigo Partners.
Engines
MHI Aero Engines Completes Its First PW1200G
The initial Japanese-build geared turbofan has passed Pratt & Whitney’s production acceptance test.
Aircraft
Appeals Court Overturns Ruling Blocking Boeing-Embraer Deal
The ruling to grant an appeal by Brazil’s solicitor general came less than a week after the original ruling.
Aircraft
Brazilian Court Ruling Threatens Embraer-Boeing Deal
Ruling to block board approval stands subject to appeal but it threatens to at least delay the transaction.
Airlines
UK Moves against Ryanair for Pax Compensation Violations
British CAA disagrees with the airline that strikes over the summer constituted “extraordinary circumstances.”
Accidents
Boeing CEO Blasts Media in Internal Memo on Crash Response
Muilenburg claims that ‘speculation’ has introduced false assumptions.
Airlines
China Southern To Leave SkyTeam
The Chinese carrier’s departure from the Delta/Air France-KLM-anchored alliance opens the possibility of closer ties with American Airlines.
Airlines
Flybe Puts Itself Up for Sale
UK-based regional airline Flybe continues to suffer from softening market growth, high fuel costs, and a weak pound.
Accidents
Boeing Guidance on 737 Max Stall Protection System Under Fire
The company’s training material did not include information on the maneuvering characteristics augmentation system.
Aircraft
ATR 42-600 Finishes China Demo Tour
The ATR 42-600 demonstrated its high-altitude capability in mountainous southwest China.
Aircraft
Bombardier To Sell Q400 Program to Viking Air
Streamlining exercise also to include sale of business aircraft training unit to CAE
Accidents
Emergency AD Addresses Faulty Sensors in Boeing 737 Max
The FAA directed operators to revise manuals to include new procedures for reacting to faulty angle-of-attack inputs.
Accidents
Boeing Warns of Faulty Angle of Attack Inputs on 737 Max
Lion Air crash investigators find erroneous input from AOA sensor during Flight 610
Aircraft
Airbus A330-800 Flies for First Time
Maiden mission comes less than a month after Kuwait Airways signed on as new launch customer
