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.

Gregory Polek

Latest from Gregory Polek

Accidents

Fiery Crash at Tokyo Haneda Kills Five, Highlights String of Runway Incursions

All passengers and crew of the destroyed JAL Airbus A350-900 survived
First Japan Airlines A350-900 Takes Off
Charter & Fractional

Volato Expands HondaJet Fleet by 50 Percent to 24 Aircraft in 2023

Another 22 HondaJet Elite IIs are due for delivery in 2024 and beyond
Volato expects to take another 22 HondaJet Elite IIs by early 2026.
Maintenance and Modifications

Sherpa Air Preps for Entry into Bizav Maintenance

Construction of a 30,000-sq-ft hangar completed in November
Sherpa Air hangar Georgetown, South Carolina
Maintenance and Modifications

Falcon Jet Commits to Arkansas Expansion

Company cites strong state support and supply of workers as factors in its decision to expand
Dassault Falcon Jet's facility in Little Rock, Ark.
Engines

Pratt & Whitney Marks PT6’s Diamond Anniversary

The versatile turboprop has amassed more than 500 million flight hours
Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6 turboprop
Fuel

IATA Identifies Measures To Increase SAF Production

Current production levels account for 3 percent of overall renewable fuel output
IATA director general Willie Walsh
Maintenance and Modifications

Jets MRO To Launch Operations at Dallas Executive

Company will occupy a 40,000-sq-ft facility under development by Jet Access
Jet Access private aviation complex at Dallas Executive Airport
Maintenance and Modifications

Boost Systems Cargo Baskets Win Transport Canada STC

FAA certification is pending
AS350 with Boost cargo baskets
Safety

South Korea Accepts Country’s First Embraer Praetor 600

Specially equipped aircraft will perform navaid inspections and other duties
Korean Flight Inspection Service Center Embraer Praetor 600
Maintenance and Modifications

Solution to MRO Capacity Shortage a Multi-pronged Endeavor

Labor and parts shortages remain key drivers
Elevate MRO mechanic working on landing gear
Maintenance and Modifications

MRO Profile: Omni Aircraft Maintenance Poised for Major Expansion

Operation to see MRO capacity double by year-end
Omni Aircraft Maintenance mechanics working on landing gear
Maintenance and Modifications

Piaggio Delivers First Retrofitted Avanti II+

Upgraded Avanti now carries new configuration of Avanti II+
Piaggio P.180 MSN 1053 sits parked at the company's center of excellence in Villanova d’Albenga ahead of delivery to its Genoa customer support center.
Maintenance and Modifications

Blackhawk Wins Garmin GI 275 STC for 500-series Citations

Install provides for a lower-cost, more reliable electronic standby instrument system
Cessna Citation with Garmin GI 275 ESIS
Maintenance and Modifications

Airwolf Developing Helo STCs for True Blue Batteries

STCs apply to Citations, Phenoms, Caravans, and PC-12s
Environment

Dassault a ‘Major Patron’ in Tree-planting Campaign

The project calls for the planting of a million trees in the Paris Region
Maubuisson campaign participants
Maintenance and Modifications

West Star Aviation Acquires Jet East from Gama Aviation

The maintenance, repair and overhaul companies value the deal at some $100 million
A Jet East mechanic works on avionics
Maintenance and Modifications

Dassault Aviation To Open Falcon MRO at New São Paulo Airport

Catarina facility to be large enough to house a Falcon 10X
Dassault mechanic works on a PW307 turbofan
Environment

Latest Boeing EcoDemonstrator Studies Tackle SAF’s Contrail Effects

Researchers are encouraged by early findings on a Boeing 737 Max 10 airliner
Boeing 737 Max 10 Ecodemonstrator followed by a NASA DC-8 Airborne Science Lab
Cabin Interior and Electronics

Comlux Completion Working on Third ACJ TwoTwenty

Fourth aircraft due to arrive ‘in the near future’
Third ACJ Two Twenty arrives at Comlux Indianapolis
Finance, Taxes, Insurance

Interest Rates, Ukraine Contribute to Lull in M&A Activity

High borrowing costs resulting from elevated interest rates hurting cash flow
Pratt & Whitney mechanics inspect PW1100G
Maintenance and Modifications

MRO Profile: Clay Lacy Aviation

Six years in, Clay Lacy's MRO business takes off.
A Clay Lacy mechanic works on a Dassault Falcon
Aircraft

Embraer Reports Strong Third Quarter for Executive Jets Division

Brazilian OEM delivers 28 business jets during the period
Embraer Phenom 300E
Training and Workforce

West Star To Open a Maintenance Training Academy

The company plans to hire 25 paid apprentices
West Star East Alton, Illinois (Photo: West Star Aviation)
Engines

Ontic Assumes Manufacture, Support of Honeywell TRAS

California-headquartered supplier to expand site in Staverton, UK
Ontic TRAS for CFM 56
Safety

XBag Shows Kit To Extinguish Li-on Battery Fires

Product complies with FAA In-flight Fire Procedures
XBag
Maintenance and Modifications

P&WC Names Duncan Aviation PW300, PW500 Designated Overhaul Facility

Duncan to overhaul turbofans that become operational over next two years
Duncan Aviation technicians
Airports

Sky Harbour Group To Develop 25 Acres on Chicago Executive Airport

Project expected to generate $550 million in economic benefit for the area
Chicago Executive Airport Palwauke Municipal Airport
Avionics

FreeFlight’s 5G-Tolerant Radar Altimeter Gains TSO Certification

The RA-4500 MK II resists 5G interference
Freeflight RA-5500 Terrain Series Radar Altimeter
Cabin Interior and Electronics

Aloft, Greenpoint Partner on BBJ Select Cabin Completions

Boeing Business Jets Picks Partners for New BBJ Interior
BBJ cabin interior serene style
Maintenance and Modifications

StandardAero Adds Rolls-Royce Line Support at Van Nuys, Springfield

Five-year agreement provides one-stop engine service
StandardAero and Rolls-Royce at NBAA-BACE 2023