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
Europe’s regional carriers blaze path toward recovery
The events of September 11 and the subsequent economic fallout have tested the competitive mettle of airlines worldwide.
Delta Connection incidents highlight CRJ design flaws
The world’s most commercially successful line of regional jets added a pair of new blemishes to its technical record late this spring, when both wholly own
Chautauqua To Fly As Delta Connection, Orders 22 More Embraer Jets
Indianapolis-based Chautauqua Airlines added its fourth code-share contract last month when it inked a 10-year deal with Delta Air Lines to fly at least 22
RAA, Airlines Lose Duty-time Battle
The Regional Airline Association will not challenge a May 31 Appeals Court ruling that upheld the legality of a new FAA interpretation of a long-standing d
Commuter airline legend Dick Henson dead at 92
The regional airline industry lost a legend on June 12, when Dick Henson succumbed to Alzheimer’s disease at the age of 92.
US Airways lays groundwork for rejuvenated regional net
US Airways’ campaign to reverse its course toward financial ruin began exactly where new CEO David Siegel promised last month, as the company confirmed its
Aircraft
Fairchild’s fortunes fading fast as Bombardier bails
Another truss fell from Fairchild Dornier’s tenuous financial footing last month, as potential suitor Bombardier Aerospace declared that it no longer harbo
Toyota Might Join MRJ
The Mitsubishi MRJ might have attracted its most powerful project partner yet, as Japan’s Toyota Motor Company contemplates a major investment in the two-a
Aircraft
Boeing Delays 787…Again
Boeing will delay first flight of the 787, this time by as much as six more months, as it continues to grapple with slower-than-expected completion of work
Engines
Thousands of faulty fan blades found in CF34s
The NTSB last month sent recommendations to the FAA and Transport Canada to address a safety concern raised by two engine failures on Bombardier CRJ200s.
SAS, Bombardier, Goodrich settle on Q400 compensation
Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) has settled with Bombardier and Goodrich Aerospace the terms of a compensation agreement stemming from the airline’s grounding
Aircraft
E-Jet orderbook bulging
A firm order for three 100-seat Embraer E190s from Finnair capped a brisk run of sales activity in the second half of February for the Brazilian airframe b
Engines
PW127M OK’d to boost ATRs
Pratt & Whitney Canada has received type certification from Transport Canada and the European Aviation Safety Agency for the turboprop engine chosen to
Accidents
46 Die in ATR Crash
Investigators analyzed data last month from the CVR and FDR recovered from the ATR 42-300 that crashed into a sheer cliff face in the Venezuelan Andes on F
Aircraft
China Approves AVIC Airline Venture
The Civil Aviation Authority of China (CAAC) has approved plans by China Eastern Airlines and aerospace consortium AVIC I to establish a new regional airli
Aircraft
C Series Sales Team Gets Green Light
Bombardier’s board of directors issued authority to the company’s aerospace division to formally offer its proposed C Series airliner to potential customer
Regulations and Government
Pilots and line techs held on INS charges
Federal agents last month arrested six Venezuelan pilots and two ramp workers accused of using false immigration papers to obtain employment in the U.S.
Boeing To Buy Vought’s Interest in Global Aeronautica
Boeing announced today it has agreed to acquire Vought Aircraft Industries’ interest in Global Aeronautica, the South Carolina fuselage subassembly facilit
Aircraft
ANA Order Launches Mitsubishi RJ
Japan’s All Nippon Airways today placed a launch order for 15 Mitsubishi Regional Jets.
Neeleman To Launch Brazilian Airline with Embraer 195s
David Neeleman’s new Brazilian airline venture appeared to have taken a giant leap toward fruition today, as Embraer announced that the JetBlue founder sig
TRW’s Cote Replaces Bossidy as Honeywell CEO
David Cote, 49, has been named president and CEO of Honeywell, taking over that position from Lawrence Bossidy.
Aircraft
Air-taxi pilot passes out, pax lands 402
The pilot of a Cape Air Cessna 402 lost consciousness during a scheduled flight from Martha’s Vineyard to Hyannis, Mass., on February 8, forcing a Cape Air
Aircraft
Bombardier Taps Budding Mideast RJ Market
Bombardier Regional Aircraft’s Middle East sales force saw years of persistence bear fruit this month as the company landed a firm order for six CRJ900s fr
Aircraft
ERJ-135 gets LCY nod
Embraer’s 37-seat ERJ-135 regional jet last month won JAA approval to fly the steep approach into London City Airport.
Mesa does UAL’s bidding with move to absorb ACA
It didn’t take long for Mesa Air Group’s seemingly innocuous new code-share deal with United Airlines to raise far wider implications, as Mesa chairman and
Air Wisconsin Inks New Deals with United
A new 11-year code-share contract between Air Wisconsin and United Airlines went into full effect last month, after a U.S.
Vertex To Cease Beech 1900 Maintenance
The company at the center of a continuing probe into the January crash of an Air Midwest Beech 1900 in Charlotte, N.C., will stop performing maintenance fo
