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

Gregory Polek

Boeing has begun a cost-cutting exercise that will result in the loss of 4,000 jobs in its commercial airplanes unit by the end of June, the company confirmed Wednesday. Although the company plans to reach that figure through voluntary layoffs and natural attrition, Boeing’s longer term plans call for as much as a 10 percent cut in its workforce in Washington state, resulting in the loss of some 8,000 jobs, according to a report by the Seattle Times referencing a leaked internal company document. The cuts will include hundreds of executives and managers, said Boeing.

 


“We continue to follow our plan announced last month to make fundamental changes for the long term to win in the market, fund our growth and operate as a healthy business,” said Boeing in a statement. “That involves a combination of non-labor cost savings, supply chain savings, and reduced staffing levels. While there is no employment-reduction target, the more we can control costs as a whole—the less impact there will be to employment.

 


“Staffing reductions through mid-year, including hundreds of executives and managers, are projected to total approximately 4,000 positions, none of which involve involuntary layoffs. We’ve been able to reduce staffing levels through attrition, leaving open positions unfilled, and voluntary layoffs. We’ll only use involuntary layoffs as a last resort‎.”

 


Last month Boeing Commercial Airplanes CEO Ray Conner said that pricing pressure from competitors has severely curtailed Boeing’s ability to maintain profit margins, leaving it with little choice but to pursue a wide-ranging cost-cutting plan. Apart from employee cuts, the plans call for supplier concessions, productivity gains and a cut in travel expenses, overtime and contractor costs, according to the Times report.

 


Boeing’s main competitor, Airbus, claimed a 57 percent share of the market in terms of unit sales last year, and some 63 percent of all orders for single-aisle airplanes. Although Boeing continues to operate from a position of strength in the widebody segment, its 737 Max program has fallen well behind the A320neo in sales count, perhaps most alarmingly for Boeing in the part of the market where the 737 Max 9 competes with the A321neo. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

News and developments about airplanes, helicopters and unmanned air vehicles used in all varieties of operations, including airlines, military, business, commercial, general aviation and private.

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News about environmental issues relating to aircraft operations, including noise issues, emissisions, and regulations. See Fuel for biofuel.

News and issues relating to the aerospace industry that are related to the science, engineering and business of flight in space involving civil, industrial and military applications, and similar topics related to flight in the atmosphere of the Earth that are not covered more directly by other AINonline subject channels. In other words, both astronautical and aeronautical subjects, except for those aeronautical topics that are specifically covered elsewhere on this website.

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News and issues relating to civil and military unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS) of all kinds and sizes, including those used for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), combat (unmanned combat air vehicles, or UCAVs), law enforcement, research and other applications. Of particular focus is the FAA's planned integration of UAS into the U.S. national airspace system.

Essential news and analysis on the defense aerospace business. Your trusted source for new and ongoing programs and requirements in military aircraft (manned and unmanned), engines, avionics, weapons and associated systems, including ground-based air defense.

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New developments at airports including regulations and noise issues; legal disputes; openings, acquisitions and mergers.

News and issues relating to international air transport and cargo carriers, national airlines and regional airlines, including aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

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News and developments about aviation fuel, including jet fuel, aviation gasoline, and biofuel.

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