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

Raytheon Aircraft no longer owns part of Cheyenne, Wyo.-based Great Lakes Aviation, following the airline’s November 16 repurchase of all common stock owned by the one-time Beech 1900 manufacturer. According to Great Lakes’ third-quarter 10Q filing with the SEC, the airline entered into new financing agreements with GB Merchant Partners and Crystal Capital, allowing it to settle its obligations with Raytheon Aircraft. Terms of the financing include a four-year term loan of $24 million and a revolving loan credit facility under which the company may borrow $10 million.
<a href="http://www.ainonline.com/?q=aviation-news/aviation-international-news/2008-01-14/great-lakes-finds-security-marriage-raytheon">Raytheon held an ownership interest in Great Lakes since 2008</a>, when it essentially saved the airline from certain bankruptcy. The deal, which contained a proviso for a strengthened management team, led to the recruitment of current CEO Chuck Howell.
Great Lakes entered into agreements with Raytheon in 2008 and 2009 to lease seven Beech 1900Ds, the last of which it returned to its owner last month. 
It now operates six Embraer Brasilias and 25 Beech 1900Ds from hubs at Albuquerque, Denver, Las Vegas, Los Angeles and Phoenix. From Feb. 1, 2010, through last June 30, it ended service at 18 <a href="http://www.ainonline.com/?q=aviation-news/aviation-international-news/2009-01-29/great-lakes-boosts-eas">Essential Air Service</a> communities, two non-EAS communities and four EAS hubs. As of November 17, it served 42 communities, 29 of which receive EAS subsidies.

Raytheon Sheds Stake in Great Lakes

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