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

Bombardier has decided to set aside plans to collaborate with Russian industrial conglomerate Rostec to <a href="http://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/ain-air-transport-perspective/2014-03-25/bombardier-fully-committed-russian-q400-production">establish an assembly line near Moscow for the Q400 turboprop</a>, the Canadian company’s CEO, Pierre Beaudoin, confirmed during its third-quarter earnings briefing on Thursday. Beaudoin attributed the decision to shelve the plans to the “political situation” stemming from Western sanctions leveled against the Kremlin for its involvement in Crimea and alleged support of Ukrainian separatists. Although he insisted that talks between Bombardier and Rostec continue, any agreement to establish a Q400 assembly line in Russia will have to wait until “conditions” improve.

 


“Given the political situation and the economy in Russia right now we’re setting this project aside for the time being and we’ll see what happens over the next number of months,” said Beaudoin. “Right now the conditions are not right to move ahead with that project.”

 


Although the latest round of economic sanctions imposed against Russia by the U.S. and European Union (EU) did not directly target the civil aerospace and air transport sectors, the now delayed deal between Rostec and Bombardier demonstrates their potential for inflicting collateral damage on those industries.

 


Last month a Bombardier spokeswoman told AIN that Rostec does not appear on the list of Russian companies covered by existing Canadian government sanctions. However, she acknowledged that the company recognizes the implications of the increasingly chilled political atmosphere between Russia and Western countries over the military crisis in Ukraine. “We [continue to meet]with [Rostec], and we remain optimistic that we’ll be able to conclude [negotiations] in 2014,” she told AIN at the time. “However, considering all of the developments of late, we’re now being realistic in that the timeline could shift.” So despite the immediate absence of Canadian sanctions targeting Rostec, Bombardier must contend with what the spokeswoman referred to as “other barriers in the way” and continuing “sensitivities we need to be mindful&nbsp;of.”

 


Those other barriers undoubtedly include the sanctions’ effect on the ability of leading Russian banks to raise new capital in U.S. and EU markets, fueling grave concern within Russian industry, including the aerospace sector. At the same time, Russia’s rouble has collapsed in value on currency markets, weakening the buying power of Russia’s aerospace industry for importing Western equipment. Meanwhile, the domestic economy has clearly suffered, potentially resulting in weakened demand for air&nbsp;transport.

 


Still, said Beaudoin, Bombardier considers Russia an important market, and other avenues for penetrating it haven’t closed. “I’m not saying we’re not talking with Rostec,” said Beaudoin. “We’re looking at other ways to penetrate that market. They need an aircraft such as the Q400 so we’re still talking about selling that airplane to Russia.”

 


&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.

Bombardier Shelves Plans for Russian-built Q400s

Beaudoin cites political, economic conditions as key influences

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Hanneke Weitering

FlyNYON will offer aerial photography flights on Beta’s Alia 250 eVTOL aircraft

NYC Helitour Operator FlyNYON Orders Beta’s eVTOL Aircraft

News and developments about everything that goes into the cabin of an aircraft, from floor coverings to headliners, with a special emphasis on in-flight entertainment, communications and other electronics for passengers. If it is in the cabin of an aircraft, it’s covered here.

News and issues relating to business, corporate and private aviation, primarily regarding turbine-engine-powered airplanes and helicopters. Subjects include aircraft, engines, maintenance, operations, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security, and training.

Get a glimpse of Qatar's unique interior appointments.

Step Aboard Qatar Executive's Gulfstream G700 Business Jet

Jilin signs preliminary purchase agreement for 41 EH216-S aircraft

EHang Plans Cold-weather eVTOL Trials in China’s Jilin Province

Republic Airways is the latest customer to receive an aircraft for testing.

Beta Technologies' Alia CX300 Electric Aircraft Debuts at Paris Air Show

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.

Competing against the Boeing 777, this airliner has a maximum capacity of 410 passengers.

Airbus A350-1000 Airliner Flies at the Paris Air Show

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.

More In Aircraft

NYC Helitour Operator FlyNYON Orders Beta’s eVTOL Aircraft

FlyNYON will offer aerial photography flights on Beta’s Alia 250 eVTOL aircraft

Step Aboard Qatar Executive's Gulfstream G700 Business Jet

Get a glimpse of Qatar's unique interior appointments.

EHang Plans Cold-weather eVTOL Trials in China’s Jilin Province

Jilin signs preliminary purchase agreement for 41 EH216-S aircraft

Beta Technologies' Alia CX300 Electric Aircraft Debuts at Paris Air Show

Republic Airways is the latest customer to receive an aircraft for testing.

Airbus A350-1000 Airliner Flies at the Paris Air Show

Competing against the Boeing 777, this airliner has a maximum capacity of 410 passengers.

Fouga CM170 Magister Flies at the Paris Air Show

This French classic is right at home at the Paris Air Show.

Embraer KC-390 Military Airlifter Flies at the Paris Airshow

Nations around the world have ordered the multirole aircraft.

Embraer E195-E2 Airliner Flies at the Paris Air Show

The regional airliner can seat up to 146 passengers.

AIN Products

SUBSCRIPTIONS

RESOURCES

ABOUT AIN