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

Airbus has committed to establishing a pilot and maintenance center in Delhi to support accelerating growth in India’s airline industry and resulting need for skilled aviation professionals, the European airframer announced Friday. The plan, which calls for the center to open in 2018, coincides with the government’s “Skill India” campaign, launched in 2015 to develop a wide range of home-grown technical expertise. According to Airbus, India will need more than 1,600 passenger and freighter aircraft over the next 20 years.

 


Under the terms of the commitment, Airbus Group India will fully own the center and staff it with its own instructors. The company plans to build the center using a so-called modular concept to accommodate four A320 full-flight simulators and expansion needs.

 


“Our new training center underscores Airbus’s long-term vision to equip pilots and engineers with superior flying and maintenance skills to operate and maintain contemporary and next-generation Airbus aircraft to be delivered to the airlines of India,” said Airbus executive vice president of strategy and marketing Kiran Rao.

 


Airbus has provided maintenance training from its center in Bangalore since 2007, and has so far trained more than 2,750 maintenance engineers. It expects the new center to accelerate the pace of training to help match A320neo deliveries to India. The new pilot training center will carry enough capacity to train more than 8,000 pilots and 2,000 maintenance engineers over 10 years starting in 2018.

 


“On an average, one Airbus aircraft per week is expected to be delivered to Indian carriers over the next 10 years,” said Airbus India president Srinivasan Dwarakanath. "The need for top quality training will be perpetual.”

 


Airbus plans to choose from a short list of suitable sites near the airport area of Delhi and said it will soon finalize agreements for land, construction and simulator installation in 2017. The India center will join an existing network that covers the Americas, Europe and Asia.

News about simulators and training procedures, as well as workforce.

Airbus To Build Pilot and Maintenance Training Center In Delhi

Facility to support accelerating airline growth in India

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Four-decade career in aviation journalism culminated in leading AIN’s editorial team

AIN Editor-in-chief Matt Thurber To Retire in October

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.

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.

The Dutch air force will receive eight of the two-seaters in 2027

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News and issues concerning general aviation, specifically airplanes and helicopters powered by piston and alternative engines (i.e., non-turbine powered aircraft). Subjects include aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

Why not teach new pilots to go around before learning how to land?

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Most major manufacturers will be at static this year

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News and issues about aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), covering all segments of the aviation industry; and modifications for aircraft and engines. Subjects include product support of aircraft, engines and avionics, MRO company mergers, acquisitions, announcements and personnel, Airworthiness Directives, Supplemental Type Certificate approvals and other topics.

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.

First step toward licensing could encourage youth to seek aviation careers

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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.

More In Training and Workforce

AIN Editor-in-chief Matt Thurber To Retire in October

Four-decade career in aviation journalism culminated in leading AIN’s editorial team

Pilatus PC-7 MKX Basic Trainer Makes First Flight

The Dutch air force will receive eight of the two-seaters in 2027

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Why not teach new pilots to go around before learning how to land?

NBAA-BACE Taking Shape with Expanded Program, Most OEMs

Most major manufacturers will be at static this year

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First step toward licensing could encourage youth to seek aviation careers

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Evolving AI-augmented simulator-based approach to ‘gamify’ learning

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Spirit AeroSystems workers give Leeham News and Analysis the inside track

People in Aviation —September 2026

Michel Denis was named CEO of Daher, Steve Varsano president of Flexjet, and Robert Sumwalt was the next Wright Trophy recipient

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