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

Qatar Airways continues to talk with CFM International about the engine provision for the Airbus A321neos it expects to start taking in 2019 under the terms of a new deal involving 50 of the narrowbodies in the Airbus Cabin Flex configuration. The contract, signed during a ceremony Thursday during a state visit by French president Emmanuel Macron to Doha, replaces a 2011 order covering 34 Pratt &amp; Whitney PW1100G-powered A320neos and 16 A321neos, first delivery of which Qatar refused in 2016 due to what CEO Akbar Al Baker considered unacceptable operational limitations related to extended engine re-start times. Since then the Pratt engines have experienced reliability deficiencies associated with other manufacturing and design problems, generating further public criticism from the outspoken Al Baker. However, Qatar hasn’t yet committed to either engine type for the new batch and, according to CFM, remains in negotiations.

 


Scheduled to enter service with Qatar in 2019, the A321neo ACF incorporates changes to the exit-door configuration whereby designers replaced two forward exit doors with four overwing exits and shifted the aft exit doors—located behind the wings—four fuselage frames further aft. The arrangement increases capacity from the original limit of some 220 passengers to 240 passengers. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

News about commercial airlines, including regulations, aircraft orders, safety, acquisitions, and mergers.

Engines Choice Open for Qatar’s Latest A321neo Order

Gulf airline remains in negotiations over engine provision for 50 A321neo ACFs

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Charles Alcock

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.

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

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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Airline plans to gradually replace its Embraer E-Jet fleet

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Partners say eVTOLs could accelerate response times in crowded Indian cities

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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.

Rival Boeing arguably claimed bragging rights at the Farnborough International show

Airbus Balances Shareholder Returns and New Aircraft

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

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Virgin Firms Up eVTOL Air Taxi Alliance with Joby

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.

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