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

Russia’s United Engine Company (Stand J39, Chalet CS48) expects to engage in high-level talks with partners in the PD-14 turbofan here in Singapore a month after signing a contract with MC-21 airframe maker Irkut calling for first delivery of the Russian-made engine late this year.

 


Plans call for flight trials of the PD-14-powered version of the MC-21 to start in 2019 and continue until certified in 2021. Now in flight tests with Pratt &amp; Whitney PW1400Gs, the MC-21 recently drew a firm order with Aeroflot covering 50 airplanes to be leased from UEC parent company Rostec. The contract calls for the Pratt engines to power the first 25 airplanes and contains an option for Aeroflot to opt for PD-14s to power the second half of the order. Aeroflot expects to take first delivery in the first quarter of 2020.

 


From 2015 to 2017, the first and second stages of the PD-14 flight trials took place on an Il-76 testbed at the Gromov Flight Research Institute in Zhukovsky, just outside Moscow. The third stage of testing, which began last December, involves the participation of representatives from certification bodies who must confirm the results of the first two stages. UEC expects the PD-14 to have received certification by Russian authority Rosaviatsiya by the time its Perm Motors subsidiary delivers the first example to Irkut this year. It expects EASA approval in 2019.

 


Technical characteristics include wide-chord hollow titanium fan blades created using 3D design methods; titanium alloy blisks in stages 1, 2 and 5; new-generation nickel alloy in stages 6 to 8 in the high-pressure compressor; heat-resistant intermetallic alloys in the combustion chamber’s combustion zone; monocrystal alloys in the high-pressure turbine’s working and nozzle blades; and hollow working and nozzle blades in stages 1 to 6 in the low-pressure turbine. Meanwhile, the nacelle design incorporates a latticed thrust reverser and composite materials that account for 65 percent of its total mass.

News and developments about aircraft engines, including turbofan, turboprop, turboshaft and piston.

Russia’s UEC in Singapore to Talk Over PD-14

Expects Perm Motors unit to deliver first example to Irkut for MC-21 by year end.

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

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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.

One engine would be able to run at low-idle in a twin-engine helicopter application

FAA Proposes Special Conditions for PW220A Idle Cruise

Charles Alcock

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.

Improved engine production and test facilities are mainly focused on military programs

Rolls-Royce Completes $1 Billion Engine Site Upgrade

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 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.

The first hybrid-electric flights above 30,000 feet, as well as the first across the North Atlantic, GE says.

GE Aerospace and Beta Technologies Cross Atlantic in Hybrid-electric Saab 340B Commuter Aircraft

Australian start-up planned to convert Beechcraft Bonanza and 1900D aircraft

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News and issues regarding all manner of civil and military rotorcraft and their powerplants, including helicopters, tilt rotors and unmanned air vehicles.

Turboshaft has flown more than 600 hours after first flight in March 2023

EASA Issues Type Certificate for AW09 Arriel 2K Engine

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 information on safety procedures and concerns.

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.

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