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

Carrying an industrial backlog of engines and services contracts worth $200 billion, GE Aviation enters the Farnborough Airshow intent on building on its already broad commitments in commercial aviation while expanding its footprint in the military sector. This week at the show, GE and its partner companies expect to add to their backlog of orders and commitments covering more than 15,000 commercial engines, including the GE9X for the Boeing 777X and CFM Leap for the Airbus A320neo and Boeing 737 Max. Meanwhile, rising U.S. defense science and technology budgets have prompted GE Aviation in the past two years to transfer more than 750 engineers to a growing portfolio of military development programs, including fighter and turboshaft engines.

 


One of two engine choices for the Airbus A320neo, the Leap-1A entered service in 2016, while the Leap-1B exclusively powers the Boeing 737 Max, which entered service last year. In the most aggressive engine production ramp-up in airline history, CFM partner companies GE Aviation and Safran already have delivered some 1,000 Leap engines.

 


All told, GE Aviation and its partner companies expect to deliver up to 2,900 commercial jet engines in 2018, adding to the 35,000 already in service. By 2020, they expect to have delivered 39,000 engines, the vast monitored and diagnosed by the GE-developed Predix cloud-based maintenance platform.

 


A growing installed base drives GE Aviation’s service business, as engine shop visits grow from 5,500 this year to a projected 6,700 by the decade’s end. ”The aviation industry has entrusted GE Aviation to deliver an extraordinary scope of technology over the next several years,” said GE Aviation CEO David Joyce. ”We are ever mindful and laser-focused during this critical execution phase.”

 


GA Aviation's new commercial and military engines have served as platforms for breakthroughs in new material systems such as ceramic matrix composite (CMC) components and additive manufacturing. The company has opened what it calls the first fully integrated supply chain in the U.S. to produce CMCs, including the opening earlier this year of the new Huntsville, Alabama, plant that produces raw materials. GE’s plant in Auburn, Alabama, this year plans to produce 34,000 components for the Leap engine from more than 40 additive machines.

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

GE Rides Record Backlog into Farnborough 2018

Company intent on meeting aggressive delivery schedule 

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Matt Thurber

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

Lack of Funding Shuts Hydrogen Propulsion Pioneer Stralis

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.

More In Engines

FAA Proposes Special Conditions for PW220A Idle Cruise

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

Rolls-Royce Completes $1 Billion Engine Site Upgrade

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

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

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

Lack of Funding Shuts Hydrogen Propulsion Pioneer Stralis

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

EASA Issues Type Certificate for AW09 Arriel 2K Engine

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

FAA’s Rocheleau Admits Unleaded Avgas Timeline May Slip

Deadline of Dec. 31, 2030 may have to be moved if a suitable fuel isn't available

Sikorsky and Safran Pledge Increased Collaboration

Proposal promises accelerated engine innovation

Canada Could Keep Gripen Engine Work at Home

GE and Magellan sign F414 support agreement

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