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

Some two weeks after submitting a proposal to power Boeing’s New Mid-market Aircraft (NMA), GE Aviation CEO David Joyce continues to reserve judgment on the business case for his company’s participation. Speaking on July 16&nbsp;at the Farnborough Airshow, Joyce instead confirmed that GE and CFM partner Safran have agreed to propose a CFM design, even if the required engine thrust slightly exceeds the 50,000-pound limit the partnership’s remit would typically allow.

 


Meanwhile, GE continues to “wrestle” with the size of the market it believes exists for the 220- to 270-seat NMA, a consideration that will largely determine whether or not a dual-source arrangement for engines would be viable.

 


“The reality is it has to make economic sense,” said Joyce. “I would say we’re still wrestling with what the size of the market is, and that’s a big question because people feel great when you launch, but your shareholders don’t feel great until it’s successful.”

 


“That program’s got to turn into a program like the GEnx or Leap for us so these big investments come home," he added. "And I would say we’re not completely reconciled right now, but we’ve not done all our homework...We’re working really hard to triangulate on what the market is and what it means, in terms of how many variants they offer on the airplane–and then what does that mean in terms of how we size the engine.”

 


Although Boeing has said it won’t decide whether or not to launch the NMA until next year, Joyce said he expected some feedback on what he called the first round of proposals before then.

 


Finally, while two potential engine suppliers for the NMA remains a possibility, Joyce did voice a definitive conclusion that GE would not participate in a three-way arrangement. “That’s just a recipe for disaster,” said Joyce.

 


Joyce downplayed any effects to GE Aviation that might arise from the parent company’s decision to spin off its healthcare division and divest its stake in oil services conglomerate Baker Hughes, proclaiming “business as usual.”

 


“I would say the changes in GE, if anything, unlock more capability out of GE Aviation," he said. "I don’t feel any constraints at all relative to what’s happened in the last year. I feel just the opposite.”

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

GE Wrestles with Business Case for Mid-market Aircraft 

CFM proposal put to Boeing despite 52,000-pound maximum thrust requirement set by GE/Safran partnership.

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.

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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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