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

Boeing reported on Thursday that Boeing 737NG operators have grounded a total of 38 of the narrowbodies as of October 9 after inspections of the wing-to-fuselage attach points uncovered cracks in assemblies—called pickle forks—that connect the airplane’s wing spars to the fuselage. Brazil's Gol accounts for 11 of the grounded NGs, meaning that, including its still grounded 737 Max jets, it has removed from service 14 percent of its fleet.&nbsp;In a written statement, Gol said the grounding would affect 3 percent of its customers through December 15.

 


For Southwest Airlines, the two grounded NGs account for a much smaller proportion of the airline’s 750-strong 737 fleet, resulting in a negligible effect on its schedules. A more significant disruption involves the 34 grounded Max jets, which will remain out of service until at least January 5. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

 


Southwest reported it had completed inspections of all the pickle forks in airplanes&nbsp;subject to a seven-day deadline in an FAA airworthiness directive.

 


“During our inspections of the high-cycle NGs, we did not find abnormalities on the vast majority of our inspected fleet but did identify signs of pickle fork cracking on two aircraft,” it said. “Southwest has removed the two aircraft from our operation and reported the findings to Boeing and the FAA. The aircraft will remain out of our schedule until the issues have been fully resolved. Safety is always our uncompromising priority, and our technical operations team is now focused on completing inspections of the remaining portion of the 737 NG fleet covered by the AD.”

 


In a statement issued Thursday to AIN, Boeing said it continues its analysis of the inspection findings to develop a repair plan.&nbsp;

 


"As of October 9, airlines globally have completed 810 inspections on their 737NG fleets with 38 findings," said a Boeing spokesman. "Those airplanes with inspection findings will require repair and replacement of the affected parts. Boeing is actively working with customers that have airplanes in their fleets with inspection findings to develop a repair plan, and to provide parts and technical support as necessary. Boeing regrets the impact this issue is having on our 737NG customers worldwide and we are working around the clock to provide the support needed to return all airplanes to service as soon as possible."

 


The spokesman said the problem does not affect any 737 Max&nbsp;airplanes or the P-8 Poseidon military variant of the 737-800.

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.

Operators Ground 38 Boeing 737NGs for Pickle Fork Cracks

Airlines around the world have completed inspections on 810 NGs in compliance with an FAA airworthiness directive.

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Hanneke Weitering

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 about crew, passenger, aircraft and airport security issues.

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.

Rapcon-X is a heavily modified Bombardier Global 6500 business jet

Sierra Nevada’s Rapcon-X ISR Jet Makes First Flight

Charles Alcock

News about bills, laws, regulations and other governmental decisions affecting aviation and aerospace. Topics include FAA re-authorizations, taxes on fuel and aviation activities, environmental legislation, ICAO decisions, governmental mediation of labor conflicts and World Trade Organization disputes and decisions.

Ultra short landing and takeoff performance could support military applications

Electra's Hybrid-Electric STOL Demonstrator Flies in Pentagon Exercise

Curt Epstein

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.

To date, 300 of the large-cabin jet family have been delivered

Gulfstream Notches G600/G500 Delivery Milestone

The turboprop twin is the first of a two-ship order

Textron Aviation Delivers Aeromed King Air 360CHW

Kerry Lynch

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.

Digital platform to make supply chain processes more transparent and collaborative

Embraer Rolls Out ONEChain To Improve Supply Chain Ops

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

More In Aircraft

Sierra Nevada’s Rapcon-X ISR Jet Makes First Flight

Rapcon-X is a heavily modified Bombardier Global 6500 business jet

Electra's Hybrid-Electric STOL Demonstrator Flies in Pentagon Exercise

Ultra short landing and takeoff performance could support military applications

Gulfstream Notches G600/G500 Delivery Milestone

To date, 300 of the large-cabin jet family have been delivered

Textron Aviation Delivers Aeromed King Air 360CHW

The turboprop twin is the first of a two-ship order

Embraer Rolls Out ONEChain To Improve Supply Chain Ops

Digital platform to make supply chain processes more transparent and collaborative

Heart Selects New York Site For ES-30 Regional Airliner Flight Testing

Technology demonstrator will be brought across the Atlantic from Sweden in early 2025

First Global 6500 Delivered for U.S. Army HADES Program

Endurance up to 18 hours makes the Bombardier jet an ideal ISR platform

Gulfstream G700 Heads to MEBAA Show with Cert in Hand

Long-range business jet has accumulated 65 city-pair records

AIN Products

SUBSCRIPTIONS

RESOURCES

ABOUT AIN