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

Rolls-Royce on Thursday said it expects a gradual recovery of its end markets as travel restrictions ease in the coming months, but it acknowledged an “elevated” level of uncertainty in the industry outlook. In a trading update issued the same day, it now forecasts widebody engine flying hours to decline by about 55 percent this year, as more long-haul routes open up in the fourth quarter. The company continues to plan for about 250 widebody engine deliveries in 2020, based on announced build rates from its airframer customers.

 


The company also reported anticipating&nbsp;a reduction in cash burn resulting from “cash mitigation actions” including supply chain management and a one-third cut in its civil aerospace workforce. Last month Rolls opened voluntary severance in the UK, including an “enhanced” early retirement scheme. The company said it has received more than 3,000 expressions of interest for voluntary severance in the UK&nbsp;and that it expected about two-thirds of those employees to leave by the end of August.

 


Meanwhile, an anticipated full-year free cash outflow of some £4 billion reflects an “unwind” of inventory in the second half, a gradual improvement in engine flying hours, and an acceleration of cash savings.

 


During the first half, the business saw a severe decline in demand due to a drop in widebody engine flying hours by some 50 percent, including a 75 percent decline in the second quarter, resulting from&nbsp;Covid-19 effects. Since the low point in April, when flying hours had fallen 80 percent compared with April 2019, the company has seen a marginal improvement in May and June led by an increase in flights in China, Asia-Pacific, and the Middle East. Business jet and regional flight activity has begun to recover more quickly due to lower exposure to cross-border routes, said the company.

 


MRO&nbsp;activity in the first half remained broadly stable compared with the same period in 2019 but lower than the pre-Covid-19 first-half schedule. The company said it has completed the backlog of overhauls related to the Trent 1000 durability problems and has achieved its target to reduce the number of related AOGs&nbsp;to single digits. It also reported good progress with the type test of the replacement high-pressure turbine blade for the Trent 1000 TEN, which remains on track for incorporation into the fleet by the end of the first half of 2021.

 


In terms of production, output of new widebody engines proved consistent with the company’s revised guidance of 250 engines for the full year, as it shipped 130 engines in the first half.

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

Rolls-Royce Sees Gradual Recovery but More Covid Uncertainty

UK engine maker Rolls now expects a 55 percent decline in engine flying hours for widebodies this year. 

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.

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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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