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

The United Arab Emirates’ civil aviation authority on Wednesday certified the Boeing 737 Max to return to service in the country, clearing one of the model’s biggest operators—FlyDubai—to resume operations. General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) director-general Saif Al Swuaidi noted “intensive efforts” on the part of the authority’s technical committee to evaluate Boeing guidance and requirements issued by the U.S. FAA and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), reported official UAE press agency WAM. &nbsp;&nbsp;

 


Al Suwaidi said the decision took into account “corrective procedures,” most notably upgrades to the airplane’s MCAS system, pilot training procedures, and operational readiness tests of all aircraft returning to service.

 


A Boeing 737-800NG operator since flying its first service in June 2009, FlyDubai had flown 11 Max 8s and three Max 9s before&nbsp;the type’s grounding in March 2019. Boeing lists unfilled orders from FlyDubai for 237 more Maxes, the bulk of which came with a contract signed at the 2017 Dubai Airshow for 175 of the narrowbodies. That deal marked the biggest single-aisle order ever in the Middle East.

 


Global aviation authorities grounded the 737 Max in March 2019 following the second of two accidents within six months that together claimed 346 lives. Investigators traced the root cause to flight control software known as the maneuvering characteristics augmentation system (MCAS), which Boeing engineers developed to overcome handling deficiencies caused by changes to the Max from the 737NG, most notably the engines. However, the MCAS, guided by only one angle-of-attack (AoA) sensor, activated repeatedly if the sensor malfunctioned, pushing the nose of the aircraft downward multiple times. In both accidents, pilots lost control of their airplanes, resulting in the crashes.

 


Although EASA and Transport Canada essentially validated earlier recertification mandates issued by the FAA, a key difference lies in a provision in the European and Canadian rules for flight crews to stop a stick shaker from continuing to vibrate in the event of an erroneous activation. It remains unclear whether or not the UAE also adopted that stipulation in its order.

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.

UAE Clears 737 Max for Return to Service

FlyDubai stands poised to return the Max to operation following the UAE’s clearance.

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Charlotte Bailey

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 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.

ATR 72 aircraft performs pre-modification flight in Toulouse

Kepplair Starts Converting ATR 72 Into Water Bombers

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.

Only the piston aircraft segment posted a decline

GAMA: Bizjets, T-props, and Rotorcraft Deliveries Up

Hanneke Weitering

Two captains held the prototype 33 feet above the water for 30 seconds

Regent Flies Electric Seaglider with Crew for First Time

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.

Icing approval would open year-round service to northern communities

Horizon Begins Icing Tests for Cavorite X7 eVTOL

Kerry Lynch

Deal to close this year

Bombardier To Grow Manufacturing Capacity with MHICA Buy

David Donald

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.

The two NATO allies will purchase seven of the tanker/transport aircraft

Spain and Poland Agree to Buy A330MRTT Tanker Transports

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

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.

GE Aerospace has tested the GE9X, Leap 1A, Leap 1B, and more with the 747.

GE Aerospace Flies Boeing 747 To Test New Engine Tech

Charles Alcock

News about commercial airlines, including regulations, aircraft orders, safety, acquisitions, and mergers.

News about environmental issues relating to aircraft operations, including noise issues, emissisions, and regulations. See Fuel for biofuel.

More In Aircraft