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

Qatar Airways CEO Akbar Al Baker has challenged GE Aviation to accelerate efforts on a new engine that would address carbon-neutrality goals set by the European Union and other governments. Delivering opening remarks during a recent U.S. Chamber of Commerce online panel discussion dedicated to Qatar-U.S. business relations, Al Baker called for a concerted effort by airlines and their suppliers to ensure the industry meets 2050 targets for net-zero carbon emissions.

 


“We always are looking for improvements, and I would also recommend GE get into a future-technology engine sooner [rather] than later, because we all through IATA have committed [to] carbon-neutral growth in 2050,” said Al Baker. “When you look at how long things take to develop, 2050 is not very far away. So I&nbsp;recommend that…GE takes this message really seriously. People tend to blame airlines for emissions, but we depend on aircraft manufacturers and engine manufacturers and fuel producers to deliver the technology to us so that we then can invest in those new technologies and fly our airplanes more efficiently and with the least effect on our environment.”

 


GE and other engine makers have emphasized an incremental approach beginning with improvements to existing engines combined with the use of sustainable aviation fuels, for example. Speaking during a recent investors’ presentation, GE Aviation president and CEO John Slattery outlined the company’s strategy for meeting sustainability goals.

 


“GE has been heavily involved in SAF testing for many years, including powering the industry's very first 100 percent SAF flight in 2018,” said Slattery. “By the way, that was on a commercial widebody aircraft.” The company plans to spend $1.8 billion on research and development efforts this year, a level consistent with last year’s spending, he added.

 


“Partnering with GE Research, we plan to also demonstrate our hybrid electric capabilities on a regional airliner by the middle of this decade,” Slattery noted. “And as for the next narrowbody aircraft, we will develop and mature technologies to deliver greater than 20 percent fuel efficiency compared to the [CFM] Leap. And looking even farther into the future, where we're positioning ourselves to lead the technology revolution, with innovations like liquid hydrogen where we can draw today from our experiences and the learnings from our colleagues over at GE Power.”

 


Al Baker, who also said Boeing airplanes account for 51 percent of Qatar Airways’ fleet, added that he would accept delivery of GE9X-powered 777Xs “as soon as it’s ready.” Boeing has notified the airline to expect a delay in first delivery until 2023, at which point Qatar now plans to place three of the airplanes into service. Al Baker also acknowledged an interest in further hot-weather performance on the engines.

 


For its part, GE noted that it introduced in the 9X an enhanced thermal barrier coating on the turbine blades for improved durability in hot environments and certification for full-rated takeoff in hot weather. The 9X team continues dust testing on the engine to validate various improvements designed into the engine to reduce the effect of sand and dust blocking cooling passages. Further advances under study include new technologies to manage under-cowl temperatures that can peak after engine shutdown in hot environments.

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

Qatar’s Al Baker Challenges GE on Future Engine

Qatar Airways’ CEO has called on GE to accelerate efforts toward a “future-technology” engine. 

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

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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

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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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News and issues regarding all manner of civil and military rotorcraft and their powerplants, including helicopters, tilt rotors and unmanned air vehicles.

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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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