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 European Parliament and European Council have reached a political agreement on the so-called&nbsp;<a href="https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:52021PC0561">ReFuelEU Aviation&nbsp;proposal</a>, setting conditions for codifying rules to help decarbonize the aviation sector by requiring fuel suppliers to blend sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) with kerosene in increasing amounts starting in 2025.
This measure on its own would reduce aircraft CO2&nbsp;emissions by some two-thirds by 2050 compared with a “no action” scenario and provide climate and air quality benefits by reducing non-CO2&nbsp;emissions.
The deal marks the last agreement on the transport proposals within the Fit for 55 package, in which legislators agreed to updated rules on emissions trading in the aviation and maritime sectors, as well as the accelerated deployment of alternative fuels&nbsp;infrastructure.
The new rules will require aviation fuel suppliers&nbsp;to provide a minimum share of SAF at EU airports, starting at 2 percent of overall fuel supplied by 2025 and reaching 70 percent by 2050. The new EU jet fuel blend will need to also contain a minimum share (which increases over time) of the most modern and environmentally friendly synthetic fuels.
In addition, the rules&nbsp;mandate that aircraft operators&nbsp;departing from EU airports refuel only with&nbsp;the fuel necessary for the flight as a means to avoid emissions related to extra weight or carbon leakage caused by deliberately carrying excess fuel to avoid refueling with SAF.
Finally, the legislation would&nbsp;require airports&nbsp;to ensure the availability of SAF and fitness for its distribution in their fueling infrastructure.
The blending mandate covers biofuels, recycled carbon fuels, and&nbsp;synthetic aviation fuels (e-fuels) in line with the Renewable Energy Directive&nbsp;but excludes food and feed crops, supporting sustainability objectives. Since it will apply throughout the EU, the mandate will ensure a level playing field within the EU internal market, provide legal certainty to fuel producers, and help accelerate large-scale production across the continent, according to the European Commission. Legislators also expect the rules to ensure the EU's energy security by reducing dependencies on third-country sourced energy products and creating thousands of&nbsp;jobs in the energy sector.
The agreement reached on Tuesday requires formal adoption by the Parliament and the Council. Once that process ends, the Official Journal of the European Union will publish the legislation, marking its immediate enactment.
This agreement represents an important step toward&nbsp;the implementation of the Commission's&nbsp;Fit for 55 legislative package, helping to achieve the EU's climate ambitions under the European Green Deal.
Aviation emissions in Europe increased an average of 5 percent year-over-year between 2013 and&nbsp;2019, according to the Commission.
“While dropping dramatically during the pandemic, aviation emissions are still projected to grow further, the Commission said in a statement. “The increased climate ambition of the aviation sector will be crucial for the EU to reach its climate objectives under the Paris Agreement and make the European Green Deal a reality.”
To achieve climate neutrality, the EU needs to reduce transport emissions by 90 percent by 2050 compared with 1990 levels. RefuelEU Aviation will help the aviation sector contribute to achieving that target, together with the&nbsp;revised rules on the EU Emissions Trading System in the aviation sector.

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

EU Countries Agree on ReFuelEU Decarbonization Plan

An agreement reached Tuesday on the ReFuelEU proposal sets the conditions for codifying decarbonization targets in Europe.

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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 international air transport and cargo carriers, national airlines and regional airlines, including aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

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

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News and developments about everything that goes into the cabin of an aircraft, from floor coverings to headliners, with a special emphasis on in-flight entertainment, communications and other electronics for passengers. If it is in the cabin of an aircraft, it’s covered here.

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