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 MD Helicopters Law Enforcement Award for 2015 goes to the crew of the United States Park Police Aviation Unit Eagle 1 for their role in responding to the shootings at the Navy Yard in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 16, 2013, including the rescue of a critically injured shooting victim.

 


Located directly across the Potomac river from the Navy Yard, pilot Sgt. Kenneth Burchell and rescue technician Sgt. David Tolson, along with a local police officer to help coordinate radio traffic, reached the scene within four minutes of the initial request for help. After picking up a SWAT officer, the crew returned to the building, where a Park Police officer and four civilians had taken cover. After lowering the SWAT officer to help keep the rooftop secure, the crew hoisted the critically injured woman and airlifted her to a nearby hospital.

 


After returning to the scene and picking up Park Police officer Michael Abate, Eagle 1 returned to the scene to extract the three remaining civilians while Abate provided overwatch with a long gun from the helicopter above.

 


All told, the crew of Eagle 1 spent five and a half hours in the air that day, rescuing survivors and supporting ground personnel in their efforts to track down the gunman and secure the area.

 


The second-deadliest mass murder on a U.S. military base in history, the ordeal began at around 8:15 a.m. and ended at around 9:25 a.m. when police shot and killed lone gunman Aaron Alexis. During the rampage, Alexis, a former Navy petty officer, killed 12 people and injured four others working at the facility’s Building 197.

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

Salute to Excellence: MD Helicopters Law Enforcement Award

Flight crew flew five and half hours during the rescue and support mission.

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

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.

At 17 years old, she already has her PPL.

Meet Olivia Thompson, the UK's Youngest-Ever Female Helicopter Pilot

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.

Company’s helicopters employed in law enforcement and utility roles

Bell Scores More Sales at Avalon Australian Airshow

Aircraft will serve in emergency medical services role

New Zealand Search and Rescue Orders H145 Helicopters

The 525 is the first civil fly-by-wire helicopter.

Bell Pilot on Flying the 525 Relentless Fly-by-Wire Helicopter and Program Update

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.

Track and balance and diagnostics system can be used on new-technology rotorcraft

Bell Approves GE Rotor Analysis Diagnostic System

The R88 can seat 10 and carry up to 1,800 pounds of payload.

Robinson's New R88 Model Supersizes its Helicopter Family

Geared towards emergency medical services, it offers more interior space and performance.

Airbus Expands its Twin-Engine Helicopter Family With the New H140 Model

Amy Wilder

News and developments about aviation fuel, including jet fuel, aviation gasoline, and 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.

HAI Heli-Expo 2015

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