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

Boeing BBJ, BBJ2, BBJ3, BBJ Max, BBJ747, BBJ757, BBJ767, BBJ777, BBJ787

Gregory Polek

The arrival of the new year marks a new opportunity for aircraft modification and maintenance provider King Aerospace to apply and build on its employee-centric leadership philosophy to serving VVIP, government, and military clients, the company said Wednesday.
“2023 was a year with lots of challenges for King Aerospace but also some great new opportunities,” said company chairman and founder Jerry King. "Through it all, I remain incredibly proud—and suitably humbled—by how our team joins together through both triumph and adversity to fulfill our most important duty: providing superior service to our valued customers.”
King Aerospace added two respected industry veterans to the company last year. Pete Schneider brings his extensive background in aircraft modifications and completions as v-p of program management and special projects. Bob Blanchard, whose career with U.S. Customs and Border Protection and National Air Security Operations spans three decades, now serves as King Aerospace's new vice president of business development and special projects.
Separately, King Aerospace in February promoted longtime team member Keith Weaver to vice president of business development.
The year also provided several opportunities to demonstrate “King Kulture” to customers during ceremonies marking the opening of two new King Aerospace hangars at Northwest Arkansas National Airport (KXNA) near Bentonville. Later in the year, the facility welcomed its first Boeing BBJ, which traveled more than 7,000 miles for maintenance and refurbishment by King Aerospace.
Similarly, the second annual King Aerospace BBJ Operators Forum brought together members of that community to share Boeing Business Jet operational matters.
Finally, in October, King Aerospace met with customers and highlighted its offerings for commercial aircraft upgrades and modifications during the annual NBAA-BACE convention.
“I’ve never had a more productive show in 40-plus years of attending NBAA,” said King. “We had a ton of presidential fleet people there and lots of BBJ customers there. We even had our competition at our booth!”
The past year also brought challenges as King Aerospace prepared for the planned end of its contractor logistics support (CLS) responsibilities for the U.S. Army’s special electronic mission aircraft (SEMA) fleet. King Aerospace said it remains poised to fulfill new assignments in support of the U.S. armed forces.

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.

King Aerospace Plots Business Roadmap for 2024

Company poised to apply its ‘King Kulture’ to serving customers

The arrival of the new year marks a new opportunity for King Aerospace to apply its employee-centric leadership philosophy.

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.

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.

Panel participants included Boeing, Gulfstream Aerospace, and West Star Aviation

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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.

What began 22 years ago as a Caravan project is now a busy multimillion-dollar business

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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.

In this article

Boeing BBJ Series

King Aerospace

Boeing

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Summit Highlights St. Louis Aero MRO and Manufacturing

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Building Interiors at Yingling Aviation

What began 22 years ago as a Caravan project is now a busy multimillion-dollar business

Stevens Aerospace Joins Epic Aircraft Service Network

MRO services for E1000 turboprops available at company’s Denver location

Duncan Adds Gogo 5G to Company Citation Excel

Executives share their experience with system

Australian Regulator Approves Textron Service Centers

Textron operates service centers in Melbourne, Perth, and Gold Coast

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The Kansas-based company specializes in modifying airframes

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