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

Duncan Aviation recently finished a refurbishment of a Falcon 50 with fresh exterior paint, full interior renewal, and an aft-cabin reconfiguration with new divan installation, as well as avionics upgrades, winglets, and LED lighting.&nbsp;After completing a pre-purchase inspection at Duncan’s Battle Creek, Michigan facility, the team immediately began the transformation process.
Senior completions and modifications sales rep Tiffany Buschini explained that the owners wanted to add a divan as part of the refurbishment. To meet the request, Duncan removed the existing right-hand aft single seats and installed a three-place divan. The team also replaced the pull-up jumpseat with a side-facing jumpseat.
“They had explained to me that the flight attendant had expressed concern about sitting on a pull-up jump seat,” said Buschini. “To create a more comfortable and enjoyable experience, we added a side-facing jumpseat. This also creates more space for the crew to get in and out of the flight deck when someone is seated in the jumpseat.”
Buschini explained that the interior wasn’t necessarily in poor condition when it arrived at the Duncan Aviation facility. However, the new owners wanted to personalize it to fit their tastes, down to the cupholders and galley inserts the team designed to hold handmade pottery mugs created by a friend of one of the owners.
“Our cabinet shop built a custom-fit insert to store these mugs in a galley drawer,” said designer Jack Bauder. “We also created the concept for a multi-level cupholder, which can&nbsp;accommodate both these mugs or highball glasses in a single unit.”
Duncan Aviation's engineering team developed measurements and drawings for production of these components, which Duncan Manufacturing Solutions then produced in-house.&nbsp;The team also made modifications to the interior by removing the mirrors and trim in the lavatory and adding custom light covers to give it a more modern look. New LED lighting makes the area brighter and more contemporary.
In addition, the aircraft features two-tone seats with diamond-patterned, quilted inserts made using an automated CNC machine. All of the cabinetry in the cabin underwent treatment with hydrographic finishes, and technicians installed Duncan-designed one-piece passenger service unit panels.
Avionics upgrades include a Collins Aerospace Pro Line 21 integrated avionics system with&nbsp;synthetic vision and FANS-1/A and ATN-B1 controller-pilot datalink communications.&nbsp;
Senior avionics sales representative Mike Morgan explained the change marked the first time Duncan Aviation installed the Collins CMU-4000+ communications management unit for FANS-1/A and ATN-B1 with the Pro Line 21 system into a Falcon 50EX.&nbsp;“Dassault was working on a CMU-4000+ STC for this installation, and it was proposed to use this project as the conforming aircraft,” said Morgan.
To allay owner concerns about the serviceability of the outdated cabin management system (CMS), the team installed Alto's Cadence CMS.
During the process of quoting LED lighting, Aircraft Lighting International approached the team about installing its new multi-colored LED Lighting system. The receptive customer approved, marking the first time Duncan Aviation installed this Aircraft Lighting product.

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.

Duncan Aviation Unveils Major Refurbishment of a Falcon 50

The MRO specialist applied paint and a full interior renewal with an aft-cabin reconfiguration

Duncan Aviation's engineering team developed the measurements and drawings for production, which Duncan Manufacturing Solutions then produced in-house. 

Duncan Aviation Unveils Major Refurb of Falcon 50

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Sarah Rose

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.

Increasing demand drove move to add technicians and another hangar

Thornton Aviation Expands Burbank Maintenance Services

Charles Alcock

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

Enlarged and modernized Australian maintenance facility is set to open in early 2026

Textron Expands Asia Pac MRO Support at Melbourne Base

Matt Thurber

News and issues concerning the aviation charter and fractional-ownership industries and markets, including company announcements, regulations, new developments and labor issues.

Software helps aircraft operators manage the minimum equipment list process

TrustFlight Signs Heartland Aviation for MEL Manager

Curt Epstein

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.

A new service center is expected to open in Dubai next year

Liebherr Expands Middle East Component Service Options

AmyWilder

New facility eliminates the need to fly aircraft to Europe for livery work

Satys Unveils New Aircraft Painting Facility in Dubai

Richard Pedicini

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

In this article

Falcon 50/50EX

Duncan Aviation

More In Maintenance and Modifications

Thornton Aviation Expands Burbank Maintenance Services

Increasing demand drove move to add technicians and another hangar

Textron Expands Asia Pac MRO Support at Melbourne Base

Enlarged and modernized Australian maintenance facility is set to open in early 2026

TrustFlight Signs Heartland Aviation for MEL Manager

Software helps aircraft operators manage the minimum equipment list process

Liebherr Expands Middle East Component Service Options

A new service center is expected to open in Dubai next year

Satys Unveils New Aircraft Painting Facility in Dubai

New facility eliminates the need to fly aircraft to Europe for livery work

Brazil’s Lider Pivots at Congonhas, Expands at Sorocaba

Business aircraft services company has to move from its longtime hangar at the São Paulo airport

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Bluetail’s cloud-based solution streamlines operations and maintenance

Aviation Partners’ Winglet Installation Network Expands

Three MRO providers join the Aviation Partners network

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