Gregory Polek
Senior Editor

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 New Jersey Monthly 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 Aviation International News 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.

Gregory Polek

Latest from Gregory Polek

Maintenance and Modifications

Embraer Extends Duncan Aviation’s Service Center Authorization

Five-year contract extension covers Phenoms, Legacies, and Praetors
Duncan Aviation Provo facility
Aircraft

Pilatus To Take Over Ruag Workforce, Equipment in Emmen

Swiss aircraft manufacturer plans to start the takeover process in the second quarter
Ruag Aerostructures in Emmen, Switzerland
Avionics

Trimec Wins STC for Universal InSight in Falcon 2000/2000EXs

InSight system replaces Rockwell Collins’ Pro Line 4
Universal InSight system in Falcon 2000
Maintenance and Modifications

Tyonek Services Group Buys Alabama Maintenance Hangar

Native American-owned company has leased the hangar since 2018
Tyonek Services Group's 68,000-sq-ft hangar in Huntsville, Alabama
Maintenance and Modifications

ExecuJet Australia Readies Mx Techs for Dassault Falcon 6X

Maintenance professionals complete training in France
Regulations and Government

FAA To Audit Boeing Max 9 Production

Agency to reevaluate Boeing’s delegated authority and quality oversight
Boeing 737 Max 9 missing door plug
Maintenance and Modifications

Covington Aircraft Engines Opens UK Service Center

UK CAA awards Covington Part 145 certification
Covington Aircraft Engines technician working on turbine blades
Training and Workforce

Enstrom Sets Dates for 2024 Maintenance Classes

Piston-powered helicopter classes start on June 2
Enstrom facilities in Menominee, Michigan
Maintenance and Modifications

VIP Completions Reports Strong Start to New Year

Heading into 2024, the company’s hangars remain full
Gulfstream G550 at VIP Completions in Fort Lauderdale
Maintenance and Modifications

King Aerospace Plots Business Roadmap for 2024

Company poised to apply its ‘King Kulture’ to serving customers
King Aerospace techs work on a Boeing BBJ
Accidents

Fiery Crash at Tokyo Haneda Kills Five, Highlights String of Runway Incursions

All passengers and crew of the destroyed JAL Airbus A350-900 survived
First Japan Airlines A350-900 Takes Off
Charter & Fractional

Volato Expands HondaJet Fleet by 50 Percent to 24 Aircraft in 2023

Another 22 HondaJet Elite IIs are due for delivery in 2024 and beyond
Volato expects to take another 22 HondaJet Elite IIs by early 2026.
Maintenance and Modifications

Sherpa Air Preps for Entry into Bizav Maintenance

Construction of a 30,000-sq-ft hangar completed in November
Sherpa Air hangar Georgetown, South Carolina
Maintenance and Modifications

Falcon Jet Commits to Arkansas Expansion

Company cites strong state support and supply of workers as factors in its decision to expand
Dassault Falcon Jet's facility in Little Rock, Ark.
Engines

Pratt & Whitney Marks PT6’s Diamond Anniversary

The versatile turboprop has amassed more than 500 million flight hours
Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6 turboprop
Fuel

IATA Identifies Measures To Increase SAF Production

Current production levels account for 3 percent of overall renewable fuel output
IATA director general Willie Walsh
Maintenance and Modifications

Jets MRO To Launch Operations at Dallas Executive

Company will occupy a 40,000-sq-ft facility under development by Jet Access
Jet Access private aviation complex at Dallas Executive Airport
Maintenance and Modifications

Boost Systems Cargo Baskets Win Transport Canada STC

FAA certification is pending
AS350 with Boost cargo baskets
Safety

South Korea Accepts Country’s First Embraer Praetor 600

Specially equipped aircraft will perform navaid inspections and other duties
Korean Flight Inspection Service Center Embraer Praetor 600
Maintenance and Modifications

Solution to MRO Capacity Shortage a Multi-pronged Endeavor

Labor and parts shortages remain key drivers
Elevate MRO mechanic working on landing gear
Maintenance and Modifications

MRO Profile: Omni Aircraft Maintenance Poised for Major Expansion

Operation to see MRO capacity double by year-end
Omni Aircraft Maintenance mechanics working on landing gear
Maintenance and Modifications

Piaggio Delivers First Retrofitted Avanti II+

Upgraded Avanti now carries new configuration of Avanti II+
Piaggio P.180 MSN 1053 sits parked at the company's center of excellence in Villanova d’Albenga ahead of delivery to its Genoa customer support center.
Maintenance and Modifications

Blackhawk Wins Garmin GI 275 STC for 500-series Citations

Install provides for a lower-cost, more reliable electronic standby instrument system
Cessna Citation with Garmin GI 275 ESIS
Environment

Dassault a ‘Major Patron’ in Tree-planting Campaign

The project calls for the planting of a million trees in the Paris Region
Maubuisson campaign participants
Maintenance and Modifications

Airwolf Developing Helo STCs for True Blue Batteries

STCs apply to Citations, Phenoms, Caravans, and PC-12s
Maintenance and Modifications

West Star Aviation Acquires Jet East from Gama Aviation

The maintenance, repair and overhaul companies value the deal at some $100 million
A Jet East mechanic works on avionics
Maintenance and Modifications

Dassault Aviation To Open Falcon MRO at New São Paulo Airport

Catarina facility to be large enough to house a Falcon 10X
Dassault mechanic works on a PW307 turbofan
Environment

Latest Boeing EcoDemonstrator Studies Tackle SAF’s Contrail Effects

Researchers are encouraged by early findings on a Boeing 737 Max 10 airliner
Boeing 737 Max 10 Ecodemonstrator followed by a NASA DC-8 Airborne Science Lab
Cabin Interior and Electronics

Comlux Completion Working on Third ACJ TwoTwenty

Fourth aircraft due to arrive ‘in the near future’
Third ACJ Two Twenty arrives at Comlux Indianapolis
Maintenance and Modifications

MRO Profile: Clay Lacy Aviation

Six years in, Clay Lacy's MRO business takes off.
A Clay Lacy mechanic works on a Dassault Falcon