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

Boeing confirmed today that Air France-KLM Group has placed a firm order for twenty-five 787-9 Dreamliners, along with options. The sides signed the contract in late December 2011 and Boeing’s Orders &amp; Deliveries website listed it as an order from an unidentified customer. 
 
	Air France-KLM’s announcement of a preliminary agreement on Sept. 16, 2011, indicated plans to place a joint firm order for 50 Airbus A350XWBs and 787s, as well as options on 60 more airplanes. The company plans to place the first 787-9 into service with KLM in 2016 and the first Airbus A350-900 with Air France in 2018. Later, it said, both airlines will operate both types of aircraft. Fleet plans call for the operation of 43 A350s and thirty 787s through 2024. 
 
	The order increases the number of 787-9s on order to 305 airplanes. Boeing has taken orders&nbsp;from 59 customers&nbsp;for a total of&nbsp;860&nbsp;Dreamliners, in 787-8 and stretched 787-9 versions.


Eight French companies partner with Boeing on the 787 Dreamliner, including Dassault Systemes (computer software), Labinal (wiring), Latecoere (passenger doors), Messier-Bugatti-Dowty (all landing gear and electric brakes), Michelin (aftermarket tires), Radiall (connectors), Thales (electric power conversion system, flight display and in-flight entertainment system) and Zodiac Aerospace (primary power management system, emergency slides, water and waste systems, cabin interiors, galley inserts and seats).


The 787-9’s design calls for a passenger-carrying capacity of 250 to 290 passengers and a range of 8,000 to 8,500 nm. Boeing plans to deliver the first 787-9 to Air New Zealand in 2014.&nbsp;



 
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