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

American Eagle will furlough 50 pilots effective April 5 in connection with bankrupt parent company American Airlines’ decision to remove another nine ATR 72s from its regional subsidiary’s fleet, this time from its Miami base, according to an internal “Eaglewire” American Eagle president Dan Garton sent to employees yesterday.


In an earlier memo, issued February 24, Garton advised employees that the airline would begin returning the airplanes to their lessor in May and dispose of the last in November. Garton noted, however, that he expects American to replace the ATRs with smaller regional jets.


The transition relates to the <a href="http://www.ainonline.com/?q=aviation-news/2011-11-29/amr-declares-bankruptcy">bankruptcy of AMR and its American Airlines and American Eagle subsidiaries</a>, both of which seek to either cancel or renegotiate leases on some of their least profitable equipment.


“American is currently working through options to backfill this flying and we should have more detailed information about their plans in the coming weeks,” wrote Garton. “We do not anticipate that American will make additional market cancellations, as this ATR flying is expected to be backfilled with regional jets. However, the schedule is still being finalized. The ATR flying in [San Juan, P.R.] will continue until further notice, as we await American’s additional fleet and network decisions.


Executive Airlines also operates nine ATR 72s out of San Juan.


“Regrettably, this will again impact employees at Executive Airlines who are based in Miami and at Executive's headquarters in SJU,” added Garton. “We will post a displacement bid in the coming weeks for the employees who will be directly affected by these changes, and will work with them to ensure that they understand all of their options.”


In January <a href="http://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/aviation-international-news/2012-02-02/eagle-atrs-replaced-jets-dallas">American Eagle announced plans to replace all of its ATR 72 turboprops operating from Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport with Embraer ERJ 135s, 140s and 145s</a>. As a result, 14 markets throughout Arkansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Oklahoma and Texas gained all-jet service beginning January 31.



 
	 
 
	&nbsp;

AA To Shed More ATRs, Pilots from Eagle

American Eagle to furlough 50 pilots, cull ATR fleet.

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

AIN Products

SUBSCRIPTIONS

RESOURCES

ABOUT AIN