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

Phoenix-based Mesa Air Group has rejoined the Regional Airline Association (RAA) after a 12-year absence. Mesa’s admission increases the RAA’s airline membership rolls to 27 carriers operating half of all U.S. commercial flights. 
The RAA last counted Mesa as a member in 2001, when the airline’s outspoken CEO, Jonathan Ornstein, announced plans to start a new lobbying organization called Regional Aviation Partners at that year’s RAA Convention. Calling the RAA’s former team of leaders “total political animals, more concerned with Washington cocktail parties than making a real difference,” Ornstein at the time criticized the RAA for its lack of effectiveness in winning support for air service to small communities and for what he perceived as the association’s apathy toward the plight of small, independently owned member airlines.
Ornstein’s concerns stemmed directly from the losses generated by Mesa’s 19-seat Beech 1900Ds, none of which it still operates. Its current fleet consists of five Bombardier CRJ200s, 20 CRJ700s and 40 CRJ900s. 
“Mesa joining the RAA demonstrates the powerful voice our association offers our members and our industry,” said current RAA chairman and American Eagle CEO Dan Garton. “Our strong membership base and our Washington, D.C.-based staff help protect and communicate regional airline interests to government agencies and key stakeholders on a daily basis.”

Mesa Back in RAA

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