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

The second flying prototype of the Airbus A350 XWB took to the air for the first time Monday morning and landed at Toulouse-Blagnac Airport in France shortly after 2:30 p.m. local time. Airbus test pilots Frank Chapman and Thierry Bourges flew A350 XWB test aircraft MSN 3 for some five hours, while flight-test engineers monitored the progress of the flight profile.


The milestone flight comes a week after Airbus drew its first A350 order from Japan and its first-ever order from Japan Airlines. The $9.5 billion order covers 18 A350-900s and 13 A350-1000s and includes options on another 25 of the mostly composite widebodies.


The first A350 XWB to fly (MSN1) took off on June 14, and has now logged some 330 test hours during almost 70 flights. The test regime has included identification and freeze of all flap and slat configurations, loads and aeroelastic testing and evaluation of handling characteristics and systems operation throughout the operational envelope. Plans five A350 test aircraft to fly 2,500 hours before expected type certification.


Airbus now won firm orders for 725 A350s from 37 customers worldwide. It plans to deliver the first production example to Qatar Airways in the second half of next year.

News and developments about airplanes, helicopters and unmanned air vehicles used in all varieties of operations, including airlines, military, business, commercial, general aviation and private.

Second A350 XWB Completes First Flight

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Mark Huber

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.

2024 was marked by the certifications of the G700 and unveiling of the next generation of CJs

Aircraft in 2024: Bigger, Better, Bolder

Charles Alcock

Issues regarding financing of aircraft; aviation insurance; tax issues for aircraft operators; new companies and people in the aviation financing and insurance industries.

News about bills, laws, regulations and other governmental decisions affecting aviation and aerospace. Topics include FAA re-authorizations, taxes on fuel and aviation activities, environmental legislation, ICAO decisions, governmental mediation of labor conflicts and World Trade Organization disputes and decisions.

Key milestones set for 2024 and 2025 now appear to be in doubt

Finish Line Still Eludes Advanced Air Mobility Rush

Curt Epstein

OEMs finish out year with strong order books

Business Jet Market Stable Heading into 2025

Flight in Okayama prefecture is latest public demonstration of Chinese aircraft

AutoFlight Demonstrates Prosperity eVTOL Prototype in Japan

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

Hybrid-electric drone could support relief operations in Puerto Rico

UrbanLink Plans to Add Orca Cargo Drones to Diverse Fleet

Essential news and analysis on the defense aerospace business. Your trusted source for new and ongoing programs and requirements in military aircraft (manned and unmanned), engines, avionics, weapons and associated systems, including ground-based air defense.

Razor VTOL aircraft features turbine engines that provide thrust vector control by tilting on gimbals.

Mayman Pursues Multiple Military Missions for Razor Drone 

Hanneke Weitering

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.

News and information about crew, passenger, aircraft and airport security issues.

More In Aircraft

Aircraft in 2024: Bigger, Better, Bolder

2024 was marked by the certifications of the G700 and unveiling of the next generation of CJs

Finish Line Still Eludes Advanced Air Mobility Rush

Key milestones set for 2024 and 2025 now appear to be in doubt

Business Jet Market Stable Heading into 2025

OEMs finish out year with strong order books

AutoFlight Demonstrates Prosperity eVTOL Prototype in Japan

Flight in Okayama prefecture is latest public demonstration of Chinese aircraft

UrbanLink Plans to Add Orca Cargo Drones to Diverse Fleet

Hybrid-electric drone could support relief operations in Puerto Rico

Mayman Pursues Multiple Military Missions for Razor Drone

Razor VTOL aircraft features turbine engines that provide thrust vector control by tilting on gimbals.

Sierra Nevada’s Rapcon-X ISR Jet Makes First Flight

Rapcon-X is a heavily modified Bombardier Global 6500 business jet

Electra's Hybrid-Electric STOL Demonstrator Flies in Pentagon Exercise

Ultra short landing and takeoff performance could support military applications

AIN Products

SUBSCRIPTIONS

RESOURCES

ABOUT AIN