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 Bombardier CSeries CS100 has started a month-long route-proving campaign in Europe, Bombardier Commercial Aircraft announced Monday. The program uses a dedicated CS100 route-proving aircraft operated by Bombardier from the Zurich based of launch operator Swiss International Air Lines. Plans call for the route-proving exercises to include main European cities such a Brussels, Vienna and Warsaw. Bombardier plans to deliver the first production CS100 to Swiss in the second quarter.

 


“As the launch customer and the first airline that will operate the CS100 aircraft, the European route- proving program is very important to us and will provide a real indication of how the aircraft will operate in our network when we take delivery of our first CS100 aircraft in the next few months,” said Swiss International Airlines chief technical officer Peter Wojahn.

 


The CS100 will conduct route-proving flights using typical airline flight routings and operational procedures, said Bombardier, giving a clear indication of how the C Series aircraft will perform in a typical airline schedule to and from different airports. Airfield performance, landings, airport turnarounds and on-ground operations represent some of what Bombardier calls important characteristics it plans to observe.

 


The European route-proving program follows one conducted last year across North America that included more than 35 cities.

 


Separately, Bombardier confirmed that the last of eight flight test vehicles--the second CS300 aircraft--entered the flight test program in Mirabel, Québec last week.

 


“March is turning out to be a very productive month for the C Series aircraft program,” said CSeries program head Rob Dewar. “In addition to the next phase of route-proving, last week we celebrated the first flight of the eighth and final flight test vehicle. It's only the second CS300 flight test vehicle in the program and one that is equipped with a full production interior. We’re delighted that its test program, which is dedicated to cabin and interior certification, is off to a great start and progressing extremely well.”

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.

Bombardier Launches C Series Route-proving in Europe

Flights conducted using typical operational procedures of launch customer Swiss International Airlines

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Charles Alcock

News and developments about aircraft engines, including turbofan, turboprop, turboshaft and piston.

Australian start-up is developing a hydrogen-powered aircraft

AMSL Starts Untethered Flight Tests with Vertiia eVTOL Aircraft

Hanneke Weitering

Chinese manufacturing wants to extend range with solid-state batteries

Deliveries Increase as EHang Works to Boost eVTOL Aircraft Performance

Jessica Reed

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.

Jo Damato and Andrew Broom assume additional responsibilities

NBAA Expands Roles for Two Senior Executives

Matt Thurber

Similarities between the piston- and jet-powered Cirruses make transition training easier

Transport Canada Certifies Cirrus SR G7 and Vision G2+

Kerry Lynch

Aircraft will be able to take off in 150 feet of runway

Electra Launches Hybrid-electric EL9 STOL Aircraft

First production-representative Alia CX300 takes flight

Beta Flies First Electric Airplane Produced in Vermont Factory

G700 next headed to the Bahrain International Airshow for display alongside the G500

Gulfstream’s G700 Surpasses 65 City-pair Records

Honda's secretive eVTOL program picks up steam

FAA Greenlights Honda eVTOL Flight Tests

More In Aircraft