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

Virgin America took delivery of the first Airbus A321neo—a CFM Leap-1A-powered variant—during a Thursday handover ceremony in Hamburg, Germany. Airbus announced joint FAA-EASA certification of the Leap-powered A321neo on March 1, two-and-a-half months after the Pratt &amp; Whitney PW1100G-powered version gained its approval. The first Pratt-powered version remains undelivered, however, as Airbus continues to grapple with its engines’ “maturity issues.”


Alaska Air Group subsidiary Virgin America currently operates a fleet of 63 Airbus A320 family aircraft consisting of A319s and A320s powered by CFM56-5B turbofans.


The airline, which agreed to lease 10 A321neos from GECAS in December 15, plans to put its first Neo into service on May 31 on a flight from San Francisco International Airport to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. Holding 185 passenger seats, Virgin America's A321neos will carry 24 percent more revenue capacity than its current A320s offer.&nbsp;

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.

Airbus Delivers First A321neo to Virgin America

Airline plans to place CFM Leap-powered narrowbody into service on May 31

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

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.

Business jets are often used by governments for diplomatic purposes.

Germany’s Fleet of VIP Bombardier Global 5000s and Airbus Jets Flies Its Leaders around the World

Charles Alcock

New developments and products in avionics, specifically about aircraft electronics in the cockpit.

News and information on safety procedures and concerns.

U.S. technology group will now provide inceptor controllers for pilots

Honeywell Expands Role with Vertical Aerospace’s VX4 eVTOL Aircraft 

Curt Epstein

News and issues relating to the aerospace industry that are related to the science, engineering and business of flight in space involving civil, industrial and military applications, and similar topics related to flight in the atmosphere of the Earth that are not covered more directly by other AINonline subject channels. In other words, both astronautical and aeronautical subjects, except for those aeronautical topics that are specifically covered elsewhere on this website.

Airframer had its highest revenues in nearly a decade

Embraer Sees Strong Q1 Revenues and Deliveries

Hanneke Weitering

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

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.

U.S. Air Force funds work on quiet, autonomous, hybrid-electric cargo aircraft

Whisper Reveals ‘Collaborative Logistics Aircraft’ Family

Kerry Lynch

In the shorter term, Global 8000 is nearing completion

Bombardier Eyes Uncrewed Future for EcoJet Technologies

Revenues reached $1.5 billion in the first quarter with 23 deliveries

Bombardier Sees Revenue Jump, More Tariff Certainty

Matt Thurber

The high-performance turboprop goes fast and is a pleasure to fly

Pilot Report: An Epic Epic E1000 GX

News and developments about everything that goes into the cabin of an aircraft, from floor coverings to headliners, with a special emphasis on in-flight entertainment, communications and other electronics for passengers. If it is in the cabin of an aircraft, it’s covered here.

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