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

ATR on Wednesday conducted the first flight of the partially configured short takeoff and landing (STOL) variant of its ATR 42-600 turboprop, the company said in a&nbsp;statement. The flight took off at 10 am from Francazal Airport in Cugnaux, France, and lasted 2 hours and 15 minutes.

 


The crew onboard performed what the company called a number of tests to measure the upgraded aircraft systems' performance.

 


After completing the first flight, engineers will test new functionalities one at a time, starting with the MFC-NG (Multifunctional Computer New Generation), followed by the autobrake, ground spoiler, and increased takeoff rating systems, said ATR.

 


The company added that the aircraft will enter its final configuration at the end of the year with the addition of a new larger rudder and move on to its certification phase in 2023.

 


Launched during the 2019 Paris Air Show as the ATR 42-600S, the variant will offer takeoff and landing capabilities on runways as short as 800 meters (2,624 feet)—compared with 1,050 meters (3,445 feet) for a conventional version—with 40 passengers on board in standard flight conditions. Close to 500 airports have runways that extend between 800- and 1,000 meters and could welcome the ATR 42-600S; nearly a third of those runways reside in the Asia-Pacific region. With the Covid crisis disrupting the initial program schedule by a few months, ATR expects deliveries to start in early 2025. The manufacturer has won commitments for 20 ATR 42-600Ss, including ten from Dublin-based turboprop lessor Elix Aviation Capital.

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.

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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.

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

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

Beta Flies First Electric Airplane Produced in Vermont Factory

First production-representative Alia CX300 takes flight

Gulfstream’s G700 Surpasses 65 City-pair Records

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

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Honda's secretive eVTOL program picks up steam

Broker: Preowned Cessna Citation Market Remains Mixed

Some models are seeing high demand, others not so much

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