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

Scheduled Part 135 charter operator JSX has become the target of an alliance of pilot and transport worker unions bent on stopping regional airline SkyWest from establishing its own Part 135 operation. In a letter to Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, the AFL-CIO’s Transportation Trades Department (TTD) charged SkyWest with attempting to skirt Part 121 pilot flight time and retirement age requirements as part of a plan that it says mirrors JSX’s business model. TTD calls that business model “an end run” around the FAA’s effort to hold scheduled Part 135 carriers to “one level of safety.”
The FAA’s alternative Essential Air Service (EAS) program allows charter flights where the agency deems regularly scheduled service under the long-established EAS&nbsp;program infeasible. “It is quite another proposition, however, to run a massive number of regularly scheduled operations in the same markets already well served by airlines, using lower safety and security standards as a competitive advantage,” read the letter. According to TTD, JSX operated 56,326 flights last year.
JSX flights depart from FBO facilities and use the TSA’s Secure Flight pre-screening program, which allows passengers to bypass “invasive” security screening at airport terminals. “JSX’s evasion of these standards has inspired others to attempt a similar model, degrading the safety and security of air travel while also distorting competition, increasing aviation emissions, and worsening airspace congestion,” said&nbsp;TTD.

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

Union Coalition Blasts JSX as Model for SkyWest Charters

The AFL-CIO’s Transportation Trades Department calls on the the U.S. DOT to review efforts to skirt Part 121 standards by Part 135 operators. 

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News and issues concerning general aviation, specifically airplanes and helicopters powered by piston and alternative engines (i.e., non-turbine powered aircraft). Subjects include aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

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News about simulators and training procedures, as well as workforce.

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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News about environmental issues relating to aircraft operations, including noise issues, emissisions, and regulations. See Fuel for biofuel.

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

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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.

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.

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