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

Gulf Air thrust itself into the spotlight at the Bahrain International Airshow on Thursday with an order for 17 Airbus A321neos and 12 A320neos. Long-term loss-maker Gulf Air expects to post its first profits in more than a decade when it announces its 2015 results in the spring. It said it expects the 29 new neos to “fit seamlessly” into its current fleet of 22 A320s and six A330-200s. &nbsp;

 


Appearing at the show with Airbus CEO Fabrice Bregier and Bahraini government officals, Gulf Air CEO Maher Salman Al Musallam alluded to plans to simplify the airline’s fleet structure with the order, which confirms and adds to a deal in 2012 calling for delivery of 10 A320neos.

 


“This restructured order meets Gulf Air’s future fleet requirement and our network expansion plans,” he said. “As a result, I now look forward to furthering Gulf Air’s fleet modernization process while supporting our network and overall passenger experience enhancement strategies.”

 


Gulf Air’s restructuring exercise began in 2012, when it effectively replaced an order for 20 A330s with a commitment for eight A320ceos and up to 16 A320neos and curbed aspirations to compete directly with Emirates Airline, Qatar Airways and Etihad Airways on long-haul services. Rather, it implemented a new plan to provide more service within the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states with narrowbodies, including 10 Bombardier C Series jets over which it remains in negotiations.

 


Gulf Air’s long-haul plans now center on Boeing Dreamliners. Just before announcing the Airbus order, it said it converted delivery positions on sixteen 787-8s to larger 787-9s.

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 civil and military unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS) of all kinds and sizes, including those used for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), combat (unmanned combat air vehicles, or UCAVs), law enforcement, research and other applications. Of particular focus is the FAA's planned integration of UAS into the U.S. national airspace system.

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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.

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

News and issues relating to international air transport and cargo carriers, national airlines and regional airlines, including aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

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