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

Fort Lauderdale, Florida-based VIP Completions today provided an update on its operations along with an outlook for 2024 activities that include a Boeing BBJ refurbishment.&nbsp;Now operating with full hangars, the company also expects to convert a Gulfstream G550 from a business aircraft to a Medevac air ambulance and perform a full interior refurbishment of a Dassault Falcon 7X.
“These are all big projects,” said VIP Completions president Ben Shirazi. “Working on corporate airliners and long-range business jets gives our team the opportunity to transform and revitalize aircraft. Comprehensive refurbishments dramatically improve the in-flight experience while increasing the value of our clients’ assets.”
While industry consensus appears to indicate a 2 percent growth rate this year, resulting in the delivery of 775 new-production business aircraft, a return to pre-pandemic “reality” and a largely recovered supply chain seem to point to a period of stability, according to VIP Completions. &nbsp;
“Looking specifically at preowned business aircraft, we anticipate a slight softening in pricing this year,” said Shirazi. “However, that can be beneficial for refurbishments and conversions because buyers will take a closer look at value. In turn, owners may decide that upgrading their current aircraft is more attractive than putting it on the market. For these reasons, we believe that refurbishments and conversions will remain quite strong…we are feeling optimistic.”

News and issues about aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), covering all segments of the aviation industry; and modifications for aircraft and engines. Subjects include product support of aircraft, engines and avionics, MRO company mergers, acquisitions, announcements and personnel, Airworthiness Directives, Supplemental Type Certificate approvals and other topics.

VIP Completions Reports Strong Start to New Year

Heading into 2024, the company’s hangars remain full

VIP Completions' activities in 2024 will include a major refurbishment of a Boeing BBJ and a conversion of a Gulfstream G550 to a medevac configuration.

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

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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.

The company specializes in servicing the Pilatus PC-12

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Chad Trautvetter

Project includes a new 45,000-sq-ft hangar and 30,000-sq-ft hangar extension

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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.

Multi-mission aircraft is available for civil and defense clients on a per-flight-hour cost basis

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