Adrian is Auckland bureau chief for Aviation Week, based in New Zealand. He covers commercial aviation in the Asia-Pacific region.
Adrian was previously based in Aviation Week’s Washington office for nine years, writing for a range of the group’s publications and covering many aspects of the commercial aviation industry. He has won Australasian and international awards for his aviation writing.
Prior to joining Aviation Week in 2002, Adrian covered aviation industry and policy issues for two other publishing companies in Washington. He has also worked for newspapers in Texas and New Zealand, covering a wide range of topics. Adrian graduated from Auckland University with a degree in history and English in 1992.
According to the U.S. government’s main audit agency, the FAA has to do a much better job of managing the big modernization programs that are essential to the success of NextGen. A new report by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) finds that although the FAA is improving in this area, there are still many cases where the FAA is not following cost estimate and scheduling best practices.
Financially troubled, low-cost startup carrier Air Australia has suspended all services and filed for voluntary administration. The carrier’s director put Air Australia into voluntary administration on Feb. 17, a process under Australian insolvency laws that appoints outside counsel to take over a company and determine if it can be rescued. John Park and Mark Korda of Kordamentha have been named administrators.
Qantas has made significant changes to its plans for an Asian-based premium carrier, and is now negotiating with Malaysia Airlines (MAS) for a joint-venture based on some of the Airbus A330 aircraft that MAS has on order. The Australian carrier had previously said it wanted to set up the premium carrier in either Malaysia or Singapore, using eight of the 110 A320s that it had ordered. But Qantas CEO Alan Joyce says the airline is now pursuing a “capital-light” plan for the startup, as it looks to cut capital expenditure.
