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.
Air New Zealand has bought a 14.9% shareholding in Australia’s Virgin Blue worth A$145 million ($143.2 million), but the New Zealand carrier stresses it will not increase its stake further. Air NZ says it funded the purchase from available cash. The airline obtained the necessary approval from the Australian Foreign Investment Review Board for a share of up to 14.99%. The total foreign shareholding in Virgin Blue cannot be more than 49%, and U.K.-based Virgin Group already holds 26%.
Incidents of laser devices being aimed at commercial aircraft increased dramatically in 2010, particularly in the Los Angeles area, according to new data from the FAA. The agency says reports of lasers being pointed at aircraft rose to 2,800 in 2010, which almost doubled the reports from the previous year and is the highest total since the FAA began tracking these incidents in 2005.
The Republican who defeated former House transportation head James Oberstar has been named to the No. 2 position on the majority side of the aviation subcommittee, one of several new faces on the transportation and aviation panels. Rep. Chip Cravaack (R-Minn.) will be vice chair of the aviation subcommittee. Cravaack, a former Northwest Airlines pilot and Air Line Pilots Association official, unseated Oberstar in one of the biggest surprises of the November elections.
