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.
FAA has debuted the first multilateration surveillance system to be certified for en-route and approach aircraft separation in the U.S. national airspace system. The multilateration system, provided by Sensis, is operated from the Denver en-route control center, and covers four airports serving popular Colorado skiing destinations. Currently, this area has gaps in radar coverage, but the multilateration system will allow radar-like separation. FAA this week declared initial operating capability for the Sensis system.
House lawmakers yesterday voted to extend FAA’s funding authority through the end of the year, with the Senate expected to follow either later this week or early next week. The House extension was passed on a voice vote. As well as extending FAA’s program authority and aviation taxes for three months, it provides funding for the agency consistent with the fiscal 2010 appropriations bills. The House extension will now be sent to the Senate, which is likely to approve it through the unanimous consent process.
FAA controllers yesterday voted to ratify a new three-year contract, signaling the end of a years-long dispute between the National Air Traffic Controllers Association and FAA. The tentative contract agreement was approved by 97% of controllers that voted. Some of the most controversial contract terms — including pay — were decided by binding arbitration, and were not subject to ratification vote. The new contract will take effect Oct. 1.
