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.
The International Lease Finance Corp. (ILFC) has signed a deal with Rockwell Collins to offer a Rockwell digital IFE system on ILFC’s 737 fleet. The Digital Programmable Audio Video Entertainment System (dPAVES) will be available as an option in addition to the PAVES analog system, which is already offered. The dPAVES system for ILFC will feature a broadcast digital server, replacing the video reproducer unit, the audio reproducer unit and the prerecorded announcement machine. It also hosts the Airshow 4200 moving map.
While airlines are more pessimistic than ever about profitability prospects, they do predict that they will have a greater ability to pass rising fuel costs on to passengers, according to the International Air Transport Association.
Leading aviation figures speaking on a panel at the Farnborough Air Show last week highlighted the progress they are making to reduce emissions, as well as their frustration at government efforts on this front. Boeing Commercial Airplanes head Scott Carson captured the general mood when he noted that “we can tax this industry into oblivion and damage the global economy — and accomplish nothing” to help the environment.
