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.
American Airlines' strategy of keeping a tight lid on spending and fleet growth is paying off with a strong profit rebound, but maintaining this momentum will depend on how the carrier handles a new set of cost challenges.
Senate aviation subcommittee leaders yesterday signaled they will not back down from their proposal to include a $25 user fee in the FAA reauthorization bill, and threatened general aviation groups with more onerous restrictions if they continue to fight the user fee. Aviation subcommittee Chairman John Rockefeller (D-W.V.) warned if the user fee is stripped from the bill, he will "address the equity issue" by limiting GA access to congested airspace. "There are ways to do that, and we will find those ways," Rockefeller said.
FAA is creating a new senior executive position to oversee its main long-range planning effort -- known as the Operational Evolution Partnership -- following the release of an expanded version of the OEP. "With the expansion of the OEP, and the challenges that will present, we recognize the need to strengthen the OEP," FAA Administrator Marion Blakey said yesterday. She believes "strong leadership" will be important, and FAA has begun a search to fill the new position. The selected individual will report directly to the agency's chief operating officer.
