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.
Aggressive airline investor Texas Pacific Group has given its firmest signal yet that it may launch a public offer to take over Spanish carrier Iberia. Iberia said it was asked by TPG for access to fiscal and legal information, "with a view to the possible formulation of a public offer" to buy the airline's shares. The price floated by TPG was EUR3.60 (US$4.80) per share. However, this is still below the current market price of Iberia stock. TPG is also part of a consortium that is attempting to take over Qantas.
American last week said it will save $15 million in annual interest payments after paying off a $285 million revolving credit facility and $79 million in aircraft debt for its Eagle subsidiary.
Moog Inc. last week announced it has been awarded the lateral control electronics (LCE) contract for Boeing's 747-8 program. Aurora, N.Y.-based Moog has been a supplier of flight control actuators to Boeing for nearly 30 years. Although the company has provided electronics to other manufacturers as part of actuation systems, this will be the first time it has supplied flight control electronics for a Boeing commercial program. The LCE controls the fly-by-wire aileron and spoiler actuators. -AS
