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 U.K. Office of Fair Trading recommends a wider government investigation into the airport market after determining that the domination of U.K. airports by BAA is not good for the public. OFT launched a market study in June and has now proposed that a full inquiry by the U.K. Competition Commission should be undertaken. This finding is only provisional, and OFT will accept comments through Feb. 8 before making a final decision.
British Airways this week faces what could be the most important pension talks yet with its unions, with at least one union hinting it will consider a strike if no progress is made. The airline is scheduled to meet with its major unions Thursday, after similar talks last month failed to yield an agreement on pension plan changes proposed by BA. There is still a large gap between the union and airline positions, the unions say.
Qantas recently operated the first commercial flight at Sydney airport using a new satellite-navigation approach system, Airservices Australia said. The flight used the Ground-Based Augmentation System (GBAS) which is part of an operational trial at Sydney. Nine of Qantas' Boeing 737-800s are equipped to participate in the trial. As well as Airservices and the airport, the GBAS trial involves Honeywell and Boeing. Airservices believes GBAS will be an attractive alternative to instrument landing systems (ILS). -AS
