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.
Nav Canada last week unveiled a proposal that would essentially make permanent a temporary 2% rate increase it imposed in 2003. The company is beginning consultation on its plan, which would eliminate the temporary rate hike but replace it with a base rate increase of the same size. Nav Canada stressed there would be no overall changes to the current rate levels that have been in place since September 2004. The Nav Canada board will make a final decision in 60 days.
Boeing says it is considering adding a convertible passenger/ cargo version of its 737 to its business jet (BBJ) lineup. The new BBJ would be based on the convertible 737-700C, which incorporates the 737-700 fuselage and the strengthened landing gear and wings of the -800. The aircraft would provide multi-purpose capability for business jet customers, such as governments, heads of state and entrepreneurs.
As Boeing works to lock in the final configuration for its new 747-8 aircraft this year, the airframer is also preparing to wind down production on its long-serving 747-400. Boeing now has fewer than five open production slots left for the remainder of the -400 program, said 747 program head Jeff Peace. Some -400s will still be built while -8s are being produced for flight testing, but the first delivery of the -8 will mark the cutoff for the -400s, Peace said. The current backlog for -400s is 42 aircraft -- all freighters.
