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.
Airbus head Gustav Humbert says the manufacturer is considering airline calls for changes to the A350 design, but he warned that Airbus will not make a knee-jerk reaction.
The Air Transport Association yesterday repeated calls for air traffic management improvements to help reduce the industry's fuel bill. ATA noted that crude oil prices are expected to average nearly $70 per barrel this summer, and this will "hamper the industry's widespread efforts to reverse the losses that have plagued the airlines in recent years." Benchmark crude oil averaged $63.27 in the first quarter -- a 27% increase from last year -- and the average price of jet fuel rose about 40 cents per gallon to $1.85, said ATA.
The U.S. State Department has imposed a $15 million fine on Boeing to settle a violation of arms exporting restrictions that occurred more than three years ago. The violation stems from a chip that Boeing included in exported commercial aircraft between 2001 and 2003. The QRS-11 chip is part of the cockpit standby instrument system (CSIS), and it was on a restricted munitions list that required a State Department license for export. The chip has since been taken off that list, and Boeing still uses it in CSIS equipment on exported aircraft.
