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.
FAA's latest aviation forecast predicts sluggish growth in capacity and passenger numbers this year -- down significantly from previous growth forecasts for fiscal 2006 -- but the agency said this is a one-year anomaly that will have little effect on larger, long-term increases.
Speculation is growing about a second potential player in a hostile takeover of U.K. airport operator BAA, even after British aviation regulators warned that any potential purchaser will have to honor BAA's substantial infrastructure investment commitments.
The Cape Town Convention -- which becomes effective tomorrow -- will have a positive effect on aircraft-backed debt and leases in the long term but won't change ratings in the short term, Standard & Poor's said. So far, the U.S. and eight smaller nations have ratified the Cape Town Convention, which creates an international electronic registry of interests and lien-holders on aircraft, and provides remedies for lessors or creditors in the event of default or insolvency.
