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.
Air Canada yesterday confirmed that it has dusted off its order for up to 100 Boeing 777 and 787 aircraft that it was forced to abandon when it couldn't reach a deal with its pilots union. The new agreement includes the same numbers as the earlier deal, which was announced in April (DAILY, April 26). Air Canada placed 18 firm orders for 777s, along with purchase rights for 18 more. The airline ordered 14 787s, with options and purchase rights for 46 more. The 777s will be a mix of 777-300ERs, -200LRs and freighters.
Airbus yesterday announced three new orders for its Corporate Jetliner (ACJ) from an undisclosed Chinese customer, which bumps its order total for this aircraft past 50. Deliveries of the new order will begin next year, with the aircraft to be powered by CFM56-5B7/P engines. Two of the aircraft will be fitted out by Associated Air Center in Dallas. The ACJ is a business jet version of the A319 that had its first delivery in 1999. Additional fuel tanks give it intercontinental range.
Boeing yesterday was expecting to set a new distance record on an eastbound flight from Hong Kong to London in a 777-200LR. The 23-hour flight will cover more than 11,000 nautical miles. It will break the existing record for its size and weight category, which was a 9,200 nautical mile flight from London to Sydney on a 747-400 in 1989. The latest flight will also beat the 10,823nm flight of a 777-200ER from Seattle to Kuala Lumpur in 1997, although this record will still stand because the -200ER was in a lighter-weight class than the -200LR.
