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.
American last week flew its first Boeing 737-800 retrofitted with blended winglets and also began installing winglets on its 757-200 fleet. The winglets were fitted on the 737 by American at its Tulsa maintenance facility, and were supplied by Seattle-based joint venture Aviation Partners Boeing. There are now 800 sets of winglets developed by Aviation Partners Boeing in service globally. Since their certification in 2001, more than 1,500 sets have been ordered.
While the controller-pilot data link (CPDLC) initiative remains stalled in the U.S., Eurocontrol is moving even farther ahead as it prepares for the next phase of its CPDLC program in cooperation with avionics manufacturers.
Mexican startup Interjet yesterday confirmed orders for 10 Airbus A320s and 10 options, although the first will arrive long after the carrier is scheduled to begin operations next month. Interjet first announced its plans for the order at the Paris Air Show in June (DAILY, June 17). The aircraft deliveries are expected to begin in the second quarter of 2007. The planes will be configured for 150 passengers in a single-class cabin, and no engine decision has yet been made.
