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 this week said it will withdraw a proposed rule on service difficulty reporting (SDR) that has been floating in regulatory limbo for five years due to strong industry opposition. The rule, first introduced in 2001, would have meant major changes to airline and repair station requirements under the SDR program. FAA received so many complaints about the rule that it delayed implementing it four times. The SDR program covers the reporting of malfunctions and defects in aircraft, engines and parts.
A coalition of Chicago churches is adding its voice to the local campaign against the O'Hare Modernization Project because the new plan calls for the destruction of St. Johannes cemetery. The Illinois Conference of Churches, comprising 31 churches from 15 denominations, wrote to House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) to urge him to "intervene and use your influence with FAA" to convince the agency to change the proposal. FAA is due to issue its record of decision on the O'Hare plan soon.
Southwest yesterday said it will resume a few flights to New Orleans airport early next week, joining other passenger and cargo airlines that are beginning a gradual return to the airport.
