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 yesterday said it will not to mandate the use of safety seats for young children on passenger aircraft despite longstanding calls by the National Transportation Safety Board to make the seats compulsory. The FAA decision means safety seats will remain optional for parents traveling with children, and they will still be allowed to travel on parents' laps. The agency said mandating the seats would not necessarily improve safety while imposing an additional cost. It will encourage the use of safety seats but leave the choice to parents.
Machinist union negotiators said Boeing's first complete contract proposal is far from acceptable, but Boeing stressed that its offer improves the existing contract, which is already industry-leading. Boeing presented the proposal to the International Association of Machinists on Wednesday, and the union was expected to issue a counter-proposal yesterday. With a Sept. 1 deadline looming, the two sides have entered a phase of intensive negotiations.
Heavy cargo specialist Volga-Dnepr has ordered five improved versions of the behemoth An-124-100 aircraft, an important boost to the efforts of Russia's Aviastar SP factory to relaunch the An-124 production line. The aircraft ordered by Volga-Dnepr are -124-100M-150 freighters, a -124 modification with extended cargo capacity and modernized on-board equipment. The planes will be able to carry single or multiple pieces of cargo weighing up to 150 tonnes. Deliveries will begin in 2008, joining 10 Am-124-10s in Volga-Dnepr's fleet.
