In addition to writing for Aviation Week Network, Maxim holds a key position at Russia's Air Transport Observer magazine (www.ato.ru). In the past he was in charge of several ATO sister aerospace publications and earlier worked for the Moscow-based CAST defense think-tank.
Maxim has a degree on international relations from MGIMO University, Moscow, Russia, and for several years worked at the Russian Foreign Ministry.
Russia’s only widebody airliner – the Ilyushin Il-96 – is set to assume a new role after the January signing of a contract between the Russian defense ministry and United Aircraft Corp. (UAC) for two refueling tanker versions of the type.