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 new regional Sukhoi Superjet 100 aircraft may lose its first customer—Armavia—if the parties cannot agree on the terms for delivery of two aircraft ordered in 2010. The dispute started in July when the Armenian airline threatened to cancel the delivery of the second SSJ100, due to failure to reach agreement on leasing terms worked out by Russian Vneshekonombank.