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.
British Airways last week agreed to limit its proposed increase in employee retirement age to win union approval. As part of its pension change proposal, the airline wanted to raise the age to 65 for most workers, but the revised plan includes an option of retiring at 60 in return for increased contribution rates. While unions recognized BA's attempts to make its proposal more palatable, they said a wide gap still remains between the union and airline positions. -AS
The Airbus A380 recently conducted successful landings in crosswinds far above required certification levels, as part of the aircraft's continuing flight test campaign. The crosswind landings were at Iceland's Keflavik Airport. The MSN004 development aircraft completed six landings and five takeoffs with crosswinds above 40 knots, gusting up to 56 knots. The type certification requirement is for landings and takeoffs in crosswinds of at least 23 knots.
The fate of Heathrow Airport could be determined before year-end, if dire warnings by British Airways CEO Willie Walsh are proven correct. The British Transport Dept. is due to provide a progress report on the government's 2003 Aviation White Paper by the end of December. In the run-up to publication, Walsh is cautioning that the government must revise its position on the development of a third runway at Heathrow or inflict serious, if not irreparable, damage on the airport's economic health.
