Bradley Perrett covered China, Japan, South Korea and Australia. He is a Mandarin-speaking Australian.
Before joining Aviation Week in 2006 he was a macroeconomics, politics and aerospace journalist with Reuters. Perrett holds a bachelor’s degree in law from Macquarie University, Sydney. He left Aviation Week in 2020.
It looks like Chinese airlines have dodged a bullet train, at least for now. The carriers have won a reprieve against extreme competition from fast rail on their premier route, between Beijing and Shanghai, with the railways ministry announcing fairly high fares for its imminent service.
Boeing and Avic Aircraft are building a new manufacturing center at the Chinese company’s Xi’an base, where Avic will be taught more efficient production processes by Boeing to benefit both companies. The first project for the facility, which will open next year, will be a new contract under which Avic Aircraft subsidiary Chengfei Commercial Aircraft will build Boeing 737 rudders, becoming a dual source alongside EADS CASA.
Many times bitten, and now at least once shy, Australia—after a long run of foul-ups in naval equipment acquisitions—is playing it safe with its choice of combat helicopters for the Royal Australian Navy. Sikorsky and Lockheed Martin will supply the navy with 24 MH-60R Seahawks after winning a competition that may boost the manufacturers' chances in Malaysia and South Korea. Australia's order will be the MH-60R's first export contract.
