Multiflight, a U.K. FBO, charter operator and flight school, is undertaking am ambitious expansion plan set for completion in mid- to late 2002. In late September, the Leeds/Bradford International Airport-based operator was slated to take delivery of a new Boeing BBJ2 -- the first of its type in the U.K. or Europe. The green aircraft will be flown directly to Lufthansa Technik in Ham-burg, Germany, for completion.

Signature Flight Support, part of the BBA Group, will cease operating the FBO at London City Airport (LCY) at the end of November, when the airport itself will take over responsibility for corporate aviation activity. The airport is building a new FBO. A BBA spokesperson said the company was ``very sorry to lose the business and at some point in the future, if it is possible, or there is an opportunity, we would like to get the business back.''

The Avro RJX-85 development aircraft, G-ORJX, has been fitted with four ``block 2'' engines and has accumulated approximately 130 hours in more than 60 flights. The aircraft was due to leave the United Kingdom for three months of ``hot and high'' and cold weather trials at Eglin Air Force base, Fla., at the end of August. The plan is for the aircraft to fly to engine-maker Honeywell's base at Phoenix and then on to Colorado Springs, Colo. Cold weather trials will follow in the Freezing Chamber at Eglin.