Hong Kong-based Cathay Pacific Airways has become the second airline customer to use the Learjet 45 for advanced pilot training in the Asia Pacific region. Cathay's order is for one aircraft plus one option for its newly developed advanced pilot training program. The initial aircraft will enter the flying program in the third quarter of this year. The Model 45 will be operated and maintained by BAE Systems Flight Training (Australia) Pty Ltd. on behalf of Cathay, at its flight school at Parafield near Adelaide in South Australia.

Bombardier Aerospace has signed a Letter of Intent with Shandong Airlines Rainbow Jet Co. Ltd., of the People's Republic of China, for the purchase of four Challenger 604 corporate jets. The deal is worth $100 million and the aircraft will be used for the airline's new global charter business. The first aircraft is due for delivery in March 2002.

Using civilian employees and government owned-equipment and facilities, Hunting Contract Services (HCS) keeps the U.K. Royal Air Force's (RAF) fleet of 54 C-130Ks flying. ``We do for the RAF what they used to do for themselves,'' said Ian Blunt, HCS's boss at RAF Lyneham. ``We offer manpower substitution to free up RAF personnel to front-line duties.''