Moscow's decision to gradually ease customs duties on jets has received only a cautious welcome from business aircraft operators and private aviation analysts who have examined the small print in the planned legislation. Total taxes are estimated to add 40 per cent to the cost of the purchase of a jet inside Russia as compared to acquiring the same aircraft in locations in Europe.

Russia's Jet Transfer may order three more Bell helicopters for operations out of its Vnukovo-3 base. "We have ordered a Bell 407 that will be used for corporate flights," confirms director Sergey Filatov. "We are considering the order of another 407, a 430 and a 429."