Lynton Aviation of Denham, England, has ordered eight Raytheon airplanes, including four Premier I business jets, and has been appointed as Raytheon Aircraft's sales representative for the Hawker, Beechjet and Horizon in the United Kingdom and Channel Islands. The FBO also will be a ``master dealer'' for Raytheon's propeller-driven airplanes in the same region. Reportedly, three of the four Premiers already have been earmarked for customers, as have one of the two King Airs and both Barons that Lynton is acquiring.

Under pressure from lobby groups, the European Joint Aviation Authorities' (JAA) technical operations committee has rewritten a notice of proposed amendment on extended-range twin-engine operations (ETOPS) for business aircraft. The proposed amendment allows commercially operated business jets under 45 tonnes (100,000 pounds) MTOW to fly up to 120 minutes from the nearest diversion airport. This is extended to 180 minutes once special aircraft systems and crew procedure requirements have been met.

At a time when many companies are trimming back to focus on ``core competencies'' U.K.-based FR Aviation (FRA) is bucking that trend by providing all of its own engineering support.