Never content to leave any stone unturned, EBAN contacted Jeff Miller of Galaxy Aerospace to talk about the Galaxy's outing to Russia. He also shed light on the company's product future, and the recently announced plans to build a European distribution and supply centre in Switzerland.

"Lions Air took its Galaxy to Russia to demonstrate its capabilities," Miller began. "Our regional manager Brian Edwards was there too, who met some officials from Yakovlev. There was some discussion and some interest on Yakovlev's part on having renewed discussions with Galaxy and with Israeli Aircraft Industry. We're not even at the stage of sitting down to discuss what Yakovlev may be interested in doing.

"We are undertaking a market research study to determine future products, but until this has been defined and we know what it is we want to build on in the market, we are not having discussions with joint venture partners," Miller confirmed.

He went on to tell us about the new European facilities Galaxy is to open: "We expect to be able to open a European distribution centre, most likely in Switzerland. We are doing so that we are able to better serve our customers and the growing fleet of aircraft there.

"It's a major commitment for us in terms of the cost of placing inventory there and building an inventory control process. All the computers, equipment, personnel etc. But it will allow Europe to have a stock of parts on-hand, and have a more rapid response. While we are already available 24 hours a day in the States, we have a limited number of staff on duty during part of the European business day, as it is the small hours in US. People will be able to call this centre and have everybody awake and mobilised and ready to send out parts," Miller continued.

"It is another thing that we are doing to strengthen our service organisation on a worldwide basis, and it will be very much welcomed by our operators."

EBAN was keen to hear more about Galaxy's plans to listen to its potential customers' opinions: "The survey is going to run through the end of the year and we are looking at a full range of business jet products from the light jet segment to the super-sonic, as well as potential commuter configurations. The Galaxy has a large diameter fuselage that would lend itself to some type of stretch aircraft that would be attractive in that market. So, it is a very broad-ranging study for our options."

According to Miller, a US firm called Arg/us will be undertaking the survey, which will be global and will encompass Galaxy's own operators, as well as operators of competing aircraft. It is said that it will be an extensive study comprised of telephone interviews, focus groups, mailed surveys. "We expect to get hundreds of replies," he said.

"We will have four Galaxys in Switzerland before the end of the year. Two will be with Lions Air as charter aircraft - they have one now. We have good sales elsewhere and see good sales prospects in other areas of the world too. The Astra has got a good reaction in Europe. We are putting a lot of focus here."

The Arg/us will present the findings of its survey to Galaxy's board of directors early next year and then look to future models. "The Galaxy is a platform for future growth for us. We could go in the derivative direction," was the only crystal ball-gazing Miller could be coaxed into.