The Russian aviation authority took steps in 1999 to revise existing rules for civil aviation activities. According to sources in Russia, the imposition of these regulations has been far from smooth, with complications and friction reverberating in particular amongst Moscow's competitive ground handling agents at Sheremetyevo International airport.\rOne such agent is RusAero. EBAN spoke to Mikhail Titov, deputy general manager of the company, about his understanding of the new rules: "The certification sets rather strict requirements for technical equipment and employees' qualifications for the companies providing flight operations support services," he said. \r"The certification procedure consists of three steps: The submission of documents, an inspection of the company conducted by a commission of independent experts, and a final decision taken by the certification body of the aviation authority.\r"Currently, CDOS Aerotrans (the flight clearance issuing authority in Russia) and RusAero are the only companies involved with business avaiation who continue their activities based on valid 'certifications of competency' from the aviation authority," said Titov.\rLeonid Koshelev, president of Streamline Ops, gave EBAN his interpretation of the new legislation: "The situation in Russia is that there is no such thing as FBOs. When business aircraft operate here, they have to take airport handling. The airport is like a factory, it's difficult for them to serve a business jet. So operators have to pay for handling, but they hardly get any other services in return; they have to find another company to look after the crew. Streamline helps them operationally and also in practical terms."\r"The bad thing about the certification rules is that they don't attempt to introduce civilised relationships for handling so that operators don't have to pay twice for the same thing and so that there is one, or still better several, able handling companies or FBOs. Instead they try to certify supervision," Koshelev said, adding that the multiple decisions not to accept Streamline documents were "absolute nonsense". \r"Our feeling is that everything is not lost in this country. We expect to receive our certificates in seven days, and the licence should then be granted in a matter of weeks," Koshelev said.\rTitov rejects suggestions that his company has gained an unfair advantage because of its connections within the Russian authorities: "It is true that the name RusAero is known to the Russian aviation authority. We are proud that we have built our business on 100 per cent legal procedures," he said.\r"We are glad that this area of business will be controlled by the authorities as it will make higher the level of service and security of passengers, crews and aircraft. We passed through all the procedures successfully as we were equipped accordingly and our staff are trained well."\rFor an independent view of the new rules, EBAN spoke to Avcom's Eugene Bakhtin: "The Russian authority has issued new FARs concerning all handling activities and fuel and the rules are that until agents are qualified for these rules, they have no right to participate in such activities. The authority requires documents to confirm quality of personnel, the financial status of the agent, and its ability to handle.