Austrian operator MAP Executive Flight Service has taken delivery of a Falcon 900 EX EASy, which it is using for ad hoc charter as part of a management contract.\r“It’s a beautiful aircraft and offers long range performance,” said accountable manager Bosko Rasovic. “It is based in Linz because there is no hangarage available for this aircraft in Vienna.”\rAccording to Rasovic, one of the key benefits of the aircraft, from an operational point of view, is that its maintenance is not hourly-based. “We have monthly checks, so I am not forced to bring the aircraft in for maintenance after a certain number of hours. Instead, we bring the aircraft in over time periods, which is much more convenient for us.”\rThe company mostly uses Dassault’s maintenance facilities, or visits Jet Aviation when in the US. “There’s always someone around who can perform maintenance for the aircraft,” he said.\rSince MAP began operating the 12-seat Falcon at the end of last year, it has flown more than 200 hours. The most frequent routes are from Moscow to the US, Caribbean islands, South America and Africa. \rThe company also manages and operates a Learjet 45, which is available for charter, and a Challenger 300, which is for private use buy its owner. Both aircraft are based in Vienna.\rRasovic reports that the charter market in Austria is buoyant and, thanks to its central location, Vienna has proved to be an ideal operating base. “Vienna is in a good position as we are only two hours and 15 minutes flight time to Moscow. The same applies when we want to go to Cairo, Israel or northern Europe. It’s a great, central location.”\rMAP’s pilots were trained at FlightSafety in the US. “The aircraft has an EASy cockpit, which makes a big difference. In Austria you don’t need a special rating for the EASy – you can fly with the EX rating – but we prefer our crew to fly with the EASy rating.”\rAs well as executive charter, MAP provides operational support to third-party operators.