The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) will extend discussion of the most contentious points arising from its proposed new rules for aircraft operations and has indicated that it could permit greater flexibility for business aviation on issues such as flight and duty time limitations (FTL). At a meeting with the European Business Aviation Association (EBAA) last week, EASA officials acknowledged that the new operating rules need to allow latitude for business aircraft operators to comply with safety requirements in a way that fits the day-to-day realities of their operations, rather than expecting them to adhere to a model established purely with large airlines in mind. The comment period on notice of proposed amendment NPA 2009-02a-02g covering air operations will end July 31, but the EASA said it will spend the following eight months conducting detailed analysis of the responses and adjusting its draft rules accordingly before publishing all the responses next spring. It will then allow another two months for further comment from the industry before beginning the political phase of the consultation leading up to the final rules being approved by the European Commission’s Council of Transport Ministers.