Interview with Brian Johnson, Director of Civil Aviation
By: Liz Corlett
31 January 2009
When was the Isle of Man Aircraft Registry formed?
The Isle of Man Aircraft Registry started operations on 1st May 2007.
Prior to this, were there any structures in place to register aircraft on the Island?
It was not possible for the Island to start an aircraft registry without the support of the United Kingdom, which is a Contracting State to the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). The Island could never be a Contracting State and after many years of negotiation, the UK agreed to accept international responsibility for the Isle of Man to independently operate its own register for private and corporate aircraft.
What volume of registrations did the Registry handle in its initial months?
Based on the growth of the Island’s Super Yacht register, the Government expected registering 12 aircraft in the first year was a realistic target.
What are the chief benefits of registering on the Isle of Man?
There are many advantages in registering aircraft in the Isle of Man. Firstly, you must accept that our worldwide competitors are the USA, Bermuda, Aruba and the Cayman Islands. Against these established registers, the Isle of Man advantages are:
- High service levels and quality international reputation
- High regulatory standards
- Only dedicated European based private and corporate aicraft register
- Neutral nationality registration prefix
- Competitive Scheme of Charges
- Secure mortgate register
- No insurance premium tax (5% in UK)
- European time zone
- A Standard and Poor's and Moody's AAA rated juridisiction
- Professional infrastructure with experience in aviation finance
- Favourable tax regime - zero corporate tax
- Stable legal and political environment
What classes of aircraft can be registered?
Only private or corporate aircraft can be registered in the Isle of Man. Our target aircraft are professionally flown operators of new corporate jets and turbine engine helicopters. These operators are most likely to provide business opportunities for the Island, allowing us to show our commercial advantages.
At the moment, the Island’s Aircraft Registry is the only dedicated register in Europe. Is this situation likely to alter in future and if so, what will the Island do to retain its competitive profile?
There are no obvious competitors in Europe. The British Virgin Islands have declared their intention to enter the corporate aircraft market but will be seen as an alternative to the other Caribbean registers - Bermuda, Aruba and the Cayman Islands - not the Isle of Man.
What is the projected growth of business for the next 5 years and beyond?
We expected 12 aircraft in the first year and registered 51. By 15 months, we had registered 80. The order books for corporate jets are full for the next three years for most manufacturers and the annual worldwide sales of business jets will exceed 1000 in 2009 so there is no sign of any reduction in future growth. I expect the Isle of Man could easily be the worldwide register of choice for corporate and private jets within the next three years and the Island will be a one stop shop for corporate aviation business.
Where are your clients based?
Our market was initially Europe. We then attracted clients from the USA and Russia and now we are very busy with new clients from the Middle East. The future markets are India, the Far East and China.
What types of aircraft are you registering?
We started with the Cessna Citation business jets for local businessmen Jim Mellon and Eddie Davies. As our reputation grew quickly for quality, value and service, we attracted larger jets such as the Embraer Legacy and many Bombardier Challenger aircraft. In July 2008, we registered our first private Boeing 737 Business Jet and we are currently working on a new private four engine Airbus Business Jet.