Business jet owners place a premium on aircraft performance, and an aircraft’s registry can have a large impact on those operational capabilities, setting rules for crewing, administrative complexity and costs, compliance with safety standards, and much more.
More owners and operators are turning to recently established registries because of the efficiencies, flexibility, and cost savings they can offer while maintaining the highest standards of safety and global airspace access. Details of five of the major registries explain why they are becoming so popular. “Business aviation is an important emerging market in Asia, driving economic output and providing organizations opportunities for growth,” said a San Marino registry representative. All five registries invite attendees to learn firsthand about the benefits they can provide the business aviation community.
The Registry of Aruba has set trends since its founding in 1995, claiming title as first to outsource administrative operations to a third party, a now common practice; first Category-1 aircraft registry in the world, as rated by the U.S. FAA, providing operational flexibility in U.S. airspace; and creator of the true certified copy process, giving owners the flexibility to fly their aircraft immediately upon completion of the airworthiness inspection. Meanwhile, Aruba’s registry has earned a reputation as a tax-efficient offshore jurisdiction offering cost-effective, 24/7 personalized support services. Aruba’s P4 nationality mark is followed by three letters, so owners or operators can choose their registration marks and create any three-letter combination they wish. The registry’s team of highly qualified and experienced Designated Inspectors deliver efficient, flexible, and competitive inspection services in line with industry standards.
The Registry of the Republic of San Marino (SM-CAA; Booth B511), established in 2012, has become a significant jurisdiction for aircraft owners, lessors, operators, and financiers, earning the prestigious ICAO Council President Award in 2016, and its T7 registration provides fiscal and operational benefits. For Asian owners, those include mutual recognition of authority with Singapore and Hong Kong, as well as with Europe’s EASA and the FAA in the U.S. Private flight crew same-day validation are among the services offered. San Marino registry also provides confidentiality and ultimate privacy for ultimate beneficial owners. Registration can be done through domicile and requires no incorporation as a San Marino company. The San Marino Aircraft Registry offers much experience in dealing with the projects that lessors face on a continuous basis, from delivery to repossession. The competitive and cost-effective scheme of fees is complemented by its network of flight operations and airworthiness inspectors based around the world.
It entered the rolls of new registries in 2016, but the Bermuda Civil Aviation Authority (BCAA; Booth C502) has decades of experience; it is the former Bermuda Department of Civil Aviation, established in 1931. Today it ranks first and largest of offshore aircraft registries with more than 800 private and commercial aircraft wearing its VP-B and VQ-B prefixes, and tenth overall among the 192 ICAO signatory states. Bermuda is a United Kingdom Overseas Territory regulated by the UK Department of Transport, but the registry’s safety oversight system is separate from the UK’s, with regulatory requirements in full compliance with ICAO standards and recommended practices. Registrants must be a UK national, Commonwealth Citizen, or national of any European Economic Area state; or an entity incorporated in any part of the Commonwealth or under EU rules, or a Swiss citizen or entity. Persons or corporations not meeting these requirements may incorporate in any of the qualified entities, or incorporate a Bermuda company.
The 2-Reg Aircraft Registry of Guernsey, UK established in 2013 (Booth C106) offers complete regulatory services for owners and lessors of private aircraft. With permanent offices in Guernsey, Amsterdam, and Singapore, 2-Reg handles all approvals and validations for initial and continuing airworthiness, communication systems, operations, and licenses. For private operators, an IS-BAO approval satisfies the Complex General Aviation approval requirement. Committed to rapid response and easy registration procedures, the registry accepts regulatory systems from the U.S., EU, Canada, and Brazil, and has a worldwide network of inspectors. Additionally, the 2-Reg nationality mark, with the numeral 2 followed by four letters (2-AAAA to 2-ZZZZ) facilitates personalized combinations including names, places, or even phrases. A neutral, semi-autonomous state with a long history of political stability and efficient tax rules, Guernsey is on the Office of Economic Cooperation and Development white list.
The VP-C prefix of the Cayman Islands Aircraft Registry is worn by business aircraft ranging from Cessna Citations to Airbus and Boeing corporate jets. Overseen by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Cayman Islands (CAACI; Booth A439), a specialized group of legal firms and Cayman Islands government authorities work closely with the CAACI to ensure that clients have the most comprehensive counsel on every avenue of law, customs law, tax, and insurance. The Cayman Islands has also distinguished itself with the establishment of Cayman Maritime & Aviation City within Cayman Enterprise City. This award-winning special economic zone enables businesses within the aviation and maritime sectors to efficiently and cost-effectively set up a genuine physical presence, giving commercial operators an efficient path to meeting the requirements of obtaining an air operators certificate.
