Isle of Man Notches Up 1,000th Registration
A Gulfstream G650ER has become the 1,000th aircraft to be registered by the Isle of Man under its “M” registration.

The Isle of Man registered its 1,000th aircraft—a Gulfstream G650ER, in service with an operator in the Middle East—earlier this month. However, with deregistrations over the years, the net number currently on the M-register stands at 432.


Speaking to AIN at the Corporate Jet Investor (CJI) conference in London last month, Isle of Man director of civil aviation Simon Williams said the 1,000th registration was imminent but he played down any focus on the size of the register. “We prefer to focus on quality while being forward thinking and proactive.” To retain that focus, the registry will remain open only to private aircraft, and he has no plans to offer services to commercial operators.


During the “New World of Aircraft Registration” panel session at CJI London, Williams made it clear that aircraft registries don’t get involved in taxation issues, but rather focus on registering aircraft and being “responsible for safety oversight thereafter.” Earlier this year, offshore jurisdictions came under media scrutiny when the BBC Panorama’s “Paradise Papers” purported to expose jet owners’ avoidance of taxes, and the EU has been examining offshore jurisdictions for transparency. The body has a “Black List,” and it does not include the Isle of Man.


Improved Service


Behind the scenes at the registry Williams has been working to improve efficiency and has initiated draft legislation that should give his department the power to “write our own secondary legislation,” rooted in the principles of ICAO. This is currently with the UK’s Privy Council. “Our vision is to be a center of excellence, and this framework will mean we are able to move things on,” he added.


Williams is also following his predecessor in stressing that the registry was created as “a cost neutral springboard…so I don’t have any commercial pressure on me.” The benefit to the Isle of Man has been the growth of the service sector around the registry, including specialist advisers in tax and aircraft management companies. “It helps the industry on the Isle of Man, but it’s also about facilitating business aviation on a global scale,” said Williams.


Another focus for Williams has been building up his team, although he said that with a new digital information system transforming back-office efficiency, there is no need for a huge team, and it is “much easier for operators to interact [with the registry].” Meanwhile the registry has moved offices from the island’s capital, Douglas, to Viscount House, at the island’s airport, in Ronaldsway. “So we can meet people off their airplane if they fly in, and we can do what we need to do” in the other areas for which the DCA has responsibility.