Press Room

Aircraft Registry Training

Published 1st February 2008

(George Town, Grand Cayman), February 1, 2008 — The Civil Aviation Authority of the Cayman Islands (CAACI) on Friday Feb 1 conducted training on the ‘Process of Registering an Aircraft in the Cayman Islands.’ In attendance were representatives of the private sector including law firms, financial institutions, and company administration firms; as well as representatives of Cayman Islands Government agencies and statutory bodies such as the Investments Bureau, the Cayman Islands Shipping Registry, and the Department of Finance PR Unit along with CAACI staff.

Director-General of the CAACI, Mr. Richard Smith remarked, “As the custodian of the Cayman Islands Aircraft Registry, the CAACI regulates against stringent international standards and policies, and with a growing interest in the Cayman Islands as a preferred asset management option for aircraft registration, the need to communicate with industry is critical to our reputation and continued success.”

The process of registering an aircraft in the Cayman Islands involves many partners, including the potential aircraft owner, registered local company, legal advisors, management companies, aircraft brokers, financiers, etc. and equally multi-faceted is the process to register an aircraft. The CI Registry is comprised primarily of aircraft based overseas and operating in the private category. Aircraft operated by local air operator certificate holders such as Cayman Airways, Cayman Airways Express and Cayman Islands Helicopters are also included on the Registry. With approximately 140 aircraft currently on the CI Registry, the CAACI team in Grand Cayman, supported by contracted airworthiness surveyors in Europe and North America, are busy conducting aircraft surveys, inspecting maintenance facilities and validating pilot licenses every day.

As signatory to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the UK is obligated to ensure that its Overseas Territories (OT) comply with the standards and recommended practices of ICAO. Accordingly, the UK provides statutory instruments to regulate the aviation industry in its OTs through the Air Navigation (Overseas Territories) Order (AN(OT)O) and the Overseas Territories Aviation Requirements (OTAR). The CAACI ensures that aircraft on the CI Registry are maintained and operated in accordance with the provisions of these statutory instruments through its inspection and licensing processes.

The aircraft registry training was presented by CAACI’s Air Safety Regulation (ASR) Division Director, Mr. Ian Scott, whose division oversees and maintains the CI Registry. Mr. Scott’s presentation focused on providing attendees with awareness of ICAO, the international standards by which the Cayman Islands are held and to which they regulate, and a detailed review of the various steps and processes involved in registering an aircraft on the CI Registry including the formal application, due diligence, airworthiness surveys, registration mark selection, levying of fees and annual certification renewals.

The first of its kind, this seminar was well attended and response to the materials presented has been positive. “We anticipate hosting additional seminars throughout the year which will help the relative industries understand the specifics of registering an aircraft and make the entire process seamless,” commented Ian Scott.

Companies interested in attending such seminars or in need of information on the aircraft registry should contact the CAACI at civil.aviation@caacayman.com

Background information:

The Civil Aviation Authority of the Cayman Islands is the regulator for the aviation industry throughout the Cayman Islands. The Authority is comprised of three main regulatory divisions as follows:

  • The Air Safety Regulation Division — headed by Ian Scott
  • The Air Navigation Services Regulation Division — headed by Jeremy Jackson
  • The Commercial Affairs Regulation & Administration Division — headed by Nicoela McCoy

The CAACI is headed by Director-General Mr. P. H. Richard Smith, with 17 staff members locally and 6 overseas contracted surveyors to support the aircraft registry activities.

The Vision and Mission Statements of the CAACI:

Vision Statement:
Ensuring aviation safety through regulatory excellence

Mission Statement:
To provide sustainable regulatory procedures to meet international standards. Through committed partnerships, the CAACI will strive to ensure the safety of persons and property.