Guernsey to launch aircraft registry in 2013
The States of Guernsey has announced it will develop its own aircraft registry as part of a new partnership with SGI Aviation.
Guernsey to launch aircraft registry on its own without neighboring Jersey.
The States of Guernsey has announced it will develop its own aircraft registry as part of a new partnership with SGI Aviation.
The Bailiwick’s Commerce and Employment Department signed an agreement to enter a unique public-private partnership with the Amsterdam-based aviation company on 30 April 2012.
Fergus Woods, director of civil aviation in the Bailiwick, predicts it will now take between 15 and 18 months to establish the registry, while SGI expect to register 150 Guernsey aircraft by 2015.
Woods says: “Although we have a got a clear idea of what we need, we need to get the legislation through our own states first, and then get the Privy Council to endorse it – which can take a little longer.”
Corporate Jet Investor previously reported that Guernsey planned to follow Aruba’s example of finding a strategic partner to put up the investment for an aircraft registry.
Woods now says that having advertised for a suitable business partner, it was decided that SGI Aviation was the best match for the model after “a robust tendering process.” The aviation company will take over the day-to-day running of registry’s operations as soon as it has been established, whilst the state of Guernsey will remain responsible for the “legal findings.”
Guernsey will follow in the footsteps of the Isle of Man by starting its life focusing solely on private operations. “The honest answer isthat the model is quite similar,” says Woods. “Clearly, we will be operating in a similar market, but we believe the market is big enough to both operate successfully. I do not think it is a particularly cut throat competition, and it will help both to keep up standards.”
SGI Aviation has a wealth of experience in the aircraft lessor business, and it is believed that after setting up the registry it will seek to identify different market plans to draw in a wider client base.
Project manager Wim Ovaasays says: “The Guernsey registry will differentiate itself from competitors through its unique tax advantages, quality of service, operational flexibility and targeted marketing.”
Woods has also revealed that a further partnership with the neighboring Channel Island of Jersey is still not out of the question to help expand the aircraft registry.
“It is still a possibility,” he says. “Guernsey and Jersey do a lot of sharing due to their geographic location, so it is still possible that we could find a way to make this partnership work.”
