Jersey Aircraft Registry to launch in 2014 with Brian Johnson

Brian Johnson, who has agreed to advise the Jersey Aircraft Registry, created the success Isle of Man Aircraft Registry

The Island of Jersey has announced that it will launch the Jersey Aircraft Registry just three days before Guernsey registers its first aircraft.

Brian Johnson, who has agreed to advise the Jersey Aircraft Registry, created the success Isle of Man Aircraft Registry

Jersey has announced that it will formerly launch an aircraft registry in 2014 just three days before Guernsey, its neighboring Channel Island, registers its first aircraft.

Brian Johnson, a consultant at law firm Appleby and the first Director of Civil Aviation for the Isle of Man, has agreed to advise Jersey. Johnson, a veteran of the UK Civil Aviation Authority, was the first employee of the Isle of Man Aircraft Registry and worked hard to make it a success. The Isle of Man has registered more than 600 aircraft.

“It is fantastic news that Brian with his many years of experience in the aviation industry, and especially in the establishment of another very successful registry, Jersey will have an individual with unparalleled expertise to advise on this exciting project,” said Senator Alan Maclean, Jersey’s Minister for Economic Development.

At one stage Guernsey and Jersey had discussed launching a joint aircraft registry but these talks ended in 2013. Guernsey has outsourced the management of its registry to SGI Aviation, a division of Seabury Group a US consultancy firm. Jersey is believed to be looking for a similar partner following other registries like the Isle of Man (which outsources aircraft surveys under the guidance on an in-house chief surveyor) and San Marino. The Registry of Aruba was the first aircraft registry to use this approach.

Jersey hopes to register its first aircraft in mid-2014.

“This is an exciting opportunity for Jersey which will form an incredibly strong additional element to our inward investment strategy. Thanks to its business friendly environment, simple and attractive tax framework and world class professional and financial services infrastructure, Jersey already offers a compelling proposition to individuals and companies looking to relocate or expand their businesses,” said Senator Maclean. “The launch of the Jersey Aircraft Registry will undoubtedly add to Jersey’s overall offering and provide local businesses with significant opportunities, particularly in the fiduciary, legal and financial services arenas.

Senator Maclean announced that he had given approval to the Jersey Aircraft Registry on Friday December 6. The Guernsey Aircraft Registry will officially open on Monday December 9 with the presentation of the first certificate to owners of smaller general aviation aircraft. It hopes to register the first business jets early in 2014.

Jersey is the largest of the Channel Islands, which are an archipelago of eight islands off the coast of France. None of the islands are part of the United Kingdom but Jersey has a different relationship compared to Guernsey or the Isle of Man as it is ruled by the Duke of Normandy, a role held by the reigning king or queen of the Britain.

Neither Jersey nor Guernsey are part of the European Union so it is likely that many of the aircraft placed on either aircraft registry will be imported through the Isle of Man.

Jersey has a population of around 100,000 people, more than Guernsey’s (60,000) and the Isle of Man (80,000).

Since leaving his role at the Isle of Man in August 2011 Johnson has been approached by several other aircraft registries. Appleby has a large office on Jersey where it employs more than 50 people. He was awarded a Special Achievement Award in 2012 by Corporate Jet Investor for his work in launching the Isle of Man Aircraft Registry.