Responsive…Efficient…Innovative! The Civil Aviation Authority of the Cayman Islands The Cayman Islands Aircraft Registry (CIAR) is the registry of choice for many owners, financiers, management companies, attorneys and other key decision makers. Stringent standards and a mandate for absolute safety guide our oversight of Cayman registered aircraft. The CIAR has been operating as a reputable offshore aircraft registry since the early 1970s and has an outstanding safety record. As custodian of the CIAR, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Cayman Islands’ (CAACI) dedicated technical teamwork with aircraft operators on annual plans to ensure regulatory safety standards and timelines are met and where appropriate, flexibility and customised solutions afforded. The CAACI works closely with Cayman Islands’ industry experts in the legal/financial and company registration sectors to ensure sound and secure transactions for the initial aircraft registration or changes thereafter. The CAACI staff is highly qualified and experienced in regulatory safety oversight and in working with aircraft management and maintenance organisations to ensure compliance with internationally mandated standards. The CAACI regulates in accordance with the Air Navigation (Overseas Territories) Order, 2013 (AN(OT)O), as amended, a statutory instrument predicated on UK legislation that contains regulations governing the operational and airworthiness requirements for Cayman registered aircraft. Also relative is the guidance contained in the Overseas Territories Aviation Requirements (OTARS,) as published for all UK Overseas Territories. The criteria for registering an aircraft begins with the first phase of the submission of registration documents through VP-C Online, the CAACI’s bespoke secured data management portal. All of the registering owner’s due diligence documents are required to be submitted when the Registration Application is submitted. Appropriate due diligence is conducted in compliance with the Anti-Money Laundering Regulations of the Cayman Islands. With stricter Anti-Money Laundering regulations coming into effect in the Cayman Islands and the world over, the CIAR is required to be knowledgeable and comfortable with qualifying registrants that are accepted to the registry. During the initial application process, the applicant can choose from a list of available registration marks which start with VP-C plus two variable letters. All information pertaining to registration of aircraft on the CIAR can be obtained from the CAACI website. The Cayman Islands provides a credible, politically stable jurisdiction of choice for aircraft registrations. As a leading tax neutral international financial centre, the English legal system provides owners and financiers of aircraft certainty and confidence. Traditionally a private/corporate Aircraft Registry, the CAACI in conjunction with the CI Government and the Cayman Islands’ Special Economic Zone – Cayman Enterprise City (CEC) has introduced an alternative means for compliance with the ‘Principal Place of Business’ criterion to allow offshore Air Operator’s Certificates (AOC) to be granted for certain commercial operations. The CIAR also works in close partnerships to ensure that aircraft registrants have expert guidance on applicable law and procedures. One such example is participation in a CI Government working group in partnership with local aviation finance attorneys to enable legislation compliant with The Convention on International Interests in Mobile Equipment (Cape Town Convention). The International Interests in Mobile Equipment (Cape Town Convention) Law (Cayman Islands), 2015, was enacted and came into effect on 1 November 2015. Accordingly, the Cayman Islands received international recognition under the Cape Town Convention. This provided further comfort to global financial institutions that participate in aircraft finance transactions who wish to transact with parties in jurisdictions that are recognised under the Cape Town Convention. An example of exceptional service provided by the CIAR is the creation of VP-C Online, a bespoke electronic data management system that provides a secure way to manage all aircraft documents including applications (starting with the registration application), certificates and approvals. VP-C Online is a convenient and secured way for registrants to apply for authorisations and certificates that are required for both initial aircraft registration and for continuing airworthiness and operations. The ability for clients to file applications 24/7 from any time zone around the world is yet another positive client service benefit associated with the CIAR. The secured portal also acts as a repository for all technical and supporting documentation for the registration and continuing airworthiness processes for the tenure of the aircraft on the Registry. Registrants will also enjoy the ability to check the status of applications and to re-print certificates or authorisations should the need arise. Testimonials received indicate that this convenient system makes The Registry a preferred choice in registration of aircraft. The CIAR has always recognised the importance of aircraft financiers and lessors, as many of our clients in aircraft ownership and operation depend on these financial intermediaries. This is a valuable relationship we wish to foster through an insightful and collaborative understanding to the interdependencies of the industry. We have introduced material processes, bespoke products and refined online portals, all specifically designed to support the interests of lessors. The CIAR is working to establish long term relationships with lessors to provide ready solutions where aircraft registration support is required with emphasis beyond the registration process. The CIAR is currently focused on offering a ‘Transition Register’ that is supported by highly experienced employees and full-time personnel of the CAACI. Our team have extensive regulatory backgrounds and experience in several regulatory jurisdictions; this along with our regulatory Code (Overseas Territories Aviation Requirements [OTARs]) enables our ability to place aircraft in multiple jurisdictions in an expeditious manner following our normal attention to stringent safety protocols. A new objective of the CAACI, within the Transition Register offering, is to delegate responsibilities to qualified Continuing Airworthiness Management Organisations (CAMO) under the Air Navigation (Overseas Territories) Order (AN(OT) O). This is a significant task for the CAACI where specific oversight arrangements in keeping within the delegation have to be established to ICAO performance-based regulation standards. This delegation to selected CAMOs (approved for Aircraft Transition activities) provides for significant efficiencies in the relationship between the CAACI acting in regulatory oversight and the CAMO making submissions for gaining Approvals and Certificates. Scenarios such as aircraft repossessions where timely and proactive solutions are necessary, these pre-established compliant resources in CAMO and Ferry Flight Operators are vital to achieving reliable and safe outcomes. The CAACI has established a project management system for Transition Aircraft. This generates the need for close coordination between all involved, regular liaison meetings are arranged to ensure the Transition project remains active during the aircraft’s registry in the Cayman Islands and commensurate with the status of the Lessors operational objective. The key is to mitigate last minute exercises often the case where aircraft sit in storage without any oversight. Our online portal VP-C online is being innovated to include a Lessor Module whereby a lessor can apply for a VP-C Online account for visibility to the aircraft that a lessor may manage. The CAACI offers Lessors a Service Level Agreement (SLA) that is specifically designed for Aircraft Transitions, offering a clear list of the services provided and a fixed fee structure. This provides the Lessor with confidences and pre-defined budgetary information often required by financiers and investors associated with aircraft assets. With a focus on the quality of service and flexibility the CIAR continues to set themselves apart from other jurisdictions offering aircraft registration. The CIAR remains committed to offering a personal, responsive and high-quality service to clients and partners and to finding innovative and efficient solutions to the needs of those they serve. The Cayman Islands Aircraft Registry: Responsive…Efficient…Innovative! Offering total aircraft registration solutions.
Stringent standards and a mandate for absolute safety guide our oversight of Cayman registered aircraft

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