Isle of Man Aircraft Registry Update

This update covers a range of important operational and airworthiness matters.

Aircraft Inspections and Certificates of Airworthiness

Applies only to aircraft airworthiness surveys for issue of a Certificate of Airworthiness. There is no routine requirement for onsite flight operations inspections.

What are the requirements for a Certificate of Airworthiness?

Completion of aircraft registry application forms by competent persons (continuing airworthiness and operational knowledge will be needed for some forms). Initial and annual survey required to ensure airworthiness (on the day) and confirm conformity with Isle of Man civil aviation legislation throughout the last year (renewal).

Clients are offered the choice of either an attended on-site survey or a survey conducted remotely by digital means.

What is the inspection interval for a Certificate of Airworthiness / how often does the registry inspect aircraft?

Annual survey required for the renewal of the Certificate of Airworthiness, which can be renewed up to 60 days in advance of expiry without loss of validity.

What operational requirements are there?

The registered owner shall nominate an operator who is accountable for the safe operation, management and control of the aircraft. The operator is required to nominate competent personnel to the following specific roles:

  • Nominated Airworthiness Technical Representative (NATR) who has delegated responsibility for the full airworthiness management of the aircraft on behalf of the operator and is the single point of contact for all matters of airworthiness with the IOMAR; and
  • Flight Operations Representative (FOR) who has delegated responsibility for all flight operational matters on behalf of the operator and will be the primary point of contact with the IOMAR for this area.

The IOMAR does not mandate the use of a Continuing Airworthiness Maintenance Organisation (CAMO) but we do not object if an operator wishes to use the services of a CAMO.

A Certificate of Release to Service (CRS), otherwise known by ICAO as a “maintenance release”, may be issued by a person:

  • acting in their duties as an employee of an organisation that holds a Part 145 approval issued by:
    • EASA;
    • FAA;
    • UK;
  • holding of an aircraft maintenance engineer’s licence that has been validated by the IOMAR;
  • who has been issued with an approved by the IOMAR.

A wide range of operational approvals are available upon presentation of evidence to show that the aircraft meets the relevant certification standards, and the operator has declared that: the flight crews are suitably trained; and competent; and normal and abnormal/emergency procedures are in place; and meets the required operational criteria published in Registry Publication (RP) 4, Guidance to Operators.

The IOMAR does not issue flight crew licences. Flight crew must be issued with a certificate of validation of their flight crew licence. Validations are issued without restriction to a particular aircraft registration. The IOMAR validate licences issued by appropriate contracting states to the Chicago Convention and accepts the licensing/medical certificate variations/exemptions issued by the State of Licence Issuance unless specified otherwise.

How many airworthiness inspectors does the registry have?

At the time of writing, a minimum of 17 airworthiness surveyors based at various international locations are available to appropriately support IOMAR operations. Resource levels are continually reviewed to ensure that appropriate international standards are maintained in a timely, efficient and customer focussed manner.

Where are the inspectors based?

The nature of the task has changed (as described above) and so the geographical location of surveyors is largely irrelevant now given the fundamental shift to remote surveys. It is worth noting that this change in approach has had the additional benefit of saving significant costs to the customer as international travel is no longer needed as part of the airworthiness process.

The IOMAR team of highly experienced experts are here to answer any questions you may have. Please contact us by email at aircraft@gov.im.

All the best,

Simon

Simon Williams BA(Hons), LRPS, FRAeS

Director of Civil Aviation

Office Address: Ground Floor, Viscount House, Ronaldsway Airport, Ballasalla, Isle of Man IM9 2AS, British Isles