Background:

A number of updates to Isle of Man civil aviation legislation and processes take effect on 1 September 2026. These updates are relevant to those connected to the ownership and operation of aircraft registered in the Isle of Man.

Unless indicated otherwise below, the updated legislation, Registry Publications (RP) and CAA publications (CP) will be published on our websites on 1 September 2026:

https://www.iomaircraftregistry.com/legislation/isle-of-man-legislation

https://www.iomaircraftregistry.com/forms-documents/library

https://www.gov.im/categories/business-and-industries/civil-aviation-administration-caa/document-library/#accordion

Many of the changes are administrative and grammatical. However, the key changes that we consider to be of operational note are summarised below.

Aircraft Registration and Marking:

The Civil Aviation (Aircraft Registration and Marking) Order 2022 is updated as follows:

Qualified Ownership
- The ‘qualified ownership’ list of who may register aircraft in the Isle of Man (Article 7) is replaced with reference to ‘as specified in RP 2’.
  - RP 2 is updated to reflect the above, however, the qualified ownership list is unchanged.
Commercial Air Transport – Exceptions
- A new Article 22 is inserted that adopts the existing RP 68 policy relating to ‘self-fly hire’.
  - RP 68 is updated to reflect the above.
Helicopter Markings:
- Schedule 1 paragraph 2 now includes new more flexible specifications for fuselage registration markings on helicopters.
  - RP 15 is updated to reflect the above.
  - Helicopter operators that currently hold permissions to this specific part of the Order will be contacted directly to advise that the permission is revoked as the flexibility is now enabled in the core legislation.

If you have any queries on these Aircraft Registration and Marking changes, please email: aircraft@gov.im.

Rules of the Air

The Civil Aviation (Rules of the Air) Order 2021 is updated as follows:

Addition of ‘the runway breaking action encountered is not as good as reported’ to the list of conditions in SERA.12005 when special observations shall be made and reported.
- CP 15 (Rules of the Air) is updated accordingly.

If you have any queries on these Rules of the Air changes, please email: flightoperations@gov.im.

Transitional Aircraft:

The definition of ‘transitional aircraft’ specified in the Civil Aviation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Order 2020 is revoked as the phrase is no longer used within in civil aviation legislation. Therefore, the phrase will be defined in policy as:

“Transitional aircraft” means an aircraft which is:
- awaiting a commercial lease or sale; or
- undergoing role conversion, including but not limited to passenger to cargo, or civilian to military.

Transitional aircraft may continue to benefit from an exemption from the requirements for large and turbojet aircraft pertaining to the company operations manual and minimum equipment list.

From the 1 September 2026, the person completing a Form 20-Operator Declaration of Compliance & Delegated Authority, shall specify on the application whether the aircraft is considered to be a transitional aircraft.

Aircraft will be recorded by the IOMAR as transitional where the IOMAR is satisfied that the aircraft meets the applicable criteria.

Owners/operators shall notify the IOMAR of any change in transitional aircraft status.

If you have any queries on these transitional aircraft changes, please email: flightoperations@gov.im.

Occurrence Reporting

RP 5 will be withdrawn and will be replaced by CP 7 (Occurrence, Serious Incident and Accident Reporting).

Further details on the change from RP5 to CP7 were notified by bulk email on 31 July 2026.

An advance copy of CP7 is available at: https://www.gov.im/categories/business-and-industries/civil-aviation-administration-caa/document-library/#accordion

If you have any queries on these Occurrence Reporting changes, please email: or@gov.im.

Any Other Questions

If we can assist in any other way, please email aircraft@gov.im or call us +44(0)1624 682358.

Paul Cremer

My name is Paul Cremer, and this marks my 42nd year working within the business and general aviation industry. Over this time, I’ve had the privilege of overseeing a diverse array of sector activities, ranging from aircraft charter and management to air ambulance services, ground operations, air traffic control, airport management, technology implementation, and the outsourcing services I currently manage.

In my role focused on delivering advisory, technology, and outsourcing services to aviation customers, I handle a wide spectrum of responsibilities. This includes overseeing International Trip Support, Operations Control Centre Services (OCC), Continuing Airworthiness Management Service (CAMO), Airworthiness Reviews, ARC Services, Aircraft Delivery and Re-delivery Support Services, Maintenance Coordination Services including AOG, Tech Ops (Maintenance Control Centre), and managing myairops software products. As the Head of Aviation Delivery, I lead the customer-facing delivery of Technology & Outsourcing products and services for the market, drawing upon a wealth of knowledge, expertise, and industry connections within Gama Aviation’s Technology and Outsourcing Strategic Business Unit.

My journey into Business and General Aviation began during my teenage years while still in school. I was fortunate enough to be welcomed into the industry, starting at a flying club, and later working at the Air Traffic Services Unit at Blackbushe Airport. There, I maintained the ATC Movement Logs in the Control Tower during weekends, solidifying my passion for aviation. Upon completing my schooling, I seized opportunities at Fairoaks Airport, where I began as Ground Crew while pursuing my Aerodrome Flight Information Service Officer’s license. Advancements in my career led me to the role of Air Traffic Services Manager.

Since joining Gama Aviation in 1996, I’ve held various positions, including Operations Manager (Post Holder), Operations & Commercial Manager, Commercial Manager, Operations Delivery Manager, Head of Business Aviation Delivery, and currently, Head of Aviation Delivery. This role encompasses Gama Aviation Group’s Gama Aviation, myairops, and FlyerTech companies.

In 2023, I was honoured to be invited to serve as the Chair of the Operations Working Group for the British Business & General Aviation Association. This opportunity allows me to contribute to industry initiatives within BBGA’s membership of nearly 200 industry companies, focusing on challenges such as regulatory compliance, Air Services Agreements, technological advancements, workforce development, operational matters, and sustainability.

Marc Bailey

Marc Bailey has spent his career in aviation and has worked in most areas of our industry with scheduled airlines, MRO’s, military contract support and latterly with associations, government, and its agencies.

Marc currently represents your position in Europe (even post Brexit) – as President of ECOGAS (European Council of General Aviation Support) which maintains a voice with EASA. All the major member states are represented on the ECOGAS board. With EASA restructuring its meetings with industry, ECOGAS is now well positioned to represent our position in all areas following industry partnerships with the European Continued Airworthiness Group and with the Association for Remotely Piloted Aviation Services (ARPAS). 

Marc is chair of the UKASF (United Kingdom Airworthiness Strategic Forum) as part of an initiative to develop Aviation Services across all aviation activities.  The UKASF pulls together airlines, MROs, Rotary, Drones, and commercial GA bodies to work with CAA and DfT. The objective is for industry to take the lead to drive strategic issues to benefit all parties. We are well positioned after six years to continue our good work for industry. With the re-established role of Chief Surveyor in the CAA we have a good focal point to undertake this work with the regulator including regular discussions and a full industry day with the CAA each year.

Marc chairs the CAA Finance and Services Forum, which allows industry in the UK to discuss the financial plans for the CAA and look closely at the services being delivered to industry. This is a new and valuable new platform for all parties.

Marc has formed an alliance with, ARPAS, AOPA, BHA and BBGA so that we can strengthen our voice under a joint ‘GA 4 Biz’ banner. This alliance is working to do everything possible to represent the industry’s business interests with UK government and to help realise the Government’s desire to make UK General Aviation a Global Leader in a post Brexit environment. 

The next Generation initiatives with industry and government have continued to develop with the retention platform now evolving into the “Aviation Skills Recruitment Platform” .  The platform now not only offers a vehicle for those offering and seeking posts in aviation, it also provides pathways with its TalentView portion seeking to provide pathways for new entrants into our sector. 

The recruitment platform is being further developed to include training opportunities across a wide range of providers, from government agencies through academic bodies. Getting our next generation activities right in the UK over the next couple of years is our single most important issue which we in aviation must grab with both hands. Moving into 2026 we are seeking to further develop the pathways to enter aviation, and this effort is being supported with development of multimedia platforms with the organisation Metaverse. This multimedia approach is being developed so that it is more relatable to the next generation of people wishing to join aviation in a myriad of roles.

In the role of President (honorary) Marc can support the BBGA in many aspects and continue to ensure that we retain the right connections across industry, with regulators in the UK, regulators in the EU and wherever possible help hold government and its departments to account using normal channels, and where necessary utilise All Party-Political Groups for aviation.

James Carroll

Alison Chambers

Paul Cremer

Jason Hayward

James Moreton

James Hardie

Aoife O’Sullivan

Alex Durand

Marc Bailey

Sarah Towerzey

Heather Gordon

Lindsey Oliver