Currently 151 aircraft are registered in the Isle of Man just over two years since the registry was set up in May 2007.

Initially it was expected that 12 aircraft would be registered in the first year but the figure for 2007 was actually 51.

During the second year another 73 aircraft were registered.

In the first three months of the third year another 27 planes have been placed on the books.

The success of the Isle of Man registry can be seen by comparing figures with the Island's offshore competitors which have had decades of operation.

Aruba has around 65 aircraft, the Cayman Islands 147 and Bermuda 190.
As well as bringing in business directly to the registry it also provides business for other companies.

Director of civil aviation Brian Johnson said the aircraft business was going through some tough times in the current economic climate.
But in the Isle of Man business is booming.

'In these globally difficult financial times the corporate jet is an essential, efficient, cost-effective business tool for successful international companies,' said Mr Johnson.

'These are the businesses the Island wishes to be associated with, and by providing value and service, the aircraft register is proving a huge worldwide success.'

The Department of Trade and Industry's Isle of Man Aircraft Registry was established for the registration of private/corporate aircraft.

The core business target was and is new, professionally flown, corporate jets, for worldwide 'blue-chip' companies.

The Government's objective in establishing the register was to provide a new business opportunity for the Islands banks, lawyers and corporate service providers.

It was hoped that by registering the company aircraft of international organisations other business opportunities with these companies could be provided for the Island.

Mr Johnson says this has certainly been the case with many Manx companies benefiting from spin-offs created by the registry.

An example of this was when the largest aircraft ever to land in the Isle of Man touched down at Ronaldsway last month.

It was an Airbus A319 M-ABCJ previously operated by an Indonesian airline.

Aerotech International of Peel suggested to the owners that the aircraft was registered in the Isle of Man while it was between leases and the Douglas company ICM organised for the aircraft to be imported into Europe via the Island.

In addition to the registration charges other local business benefits were gained by Island Aviation which handled the aircraft at Ronaldsway and the airport which received landing charges.

The aircraft is now on the Greek register flying for its Olympic airline.

The largest aircraft currently on the Isle of Man register is a new privately owned Airbus A340, weighing 275 tonnes and normally seating up to 440 economy passengers.

Although it is registered here it is actually too big to land at Ronaldsway – even after the runway extension is completed
The Isle of Man Aircraft Registry was a winner at the Isle of Man Newspapers Awards for Excellence in 2008 when it picked up the Collins Stewart Award for Public Sector Achievement of the Year