The sky’s the limit for the island’s aircraft registry as it nears its 10th anniversary next month.

The Isle of Man is now home to the world’s sixth largest international private/corporate business aviation registry.

And notably we are ahead of the UK in that list.

The registry was recently named Best Global Aviation Registry in World Commerce Review Magazine’s 2017 awards.

Simon Williams, director of civil aviation spoke to Business News the day after the 936th aircraft was registered.

He said there is a good chance they might reach 1,000 registrations by the end of the year.

There are now business planes all over the world carrying the Isle of Man prefix which is M followed by four letters. New business planes can cost an eye-watering 50 to 60 million dollars.

He said: ’The fact that we are still registering aircraft at a healthy rate, notwithstanding the tough international trading conditions, is a strong endorsement of the Isle of Man business model.’

Mr Williams is a fitting personto be the boss of the civil aviation administration - he is a former squadron leader with the RAF. He held a number of challenging senior operational and staff appointments.

He operated as an aircraft commander, training captain, qualified helicopter tactics instructor, and instrument rating examiner and has flown a wide variety of aircraft including RAF Search and Rescue Sea Kings and special operations Pumas.

He has also flown Boeing 757s and Boeing 767s, most recently for British Airways.

And there was also a spell when he piloted holidaying Brits to sunshine destinations with Thomas Cook.

Father of two Mr Williams, 50, ’absolutely loves’ his job within the Department of Economic Development.

He said the demand for business jets is still strong.Tantalisingly he says there are ’lots of names you would recognise’ among the people who have registered their aircraft with the Manx authorities.

Mr Williams’s enthusiasm for the registry is infectious.

Photographs of aircraft of all shapes and sizes adorn the walls of the aviation boardroom, tucked away inside DED headquarters, where our meeting takes place.

A scale model of a Gulfstream G650 sits on the desk top.

Mr Williams said the register staff , who number 19, deal with ’important, prestigious and influential individuals.’

He added that it is ’important that when you meet someone like that you bring them into a professional working space to do business.

’I can give them a mug of coffee and we can build those important working relationships. ’

Mr Williams refers in our conversation to business aircaft being ’time machines.’ This is because they are used by corporates and very wealthy people to travel to business meetings around the world where time is vital.

Mr Williams said at present they are registering around 80 aircraft a year, an average slightly down on other years.

’The world market has had an effect no doubt. But the point is that we are still registering at a robust rate.

’And all things being equal we should hit the 1,000 mark this year but if we don’t we won’t lose any sleep.

’The really important thing to stress is that we believe in doing the right thing the right way.

’A key aspect of that is high regulatory standards so we are not focused on the numbers in their own right.

’If we do things the right way then the good things will follow.’

He said the island economy is boosted by the work of the air registry.

Groups such as corporate service providers, financiers and lawyers are among those parts of the private sector that work closely with the registry.

Mr Williams said the success of the aircraft registry has been ’unprecedented’ over the past decade.

He said: ’I truly believe that it is a great news story for the island.

’We have a small dedicated team working hard to continue that success and we work very closely in partnership with the private sector.

’It is now right to celebrate what we have achieved [with the 10 year anniversary coming up in May] but we don’t chase accolades.’

Our meeting took place on the day Theresa May, the UK Prime Minister, finally triggered Article 50 thereby setting off the official procedure for Britain leaving the EU.

Asked for how he sees things going for the island in the light of Brexit he said: ’Right now, nothing has changed whatsoever.

’We just carry on with what we are doing.

’I think it is a question of recognising what comes out of the negotiations as and whenthey do.

’I actually see it (BREXIT) as an opportunity. This is a great island and it has got a bright future and I don’t see why that should change.

’The people in the business aviation industry will monitor developments as they unfold and they will adapt accordingly.’

’I am optimistic. We have some very bright people working on this all the time and we have got very good links with the UK government. I’ve been asked to comment from our perspective.

’I am heartened by the responses I have heard from the UK government on this so I honestly feel we have good grounds to be optimistic.’

Mr Williams, who is married to Justine, has two grown up children aged 21 and 23.

Although originally from the UK he has a long association with the island starting in 1991 when he first came to the TT.

He enjoys fell walking in his pare time.

He usually takes his beloved Springer/Cocker mix (’Sprocker’) called Joey, named after TT legend Joey Dunlop. ’He was a hero for me, as he was for so many thousands of people.’