Gibraltar launches rotary and fixed wing aircraft registry
Gibraltar has launched its first registry for both rotary and fixed wing aircraft, which will open in 2026 with the prefix VP-G.
The Government of Gibraltar has signed a contract with Aviation Registry Group (which runs the Registry of Aruba and San Marino Aircraft Registry), having started working on the project in November 2022.
The next step will be an audit of the newly created Gibraltar Civil Aviation Authority by representatives of the UK Department for Transport early next year.
The Gibraltar Civil Aviation Authority will be led by Chris Purkiss, who will take the role of director general. Previously Purkiss was director of the former Department of Civil Aviation (and before that was station commander for RAF Gibraltar).
“Our ambition is to establish Gibraltar as a centre of excellence in the global aviation industry, delivering a first-class register that attracts the very best in private and commercial aviation,” said Purkiss. “It is not every day that you get the opportunity to create a new industry for Gibraltar from scratch, and we are determined to make it a success.”
The UK Civil Aviation Authority will oversee the Gibraltar Civil Aviation Authority and Gibraltar Aircraft Registry (as it does with the Isle of Man Aircraft Registry and Guernsey 2-Reg registry).
Commercial aircraft
The registry will start with private aircraft but will eventually look at offering commercial aircraft operator certificates. Gibraltar is already a commercial shipping hub with strong legal, finance and insurance services. It hopes these companies will benefit from the new aircraft registry.
“It is very exciting to sign this document, which effectively launches a new industry in Gibraltar,” said Glendon Martinez, chief secretary of the Government of Gibraltar. “I am grateful for the work of all involved in bringing this project to fruition and especially to Sir Jorge Colindres, whose team have provided the expertise necessary to guide the Civil Aviation Authority as they develop the Aircraft Register.”
Colindres came up with idea of forming a partnership between his company – International Air Safety Office – and the Aruba Department of Transport back in 1995. Colindres and his team would manage all of the administration and marketing for the Registry of Aruba. It would then use the registration fees it collected to pay for the entire budget of Aruba’s Directorate of Aviation.
At the time it was a revolutionary idea. But Aruba was happy to give it ago provided that it met top International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards. It did this and was also rated Category-1 by the FAA.
Several other aircraft registries also replicated or adapted this the model including the extremely successful San Marino Aircraft Registry that Colindres launched with his son David Colindres and daughter-in-law Lindy Castillo.
‘Respected jurisdiction’
“I am delighted to be working with such a respected jurisdiction and am sure that our combined efforts will result in the aircraft register being hugely successful. We have already started marketing the Gibraltar Aircraft Register and the response from aircraft owners has been very positive,” said Colindres.
A range of aviation industry leaders welcomed the launch. Writing on the social media platform LinkedIn, Travis Scrace, aviation specialist and technical consultant commented: “Another good option for private helicopter owners who want to operate their aircraft under a well-regulated system within Europe, but without the continuous levels of additional bureaucracy being introduced by EASA [European Union Aviation Safety Agency].” Scrace concluded: “I imagine that Gibraltar will become a great registry to do business with.”
Meanwhile, for the latest profiles of leading aircraft registries, read the digital version of our The Official Guide to Aircraft Registration 2025.
