2012 Isle of Man Aviation Conference: A Year of Change

Feb. 23, 2012 - PRLog -- 2012 Isle of Man Aviation Conference: A Year of Change

ICM Aviation Limited, a Douglas based provider of aviation expertise for owners and operators, is organising the second Isle of Man Aviation Conference, on Thursday 21st June 2012. Once again, this initiative is supported by the Isle of Man Aircraft Registry, and will be held in the Villa Marina in Douglas.

The 2011 conference celebrated the success of the Isle of Man M Register, and showcased the island’s wide range of aviation expertise from engineering and manufacturing, to design and maintenance. The conference attracted industry professionals from across the globe with a shared interest in finding out more about this vibrant business sector.

Mark Byrne, director of ICM Aviation, part of the ICM group of companies, told us why the conference is an experience worth repeating:

‘When we decided to organise the conference last year we did not know what to expect. We were pleasantly surprised to sell out and we received a lot of encouragement to hold the conference again. This time we have invited other high profile speakers, representing the business aviation industry's manufacturers, operators, service providers and regulators as well as key members of the Island's Government, instrumental in setting the appropriate business environment for the continued success of this industry.’

Brian Humphries, President of the European Business Aviation Association (EBAA), has agreed to speak and will join Graham Williamson of TAG Aviation Europe, Hartley Elder of the Isle of Man Aircraft Registry and other senior aviation and finance professionals. Brian Johnson, ex Director of Civil Aviation on the Island has accepted the invitation to chair this one day event.

Last year’s conference agenda focussed on the Isle of Man as an international aviation centre and most of the speakers were from the local business community. The focus of the 2012 conference is ‘A Year of Change’. Mark Byrne explained why:

‘We have chosen a different theme this year to look beyond the island and consider the impact of changes to international and EU law and legislation on the business aviation sector. We will have the opportunity to explore and debate changes that will affect safety management, fatigue management, emissions trading, passenger tax, EU licensing standards and more. The conference will also be a platform for showcasing the breadth of aviation expertise on the island and the numerous advantages of conducting aviation business here.’

Since its creation in 2007, the success of the Aircraft Registry has helped put the Isle of Man on the map for aircraft owners and operators. As of February 2012, 452 aircraft have been registered. Hartley Elder, Director of Civil Aviation, has over 30 years’ experience of aircraft maintenance, airworthiness and engineering in both the public and private sector. Prior to joining the Isle of Man Aircraft Registry, Hartley was Technical Officer for Airworthiness with the International Civil Aviation Organisation in Montreal. Instrumental in developing the 2012 conference agenda, Hartley told us what the year ahead looks like for aircraft owners and operators, and in particular the Isle of Man Aircraft Registry:

‘Aviation is a very dynamic industry and although the recent economic situation has slowed things down, we look forward to recovery, new innovation and opportunities in the year ahead. In the regulatory world, there are new requirements for the larger, complex business jets. We are preparing for these in alignment with new international standards. Timescales will vary slightly, but eventually all States will introduce these. This work will be carried out in keeping with our reputation as the most pragmatic, practical and industry-friendly aircraft registry. We are exclusively dedicated to private and corporate executive jet operators, and are confident that we can create a solution tailored to their needs.’

Conference delegates will be invited to an evening reception at the award winning House of Manannan in Peel, hosted by ICM Aviation. This will be a good opportunity for delegates to meet other guests from the aviation business community, visit another part of the island, learn more about its ancient heritage and enjoy a midsummer evening in ‘sunset city’.

For further information about the conference or to register visit www.icmaviationconference.org. ENDS


Notes for editor:

The ICM Group is based in Douglas on the Isle of Man and through its licensed companies *, provides SPVs, administration, taxation and accounting services for owners of valuable assets, with a focus on large yachts, business aircraft, real estate, investment portfolios and intellectual property. The Group believes that it can best serve the interests of its clients by knowing and understanding them and their needs whilst maintaining the highest level of specialist knowledge of and expertise in the specific asset classes and related ownership solutions.

For more information about the group: www.i.im

*Inter-Continental Management Limited and Dominion Marine Corporate Services Limited are licensed by the Financial Supervision Commisssion of the Isle of Man.

For further details about the 2012 conference please contact:
Jenny Oliver, Marketing Manager, ICM Group:  info@i.im or +44 (0)1624 682400

# # #

The ICM Group is a dynamic group of companies with particular areas of expertise in yachts and superyachts, aviation, company and trust services, accounting, VAT solutions and asset finance and banking solutions.