The International Civil Aviation Organization’s new Internet-based international aviation asset registry is set to become operational today, with database management specialist Aviareto already claiming 120 advance registrations.
Born from the Cape Town Convention, which governs ownership claims on mobile assets, the registry will provide a clear record of parties which have a financial claim over airframes, helicopters and engines. It is expected to save the airline industry billions of dollars annually by reducing lending risk.
Under the auspices of ICAO, the section of the treaty relating to aircraft equipment comes into force today, finally enabling the launch of the registry. The registry is being overseen by Aviareto, an 80:20 joint venture between technology specialist SITA and the Irish government.
Speaking at a press event in Dublin to mark the launch of the registry, SITA chief executive and director general Hans-Peter Kohlhammer said: “Until now there has been no central database that would provide details on who has a claim [to an asset].”
The asset database is hosted by the Internet domain internationalregistry.aero and, together with its helpdesk, will be operational at all times.
Aircraft data on the registry is sourced from the manufacturers and is listed by manufacturer’s serial number (MSN). To list an interest in an asset, all parties must give their consent within 36h through an e-mail notification system before the final, full ownership registration can be posted.
Users must register to use the system and are then subjected to authentication checks by Aviareto. Once approved, users download a digital signature which allows them to post to the registry. This process, together with a user-selected password, should protect the database against improper use.
Aviareto’s focus on outsourcing means that its core operation is small, comprising just five staff: managing director Kevin Power, operations director Martin Gaskell and three registry officials.
Gaskell says: “We opened for advanced registrations [on 21 February] and so far 120 companies have applied to use the system. The primary registrations are coming from the manufacturer and lender sides of the business.”
Companies can select individuals to become Aviareto-approved administrators, who will then be able to manage their own internal user base.
Fees for both regular users and administrators amount to $500 for five years or $100 for a single year. Registering an interest costs $100, along with a further $35 fee to print the registration certificate. Public users, who do not need authorisation, will be charged $35 for each Microsoft Network (MSN)-specific search.
Despite the charging structure, Aviareto is managing the registry on a non-profit basis. Kohlhammer says: “On the one hand we are owned by the air transport industry and are not for profit.
“On the other hand we are helping airlines to save money. It is helping us because it increases the confidence that the air transport industry has in SITA. We are again representing the airlines and therefore such a registry makes a lot of sense for us.”
VICTORIA MOORES / DUBLIN
Source: Flight International