| Having been a colony of Great Britain for 164 years | | | | Department of Civil Aviation full compliance to JAR |
| (1800-1964), and then continued to serve as a base for | | | | OPS 1. |
| Britain's Armed Forces for a further 15 years, Malta | | | | As per statistics published in 2006, Malta had the 10th |
| was introduced to the world of aviation from a very | | | | cheapest labour cost in the private sector from all |
| early start. | | | | European Union Countries. At just under 10 Euro per |
| From the construction of the first airfield to the | | | | hour, Malta is cheaper than Portugal, Slovenia, Cyprus, |
| ravages of World War Two, the build up for the Suez | | | | Greece and Spain. More importantly the rate of salary |
| canal, through four hi-jacks, and on to today's Malta | | | | increase was the second lowest from the 10 countries |
| International Air show, Malta has seen almost all the | | | | with the cheapest labour cost, at under 3.5%. |
| uses an aircraft can be put to. | | | | That said, aviation being a very specialized industry, |
| The Malta Department of Civil Aviation records show | | | | salaries in this sector are higher than the average, and |
| that when the Maltese aircraft register was opened in | | | | with big players, such as Air Malta, Lufthansa Technik, |
| 1969 introducing the Maltese register prefix 9H, the first | | | | and Servisair Globe Ground already established in |
| aeroplane to be registered, 9H-AAA was in fact a | | | | Malta, there is already a healthy pool of aviation trained |
| Cessna 172. The next two aircraft on the register | | | | personnel, in all the major areas, such as Flight and |
| were also general aviation aircraft, as were many | | | | Ground Operations as well as with Technical staff. |
| others that followed. The aircraft were largely owned | | | | Malta has two flight schools and the Local |
| and operated by Maltese general aviation pilots. | | | | Government has assisted Lufthansa Technik amongst |
| Today, the local general aviation fleet includes a wider | | | | other ways by means of a collaboration between The |
| variety of aircraft types and categories ranging from | | | | Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology, and |
| microlights to single engine private planes and public | | | | Lufthansa for the training and development of their |
| category aircraft available for rental. A small fleet of | | | | local employees. |
| training aircraft is operated by two flying schools. | | | | A company operating a Challenger 605 and a Lear 60 |
| Malta has an excellent climate, is strategically located | | | | XR will pay the authority just over 36,000.00 Euros for |
| at the centre of the Mediterranean and has one of the | | | | the first issue of an AOC and then barely over |
| last 24 hour airports. It has one of the longest runways | | | | 16,000.00 Euros per annum for renewal fees. Hardly |
| in Europe with practically no slots issues. Local | | | | forbidding charges. More importantly an aircraft |
| business and the Maltese government are only now | | | | registration and/or AOC should be obtained within 90 |
| starting to fathom that there could be a great potential | | | | days. |
| for managing and operating business aviation aircraft | | | | This is achievable in Malta, as the Department of Civil |
| from Malta, offering very competitive licencing fees, in | | | | Aviation is still relatively young and can give interested |
| an English speaking country in an EASA/JAA | | | | parties undivided attention. Assuming the owners |
| environment. This combined with excellent tax | | | | operator provide all the necessary information and |
| structures for foreign investors, whereby, although | | | | documents. |
| corporate tax is fixed at 35%, foreign shareholders are | | | | Other costs involved would be the setting up a |
| refunded 30% within 14 days. | | | | company structure to own the aircraft and or apply |
| Strictly speaking an owner who is operating his aircraft | | | | for the Air Operating Certificate. These costs are |
| for his own use, will not require an AOC, as the aircraft | | | | estimated to be in the region of 2,000 to 5,000 Euros |
| will be operated in the private category, however this | | | | per annum, depending on the level of actual presence |
| scenario can be very restrictive, as it is unclear | | | | of the company on the island. |
| whether employees of the owner and sub-contractors | | | | So where would one start? Sierra Aviation was |
| can legally use the aircraft, as this could be deemed | | | | established in 2002 as a business aviation service |
| that there is gain and hence an AOC might required. | | | | company. As the only dedicated business aviation |
| Further more if the aircraft is given under management | | | | company in Malta, Sierra Aviation's main line of |
| to a third party company, even if the aircraft is not | | | | business is namely;o Aircraft Charter Brokerso Aircraft |
| available for third party charter, the third party | | | | Handling at Malta International Airporto Aircraft Sales |
| company managing the aircraft must obtain an AOC. | | | | and Leasingo Aviation Consultancyo Aircraft |
| Simply put, an aircraft can be operated in the private | | | | Management |
| category without an AOC, however to obtain an | | | | Sierra Aviation can provide a number of services to |
| AOC, the company must also have an ASL. The | | | | owners/operators who may wish to exploit the great |
| applications for the AOC and ASL, should be | | | | opportunities which Malta can offer to the international |
| submitted together to the Director of Maltese Civil | | | | business aviation community. |
| Aviation. | | | | Namely Sierra Aviation can be the co-ordinator |
| In order to apply for an AOC, a company must | | | | between the foreign party and the Maltese authorities, |
| demonstrate ownership of an aircraft, or a lease | | | | providing constant follow-up from the day go to the |
| agreement for an aircraft. | | | | day that the aircraft is registered in Malta, and/or an |
| An aircraft need not be registered to be operated by | | | | Air Service Licence and Air Operator Certificate is |
| a Maltese AOC, however the registered aircraft must | | | | obtained. |
| have a European Union and JAA country registration. | | | | For owners, Sierra Aviation can provide aircraft |
| The reverse is also through, ie a Maltese registered | | | | management. Through our numerous international |
| aircraft can be operated on a European Union and | | | | partners, we can provide an unprecedented support |
| JAA AOC, however both of these scenarios are not | | | | that commensurate with the best in the industry at a |
| preferred by the Maltese Department of Civil Aviation. | | | | fraction of the cost. Our staff, experienced in business |
| Similar procedures are required by the company | | | | aviation, and with local knowledge, in so far as, |
| applying for an AOC as for company applying for an | | | | personal familiarization with the Civil Aviation Authority, |
| ASL. | | | | the Airport Authority, the local Government, as well as |
| The process for obtaining an AOC, ASL and | | | | the local labour market, company formation legislation |
| registration of aircraft should take from three to six | | | | will make sure that each customers requirements are |
| months, subject to demonstrating to the Maltese | | | | met efficiently, safely, and legally. |