Gibraltar’s Aircraft Registry Will Rock
In previous articles, I wrote about Gibraltar’s entry into the aircraft registry world and why I believed the Rock possessed many of the ingredients necessary to become a serious player in international aviation.
After spending several days in Gibraltar itself, meeting the people behind the project, attending the official industry briefing, and seeing firsthand what is being built, I can now say something with complete confidence:
No ifs, thens, or buts. This registry will succeed.
Arrival on the Rock
I arrived in Malaga, Spain, and drove down to Gibraltar, settling in before heading directly to the offices of the Gibraltar Civil Aviation Authority (“GCAA”).
There, I met Director Chris Purkiss, his deputy Trevor Hammond, and the broader team engaged in what seemed like a regular day at the office. Their new offices overlook a beautiful marina. Beyond it lies the Strait of Gibraltar. To one side sits the African continent. To the other, Spain. It is an extraordinary view. But as impressive as the scenery was, it quickly became clear to me that the real story was not outside the windows. It was inside the offices.
The People Behind the Registry
Over the years, I have worked with regulators and aviation authorities from around the world. Some operate professionally, with humility, and with commercial awareness. Others, unfortunately, become consumed by the title itself. They stop speaking as people and begin speaking only as “I am the authority.”
That was not my experience in Gibraltar. The people I met were approachable, engaged, pragmatic, and remarkably focused on service. Not service as a slogan. Service as an operating philosophy.
One thing especially stood out during our discussions. They repeatedly emphasized that their regulations and procedures were intentionally drafted in plain language. Their goal was to avoid ambiguity, confusion, inconsistent interpretation, and the endless back-and-forth that often frustrates aircraft owners, operators, financiers, lawyers, and aviation professionals.
That may sound simple, but it is actually quite rare in aviation regulation.
Good registries are not created merely by publishing rules, legislation and being in a great jurisdiction. They are created when the people behind those rules understand the commercial realities of aviation and recognize that clarity, predictability, responsiveness, and consistency matter. Everything in aviation ultimately rises and falls on people. You may have sophisticated legislation, advanced systems, and beautiful procedures, but if the people behind them lack dedication, professionalism, or vision, the registry will struggle.
After spending several days with this team, I left Gibraltar convinced that the people there understand exactly what they are trying to build. And I believe the people of Gibraltar will soon take great pride in what this team accomplishes.
A Different Type of Authority
What also became very evident to me was the contrast.
These professionals at the Gibraltar Civil Aviation Authority appeared focused on building a clear framework, a predictable infrastructure, and practical solutions. That may sound obvious, but in reality, it is surprisingly uncommon.
I have spent far too many years dealing with authorities, inspectors, and public officials who seemed to believe their role was not to serve the public, but merely to identify problems, preferably long lists of them, often delivered with visible satisfaction, only to then step back without offering guidance, assistance, or solutions.
Too often the attitude becomes:
“I am here to point out the problems. Not to help you solve them.”
That mindset does not build successful aviation jurisdictions. It creates frustration, uncertainty, inconsistency, delay and ultimately a jurisdiction to avoid rather than one of choice.
What impressed me in Gibraltar was the opposite approach. The focus was not on acting like sheriffs guarding the gates. The focus was on building a professional, credible, service oriented registry that understands aviation is ultimately a relationship business built on trust, competence, responsiveness, and clarity.
And perhaps that is one of the greatest advantages of starting fresh. When you build a registry from the ground up, you can establish the right culture from day one, before bureaucracy, ego, and institutional habits take over.
Frankly, there are existing registries around the world that could learn something from this approach. Because in aviation, professionalism is not measured by how many obstacles you create. It is measured by how effectively, consistently, and responsibly you help people navigate them.
The Industry Briefing
I also had the pleasure of reconnecting with familiar faces in the aviation world, including Sir Jorge Colindres, David Colindres, Lindy Castillo, and the broader Aviation Registry Group team. As always, it was good to break bread together, exchange ideas, and discuss where the industry is heading. Then came presentation day.
The Minister responsible for transport opened the event with an upbeat and supportive address. Director Chris Purkiss followed with a practical explanation of the registry’s structure, operational setup, and implementation plans.
Then Sir Jorge Colindres took the stage.
At one point he referred to Gibraltar as “the registry that rocks.” The phrase resonated immediately throughout the room. And frankly, after spending time there, I understand why.
Leadership at the Helm
Another moment during the event that stood out to me was seeing Lindy Castillo take the stage.
Lindy is a seasoned aviation professional with more than two decades of experience in the aircraft registry world. Her journey began in the Caribbean before moving on to San Marino, where she became a respected and familiar figure within the international aviation community.
Today, she has taken on a new challenge as CEO of GAR, the Gibraltar Aircraft Registry.
Those who know Lindy understand that she has never been someone who seeks the spotlight unnecessarily. She is typically one of those professionals whose influence and effectiveness are quietly felt behind the scenes. Calm, composed, highly knowledgeable, and deeply respected.
But during the Gibraltar presentation, she stepped forward confidently and delivered remarks fully worthy of a CEO. There was calmness in her delivery, confidence in her vision, and clarity in her understanding of what Gibraltar is trying to accomplish. And I must say, I was genuinely pleased to see it. Because leadership matters. Lindy, a mother of two, is exactly the type of person you want helping guide a young registry through its formative years.
This challenge appears to have come at precisely the right moment in her career, and Gibraltar has found the right person for the role. It will be very interesting to watch what she and the broader team accomplish in the years ahead.
More Than a Local Gathering
Another thing that became very evident during the event was that this briefing was originally intended primarily for Gibraltar’s own professional community, a chance for local lawyers, fiduciary providers, advisors, and professionals to better understand their new aircraft registry and the opportunities ahead. But something interesting happened. Members of the international aviation community also showed up.
Lawyers, tax advisors, operators, aviation professionals, and industry participants from outside Gibraltar made the trip to attend, listen, ask questions, and see firsthand what was being built. That presence spoke volumes.
These were not people sitting back waiting to “see what happens.” These were experienced aviation professionals who recognized early that something serious, credible, and commercially meaningful was taking shape on the Rock. And I believe many of them shared the same feeling I left with:
The Gibraltar registry is going to rock.
That is precisely why they came, to be present at the beginning, to understand the vision firsthand, and perhaps also because they recognized that the aviation industry may very well be witnessing the emergence of an important new player in the aircraft registry world. As for me, I certainly look forward to returning to Gibraltar very soon, perhaps as a resident.
Why Gibraltar Has the Ingredients
Gibraltar possesses many of the ingredients necessary for success. It has an experienced aviation team. It has government support. It has a legal system rooted in English common law, something deeply familiar and widely accepted in international aircraft finance and registration transactions. It also has a strong professional community.
I had the opportunity to spend time with Dr. Stephen Noguera of Hassans, who generously hosted me for lunch at his firm. Gibraltar also benefits from experienced fiduciary service providers, legal advisors, tax professionals, and corporate service firms capable of supporting international clients.
Geography also works in Gibraltar’s favor.
Its proximity to Spain and ability to operate comfortably in both English and Spanish create unique opportunities for international business development and client service.
Ian Petts from Martyn Fiddler discussed tax structuring considerations, while my legal eagle friend Anton Jarbøl from addressed legal aspects of aircraft ownership and registration. The presentations were concise, practical, and efficient. No endless speeches. No unnecessary bureaucracy. By midday the event had concluded and we were on our way toward Marbella for one on one meetings.
The Timing Could Not Be Better
In an interesting historical footnote, we may have been among the last travelers to clear customs and immigration in the traditional manner between Gibraltar and Spain. With the upcoming EU treaty arrangements expected to take effect on July 15th, 2026, border formalities will become significantly easier, further improving accessibility and business movement in and out of Gibraltar. That development alone could become an important practical advantage for the registry and the broader aviation ecosystem developing around it.
Open for Business
Before leaving, I asked Chris Purkiss when the registry would officially open its doors for business. His answer was straightforward. By mid-July, after final training exercises and completion of a few remaining formalities, the sign will effectively go up:
Open for business.
The rollout strategy also appears measured and disciplined.
Initially, Gibraltar will focus on private aircraft registrations. Thereafter, the registry will undergo an audit by the UK Civil Aviation Authority. The team has already been through various audits and preparatory reviews as part of its development process, something that further reinforced my impression that this launch is being approached seriously and methodically.
Following completion of that process, Gibraltar is expected to move toward supporting commercial operations and Air Operator Certificates (AOCs). In my view, that phased approach makes perfect sense. Successful aviation jurisdictions are rarely built overnight. They are built carefully, step by step, with credibility and operational confidence established along the way.
Zulu Delta
The registry has secured the Zulu Delta, ZD, prefix, giving Gibraltar an entirely fresh series of registration combinations. During conversations over the event, people were already jokingly proposing future registrations like ZD-AIR, ZD-LUV, and ZD-GIB. But behind the humor lies genuine excitement.
Because this is not simply about registration marks. It is about the beginning of something new. As I left Gibraltar and looked back toward the Rock, I had the distinct feeling that I had witnessed not merely the launch of a registry, but the launch of a culture. A culture built on professionalism, accessibility, clarity, and service. And after what I saw, no ifs, thens, or buts, this registry will succeed.
Jorge is right.
This is the registry that rocks.
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