6 minute read
Interview - Thomas Dunstan
Thomas Dunstan
Q You’ve been the Director
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General at BCAA for 8 years now, but before that, you’ve spent a decade at Bermuda’s
International Airport. It’s safe to say that you’re an expert in aviation. As you see it, what are the main benefits of registering aircraft — and companies — in Bermuda over other jurisdictions?
Registering an aircraft in Bermuda offers many benefits both through customer experience and cost benefits. The Bermuda Aircraft Registry has built a team of knowledgeable and highly experienced staff in Airworthiness, Operations and Regulation. Bermuda has a reputation for high standards of regulation, and its aircraft registry is no different. We have a solid international reputation for offering high regulatory standards and excellent service levels. This includes an International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) based safety oversight system, which was audited last year with extremely positive results. Another benefit for aircraft owners and lessors is the flexibility of our requirements, such as Type Certificate acceptance. We accept ANAC (Brazil), EASA, FAA and Transport Canada certificates. This helps to minimize the cost of registering an aircraft. Bermuda is also a lowtax jurisdiction with a consumption-based tax regime. Owners registering an aircraft on the Bermuda Aircraft Registry may be in a position to take advantage of favourable tax treatment in their principal place of business. The Bermuda Registry also offers asset protection through both the Cape Town Convention and our Aircraft Engine and Mortgage Registers. In terms of setting up a company, Bermuda’s legal and business infrastructure makes it a very secure and attractive location. Bermuda’s regulatory authorities are recognized for meeting global requirements around anti-money laundering, terrorist financing and economic substance, to name a few.
Q In 2016, BCAA went through some interesting changes and completed the transition from a government-run department to a semiautonomous administration.
What were the biggest challenges during the transition? As a few years have already gone by, what are the most important differences that this move has brought — for BCAA and your clients?
The biggest obstacle that the BCAA had to overcome was transitioning the processes from operating as a Government department to functioning as a business. An independent Board of Directors is responsible for the actions of the authority, and
The Global-Investor talks to Thomas Dunstan (pictured) Director General of Bermuda Civil Aviation Authority who has been at the helm for 8 years. He tells us why so many companies are flocking to his jurisdiction, the changes that have taken place and what the future holds for the BCAA.
general administration of its affairs and business, which is made up of directors from a variety of business backgrounds including; finance, legal, administration and aviation. All Board members had to gain a thorough understanding of the business operations and structure in a very short amount of time. The benefit of the Board is the diversity that has brought new thinking and provided some innovative strategies to enhance the Registry further. The decision was ultimately made to transition to an authority to reduce the restrictions that apply to the public sector. Over the last few years we have been able to grow the team, increase productivity and enhance customer satisfaction. Q You once said that BCAA is
What’s the secret behind managing to stay on top of the game and meeting an ever-growing demand for the business aviation industry and competition of the new jurisdictions?
I think what makes us unique is our first-class customer service. We offer an unparalleled, seamless, client-focused service. You may have seen the line ‘Putting You at the Centre of Everything We
Do’ on one of our advertisements. That is not just a slogan, it is at the very core of our business philosophy.
Q Currently, the Bermuda
Aircraft Registry is among the most popular with Russian airlines. A few months ago, BCAA also signed an agreement with Kazakhstan airlines. What other clients would you like to attract in the near future?
I cannot divulge specifics, but we are always looking at new opportunities where our expertise can assist and enhance aviation. The political climate in many countries determines where we place our focus and often this can change quite quickly. Q The whole world and every industry are dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic and its consequences right now.
What are the main changes that BCAA had to implement in its everyday routine?
We are quite lucky in that many of our staff were already working remotely, at least on a part time basis. Of course, for the safety of our staff and keeping in line with Government protocols our physical offices have been closed since March, so we implemented a few measures to ensure that all staff were equipped to work from home on a full-time basis. Working in the aviation sector usually involves quite a bit of travelling, and as a global provider, many of our staff members would have typically been travelling for meetings, industry events and inspections. Like many other industries, our staff have been communicating to clients through virtual meetings and our inspectors have set up desktop audits supplemented by photo and video evidence. Through technology (phone, email and video conferencing) and with offices in four different time zones around the world, the team are available and ready to help at any time. Clients can stay up to date on any changes by signing up to our news alerts on our website and follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn.
Q What impacts of the
Coronavirus pandemic do you see as the most important ones for the BCAA in both the short and long term?
Our focus is to ensure that we can still service clients in a timely manner. We implemented a digital signature format to assist with the turnaround of Certificate renewals and approvals in these circumstances. We are continuing to work with operators and leasing companies to maintain aircraft in an airworthy state. This is important, particularly at a time like this, when many aircraft are parked or only minimally used and operators may be restructuring their fleets. Of course, we recognize that the Coronavirus has had a huge impact on our industry, and we are doing everything we can to assist operators so that they can remain in business.
Q Could you say a few words about the future? In your opinion, how will the aviation industry evolve over the next 5, 10 years? And what about the BCAA — how it will look 5 years from now?
I think that this pandemic has forced us to review the way that the aviation industry functions, and in ways that were not previously considered. At BCAA, we have accelerated some changes, that we had planned in coming years, to assist with the new way of working. As far as working remotely, I believe that it is here to stay. We are proving that it can work and we see that it offers staff and customers more flexibility. This industry is always evolving, but with recent events it is clear that we need a thorough review of regulations, procedures and policies to allow regulators and customers to continue operating during crises. The Bermuda Aircraft Registry is the world’s oldest offshore registry and we have been through many changes over the years. As we move forward, we will continue to focus on servicing our clients in the most efficient manner and adapting as necessary. How will it look in 5 years from now? Let me find my crystal ball … As we have seen all too clearly in recent months, life is very complex to make precise predictions. However, we are resilient and by sticking to our vision and values, with continued focus on our goals, we will adapt and even reinvent ourselves, to navigate these turbulent times.
