In 2010 Malta embarked on an ambitious project to introduce the Aircraft Registration Act (the “ARA”) and to accede to the Cape Town Convention and its Aircraft Protocol. A few years later, the growing presence of AOC holders in Malta and the increase in aircraft registered in the National Aircraft Register is testament to the success story of the ARA.

This notwithstanding, there still is and will always be room for improvement, as shown by the recent Act to amend the ARA which became law in October 20161. The improvements affect four broad categories: