Drive to boost Malta air register

Dr Clive Aquilina Spagnol

Feb 16th 2009, 23:06

It is about HIGH TIME!

I've written my Doctor of Laws thesis on aircraft registration in Malta way back in 2001, wherein I proposed for the registration of aircraft in Malta to be developed and expanded, and for the Department of Civil Aviation to be turned into an Authority as the regulator for registration, licensing etc. of aircraft. I submitted a copy of such thesis to the then Minister of Transport & Communications Censu Galea during a face to face meeting at the House of the Four Winds, then the Ministry building. During such meeting I highlighted all of my proposals and the problems present. It took the government all these years to realise we could do something....hopefully this time it won't be a half-baked attempt!

Andrew Fabri

Feb 14th 2009, 02:17

I still can't believe it hasn't flown yet! I also helped build this plane and it is such a pity after all that intense work we're stuck here...just doesn't make any sense. By the end of this summer 3 years would have already passed! I agree with all the comments here, but an answer such as 'we have too much work to do' is not acceptable!

Jean - Paul Grech

Feb 12th 2009, 23:54

Increasing the number of registered aircrafts in Malta is a brilliant idea, but first, we should improve the current registering system.

At the moment a private pilot will have to wait for months to get his aircraft with a permit to fly, even if it’s a simple permit transfer from the UK.

I have been waiting for a couple of months now, my aircraft was shipped for the UK with a valid permit to fly, the DCA have come to inspect my Microlight but are ‘SO’ busy that they don’t have time to complete the paper work.

Is the system we use today going to remain, or are we going to adopt a new and better system to encourage more aircraft to be registered in Malta?

Jean - Paul Grech - Aircraft owner/Pilot

Sandra Agius

Feb 12th 2009, 18:17

I strongly agree with the incentive but on the other hand I am aware that there seems to be some problems with the DCA's ability to process new aircraft registration forms in a timely manner.

It would be of great benefit if the department could find a better way of processing its pending applications before seeking to increase its workload.

This would be equally beneficial to the present long outstanding applicants as well as any possible future aircraft owners who wish to register in Malta.

Sandra Agius

Marc Rizzo

Feb 12th 2009, 17:41

I helped build the microlight Mark Laferla Jr. is talking about. It's a 3 year old project which has been ready to fly for a considerable amount of time.

It's sorry that such interesting and fun endeavours find such resistance at the end. The build of the aircraft took under a month. It's been waiting for its 'Permit to Test' for a number of months!!

Mark Busuttil

Feb 12th 2009, 17:17

Our club members, like any other microlight pilot, that decide on getting their own aircraft have to go through a number of challenges; first of all getting the actual pilot's license and then forking out the money to purchase and maintain their aircraft.
Unfortunately the most difficult, frustrating, and time-consuming hurdle should be the simplest one of all - that of actually getting the aircraft registered! Why does it have to take months upon months for this to take place?
Do we really want to promote local aviation or not?

Damian Agius

Feb 12th 2009, 17:00

Reading some of the comments posted on here I cannot help but agree. This drive for incentives is a great idea, the aviation industry is one which has the potential to generate a number of quality jobs as well as provide another avenue of income for the country.

However as others have already pointed out the DCA has to get its act together. I have been waiting for a permit to fly for about 2 months now, in the mean time the plane is just sitting there, insured, gathering dust. I would have understood if the DCA found something wrong with the aircraft but their reply has always been "we have too much work to do".

Now I personally can only see two possible reasons for this:

1) Some people in the DCA, not everyone for sure, but only one is needed to mess things up, are not pulling their weight.

2)They are truly swamped with work; which begs the question, if you cannot handle the current demand how are you going to cope with an increase?

If the service isn't good people are NOT going to CHOOSE Malta.

Damian Agius - Owner/Pilot

Mark Laferla Jr.

Feb 12th 2009, 16:20

ATTN: Times of Malta, Minister Austin Gatt and the DCA.

I am glad to see that the aviation sector in Malta is being given a boost and is being strongly promoted and I encourage many more such incentives in order to continue strengthening this sector of our economy. However, I strongly suggest that before doing so you sort out your mess of pending work.

I am sad to say that the service provided by the Department of Civil Aviation is disgusting. I have a brand new aircraft, awaiting a 'Permit to Test' and has been idle in a hangar for several months after the DCA inspector came to have a look at it. The irritating thing about it all is that I am being held up for no reason! The DCA has given me no valid reason for delaying the permit. The only response I ever received when enquiring is: "I am very busy."

My reply: "I have an airplane, which has cost a lot of money to buy, insure, maintain and hangar and I want to fly it, not look at it."

If you want to attract new business, get serious first.

Regards,
Mark Laferla Jr. - Aircraft owner/Pilot.

Marisa Said

Feb 12th 2009, 15:47

Boggles the mind really. We have been waiting for months to get a number of 'Permit to Fly' for our club aircraft - and these are Microlights, the smallest in the aviation chain. They all have a registration but are laid up waiting for a piece of paper to get through the Department. I do not usually comment in the negative but it is heartbreaking to watch several thousand of Euro worth in aircraft being grounded.

Does this mean the waiting list for Permits and Certificates of Registration will get longer or what? Or is it foreigners first Maltese later? How does it work out?

Normally it gets worse for the person who pulls the plug. Guess it may be the same in this case.

M Said
Island Microlight Club

D Vella

Feb 12th 2009, 14:46

Hmm,

How does this affect our emissions figures???