Commercial Fuel - Isle of Man Aircraft

[chubbychopper]

I understand that it is possible to apply to the Isle of Man Aircraft Registry for a "Certificate of Commercial Use" which may be produced as an alternative to an AOC in order to uplift fuel at commercial rates.

I have also heard that some EU countries will not recognize this certificate.

Could anyone clarify where they are accepted, and where they are not, or of any other considerations I might need to know about.

Thanks in advance.

[Pace]

As long as the flights are made for business purposes and not pleasure from what I am told the certificate has been accepted.
I have also been told that Spain kicked up a fuss and went to court over it with a private owner.
The private owner won but think there was some sort of appeal lodged.But yes you can have a certificate of commercial use and it does look as if it's legally acceptable.

Pace

[G-SPOTs Lost]

Pace is correct.

To be honest unless you have AOC its hit and miss, if the invoice turns up without the local taxes on then bonus..... probably 50/50 regardless of whether the CoC has been used they give you so much more criteria to meet its a bit of a lottery to be honest

You also have to ensure your passengers dont get off carrying buckets and spades and wearing sunhats and sunglasses as it is only to be used for business purposes.

[a4fly]

Won't this blow a big hole in the argument for keeping one's jet on an
aircraft management company's A.O.C.? Presumably the ability to save money on the fuel may well be lost?

With the way that the charter market is going, it must be a difficult one to call anyway, bearing in mind the horrendous costs involved in keeping pilots up to date on all the enrichment courses and O.P.C.s etc etc.

[cldrvr]

I have been flying an M-reg for a few years on a part-time basis and we have hardly ever had an issue getting "commercial" fuel. The few times we did, the backoffice managed to get the taxes back in retrospect.

A4Fly, I have never seen any benefit for an owner giving his airplane to an AOC operator, why have any muppet flying your airplane and have snotty kids rub chocolate and Ribena all over your shiny new interior is beyond me.

As to a management company, that's a different story, many owners, especially "new" ones prefer a management company to starting their own flight department. I currently operate for an owner that knows what he is doing and we have our own flight department, he started of with a management company many moons ago, but quickly realised that he was better and cheaper of doing it himself. What some of these management companies charge is highway robbery.

[pistulaza]

The IOM, officially enquired to the EU to set the definition of private leisure and private business, in accordance to the EU official explanation the use of an aircraft for purpose related to the business of the owner has the right to have the tax free fuel, for this purpose they support the owners with a "Declaration of Commercial Use".
This document is recognized in many places in the UE, in Germany, in UK, in Switzerland... I have been refused in France and Spain, in Italy it depend where you are, in Rome yes, in Olbia yes, in Milan Not...
The document the IOM is providing is translated in all the European languages.

I am flying a M- registered Falcon since 3 yrs.

[long final]

Interesting about Switzerland. I have never had it accepted there.

As with other countries around Europe, generally no issues, though one or two seem not to want to comply.

[500 above]

The Greek's don't accept it.

[chubbychopper]

Thanks guys, this was the information I was actually hoping to get, from people who actually use the certificate. Just trying to establish where it is accepted, and where not.

More please would be appreciated.

[Opsbeatch]

Just as a point of note, it's not accepted in Switzerland now...they're not part of the EU.
It was widely accepted when it was first introduced but now it is becoming less and less. It comes down to the crew-fueller interaction and if you can convince them that it is a commercial flight.

It's a minefield but there are ways around it...I'm sure

OB

[3legs]

Generally speaking the "CoC" gets accepted but like it has been said previously, its hit and miss.

The fuel truck driver always asks if the flight is Commercial or private and when you say its Commercial they ask to see "AOC". Given the "CoC" has Certificate of Commercial Use on it, the drivers expect to see "AOC" - No "AOC" no commercial fuel. I think if there is a bit of education to the fuel companies as to what is Commercial and Non Commercial then the "CoC" may go further.

Depending on the driver's interperation of the "CoC" depends on whether he will give you the fuel at the commercial rate. I have had drivers go off to speak to their offices for approval and they always want a copy, so always a good idea to carry copies onboard.

I have had good and bad with the "CoC" - Managed to get it accepted in Greece, Nice, Le Bourget , Germany Italy and Spain. - Again its hit and miss!

Keep trying

3legs

[sooty3694]

I see the application form for this certificate is no longer on the IOMAR web site. Has the certificate been discontinued?

[cloudrunner]

Hi,

No, the certificate of commercial use is still issued by the IOM and still very much in use. Call the IOM CAA Tel: + 44 (0) 1624 682358, if they can’t put you through straight away someone will call you back to resolve any query you have the same day, how many other Authorities do that!!

[Trim Stab]

Unfortunately there is too much abuse of the CoC by owners who use their aircraft for entirely private pleasure, rather than as a genuine business tool. As a result, M reg is becoming less interesting fo genuine business users.

[silverknapper]

Not sure I agree trim stab. From what I can see the registry is still forging ahead with new aircraft.