Civil Aviation Authority of the Cayman Islands

What Civil Aviation Authority of the Cayman Islands does

The Civil Aviation Authority of the Cayman Islands (CAACI) is a statutory government authority responsible for civil aviation safety oversight and economic regulation in the Cayman Islands. It was founded in 1987 and operates under UK Overseas Territory designation, holding one of only three full safety oversight delegations granted to OTs and maintaining an FAA Category 1 rating. CAACI serves a globally distributed client base including aircraft owners and operators, aircraft lessors and financiers, foreign air carriers, and air ambulance providers. Core services include aircraft registration under the VP-C prefix via the Cayman Islands Aircraft Registry (CIAR), airworthiness certification, flight operations regulation, pilot and personnel licensing, operating permits for foreign-registered aircraft, economic regulation of air transport, and air navigation services.

CAACI's primary technology platform is VP-C Online, a secure document processing portal providing 24/7/365 access for aircraft registration, licensing, and certification management. The authority expanded this infrastructure in 2020 with a Lessor Module and in January 2025 with the VQ-C Online portal dedicated to transition aircraft. Technical staff are distributed across the UK, Europe, Asia, North America, and Cayman Islands to support global client proximity. The authority complies with ICAO standards and recommended practices, the Overseas Territories Aviation Requirements (OTARs), and the Cayman Islands Data Protection Act 2021.

Revenue is generated through a unit-based fee schedule denominated in Cayman Islands dollars: CI$500 per aircraft registration, CI$1,250–CI$5,000 for mortgage registration (tiered by value), CI$300–CI$3,000 for operating permits (tiered by aircraft size and permit type), annual Certificate of Airworthiness renewals scaled by MTOW, and CI$250/hour for due diligence and inspection services. As a government statutory authority under the Cayman Islands Government, CAACI is not investor-owned and does not raise private capital.

Name

Civil Aviation Authority of the Cayman Islands

Legal name

Civil Aviation Authority of the Cayman Islands

Website

https://caacayman.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

CAACI is the statutory government regulatory authority for civil aviation in the Cayman Islands, providing aircraft registration (VP-C prefix), safety oversight, operating permits, airworthiness certification, and economic regulation under UK Overseas Territory designation and FAA Category 1 status.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Grand Cayman

HQ country

Cayman Islands

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Aircraft Registration Fees: Fees for aircraft registration, certificate of airworthiness, registration marks reservation, and mortgage registration on aircraft. Fees are charged in Cayman Islands dollars (CI$).
2. Operating Permit Fees: Fees for scheduled and non-scheduled operating permits for foreign-registered aircraft operating in Cayman Islands airspace. Fees vary based on aircraft size and duration of permit.
3. Regulatory Oversight Fees: Fees for technical coordination, inspection costs, due diligence investigations, and travel charges for oversight activities. Charged at hourly rates.
4. Annual Certificate of Airworthiness: Annual renewal fees for Certificate of Airworthiness based on aircraft Maximum Take-Off Weight (MTOW).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

CAACI is the statutory government authority responsible for aviation safety oversight and economic regulation in the Cayman Islands. It operates the Cayman Islands Aircraft Registry (CIAR), issuing VP-C registrations, certificates of airworthiness, mortgage registrations, pilot and personnel licences, and operating permits for foreign air carriers. All transactional services are delivered through the proprietary VP-C Online portal (with VQ-C Online for transition aircraft), supported by global technical resources across the UK, Europe, Asia, North America, and Cayman Islands.

Product overview

The Civil Aviation Authority of the Cayman Islands (CAACI) operates as a regulatory body offering a unified platform of aviation regulatory services centered around its VP-C Online portal. The core product portfolio consists of aircraft registration and certification services (including initial registration, transfers, deregistration, and mortgages), air safety regulation (airworthiness, flight operations, maintenance approvals), and operating permits for both scheduled and non-scheduled flights. Supporting services include pilot licensing, personnel licensing, economic regulation and administration, air navigation services, and specialized aircraft transition services for lessors. All services are designed to meet ICAO standards and OTAR requirements, with VP-C Online serving as the primary digital gateway for client interactions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• VP-C Online: The CAACI's online Aircraft Registry portal providing secure management of registration, licensing and certification processes for aircraft 24/7/365.
• Cayman Islands Aircraft Registry (CIAR)

Products and services

• VP-C Online CAACI's online aircraft registry portal providing secure 24-7-365 access to manage registration, licensing, and certification processes for aircraft registered in the Cayman Islands. Enables clients to submit applications, upload documents, track status, and obtain approvals online.
• Cayman Islands Aircraft Registry (CIAR) Comprehensive aircraft registration service including initial registration, transfer of ownership, deregistration, registration mark selection, and ongoing registry administration for Cayman Islands-registered aircraft with VP-C prefix.
• Air Safety Regulation Safety oversight services covering airworthiness certification, flight operations regulation, aircraft maintenance organisation approvals (OTAR Part 145), and continuing airworthiness management (OTAR Part 39).
• Certificate of Airworthiness Initial and renewal issuance of Certificates of Airworthiness, Export Certificates of Airworthiness, and Noise Certificates for Cayman Islands-registered aircraft, compliant with ICAO Annex 16 requirements.
• Mortgage Registration Registration and management of aircraft mortgages including priority notices, mortgage registration, change of particulars, discharge, and removal of registered mortgages against Cayman Islands-registered aircraft.
• Scheduled Operating Permits Permits for scheduled air transport operations into the Cayman Islands under Article 135 of the Air Navigation (Overseas Territories) Order, requiring compliance with safety standards and economic licensing requirements.
• Non-Scheduled Operating Permits Permits for charter and ad-hoc flight operations into Cayman Islands territory, including processing of applications, documentation verification, and issuance of operating permits.
• Air Ambulance Operating Permits Special operating permits for air ambulance, repatriation, and emergency medical transport flights into Cayman Islands airspace, with expedited processing and after-hours approvals.
• Pilot Licensing Issuance of pilot licenses and license validations for Cayman Islands-registered aircraft, including commercial and private flight operations under OTAR Parts 61, 91, 121, 125, and 135.
• Personnel Licensing Licensing services for aviation personnel including pilot licence validations, flight crew certification, and compliance with ICAO Annex 1 requirements.
• Economic Regulation and Administration Economic regulation of the aviation industry including licensing of scheduled and non-scheduled air transport operators, liaison with UK Department for Transport for bilateral agreements, and statistical reporting per ICAO requirements.
• Aircraft Transition Services Specialized services for aircraft lessors including transition register management, Service Level Agreements (SLAs) for aircraft transitions, and coordination with CAMO partners for repossessions and storage projects.
• Air Navigation Services Navigation services including air traffic services, aeronautical information services, meteorological services, rescue and fire fighting services, and aeronautical telecommunication services for Cayman Islands airspace.
• Small Unmanned Aircraft (SUA) Permits Permissions and guidance for operation of drones, UAVs, and small unmanned aircraft within Cayman Islands airspace, including aerial work approvals.
• Safety Management Systems (SMS) Requirements Safety management system requirements and oversight for aircraft operators, compliant with ICAO Annex 6 Part II Section 3 requirements.
• VQ-C Online for Transition Aircraft VQ-C Online is an expansion of the VP-C Online system built specifically for transition aircraft, supporting growth in CAACI aircraft registrations and faster onboarding of aircraft entering the Cayman registry.

Quantifiable outcome

• Aircraft registration applications can be handled within 2-3 days
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Walkers (Law Firm)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWalkers and CAACI collaborated on FAQs regarding transitional aircraft registration. Walkers provides legal expertise on registration processes, eligible applicants, and regulatory requirements for the Cayman Islands Aircraft Registry.
• Air Safety Support International (ASSI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerASSI is established by the UK's Department for Transport to provide guidance and assistance to Overseas Territories for aviation regulation. Publishes OTARs on behalf of Territory Governors.
• International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCAACI operates under ICAO standards and recommended practices. Participates in ICAO Statistics Programme and follows ICAO Annex requirements for safety oversight.
• UK Civil Aviation Authority (UK CAA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCAACI operates under the regulatory framework established by the UK CAA through the Air Navigation (Overseas Territories) Order and OTARs.
• Continuing Airworthiness Management Organisations (CAMOs)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCAACI delegates certain responsibilities to qualified CAMOs under the Air Navigation (Overseas Territories) Order. Selected CAMOs approved for aircraft transition activities provide services with CAACI regulatory oversight.
• Cayman Islands Airport Authority (CIAA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOperating permits are copied to CIAA for coordination on airport operations and handling.
• Utility Regulation and Competition Office (OfReg)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOfReg issues class 6 radio licenses for communication transceivers installed in Cayman Islands registered aircraft.
• Aviation Safety Support International / RAF KinlossminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerELT registration using UK Country code 232, with Aeronautical Mission Control Centre at RAF Kinloss holding the UK/Cayman database.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Bermuda Civil Aviation Authority: Operates the Bermuda Aircraft Registry, the most established offshore aircraft registry and CAACI's primary head-to-head competitor for lessor and corporate fleet registrations worldwide.
• Isle of Man Aircraft Registry: Manages the M- registration mark and competes directly with VP-C for private and corporate aircraft owners, particularly in Europe and Asia.
• Guernsey Aircraft Registry (2-Register): Channel Islands-based aircraft registry offering similar offshore registration services to corporate and lessor clients, with comparable UK regulatory links.
• Aruba Civil Aviation Authority: Operates the P4- registration mark and competes with CAACI in the Caribbean/European corporate aviation segment with similar tax-neutral positioning.
• Malta Civil Aviation Directorate (Transport Malta): Runs the 9H- aircraft registry, an EU-registered alternative for corporate and commercial fleets; competes directly for European operator business.

Broad incumbents

• UK Civil Aviation Authority: Sets the regulatory framework (OTARs) under which CAACI operates; provides both the parent regulatory authority for UK OTs and a competing registration regime (G-).
• Federal Aviation Administration (FAA): US regulator whose IASA Category 1 rating system defines the de facto global gold-standard benchmark CAACI meets; analogous regulatory authority at far larger scale.
• European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA): Pan-European regulator whose standards influence many jurisdictions including CAACI's; represents both a competitor in EU member registries and a coordination point for safety oversight.

Others

• Air Safety Support International (ASSI): UK Department for Transport body that provides oversight framework and publishes OTARs on behalf of UK OT governors; functions as CAACI's upstream regulator and operational partner.

Emerging players

• San Marino Civil Aviation Authority: Smaller emerging registry targeting similar corporate and private aviation customers; competes in the same niche offshore registry category as CAACI.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/civil-aviation-authority-of-the-cayman-islands

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Civil Aviation Authority of the Cayman Islands