BY April 2006, all foreign-based aircraft were removed from the Seychelles Aircraft Register at the request of the International Civil Aviation Authority (ICAO).
A special aircraft mortgage register was set up in 1996 to attract foreign aircraft registration in Seychelles. About 30 planes, including 10 from Vietnam and the rest from other Far East countries were registered here.
It was an important source of revenue, coming from various services, such as registration, renewal and air worthiness surveys.
But the newly set up Civil Aviation Authority (SCAA) failed to respond to a number of ICAO queries, at a time when there was concern about the airworthiness of some airlines. Most of the planes registered in Mahe were however new.
The ICAO sent a high level delegation to Seychelles and compelled the SCAA to implement its directives. Default of ICAO regulations came as a surprise as the SCAA had several highly skilled technicians whose competence is recognized in the region and beyond. Probably Mr. Faure might want to comment on this issue, the reading public waits with bated breath.