COMPLETED with a customised call sign M-HHHH and VIP interior this Airbus 318 is the latest corporate jet – and one of the largest and most expensive – to go on the Manx aircraft register.
It touched down at Ronaldsway for a few hours last week for paperwork to be completed before heading off again to its new home in Moscow.
The brand new aircraft was manufactured in Hamburg from where its wealthy owner took delivery of it on Thursday. That same day it landed in the island as the 472nd plane to join the Manx aircraft register.
Director of civil aviation at the Aircraft Register Hartley Elder said: ‘It’s much bigger than the average aircraft on the Manx register.
‘To resolve taxation issues, the aircraft had to fly outside the EU and then back in. The first place it landed was the Isle of Man [which is treated as being in the EU for VAT purposes].
‘It was on the ground at Ronaldsway for a few hours before it took off again for Moscow.’
Mr Elder said the client would have paid extra for the customised call sign M-HHHH.
It is estimated that the Airbus, complete with its VIP interior, would cost in excess of £100 million to purchase.
The Airbus is a medium-range jet airliner that can carry 132 passengers, but in line with registry rules will not be allowed to operate commercially.
Appleby in the island was involved with the latest addition to the Manx register as corporate service provider for the new owner.