First pan-island aviation regulator appointed in nearly two years

Wednesday 31 August 2022

Jersey and Guernsey have a joint aviation regulator for the first time since the previous incumbent was removed from office after an investigation into his conduct nearly two years ago.

John Nicholas has been named as the next Director of Civil Aviation for Jersey, Guernsey and Alderney.

The role comprises of several regulatory responsibilities for Channel Islands Controlled Air Space, including legal powers that cover regulation of the Jersey, Guernsey, and Alderney airports; oversight of the technical approvals for any aircraft registered with the Guernsey and Jersey aircraft registries; and oversight of aviation security and meteorological services.

Mr Nicholas previously worked for the UK Civil Aviation Authority, where his roles included Head of Licensing Standards and Policy, Head of Applications and Approvals, and Head of Technical Services, responsible for a number regulatory functions including the issue of Certificates of Airworthiness and Permits to Fly, applications for Airworthiness approvals, and the oversight of approved training organisations and examinations.

Pictured: Mr Nicholas has consulted on Channel Islands aviation safety projects previously.

Since leaving the CAA, he has worked for a UK airline as Technical Director.

External Relations Minister Philip Ozouf said: “I welcome the joint appointment of Mr Nicholas to the Channel Islands Office of the DCA as Director. He is a highly experienced aviation regulator and has worked in several senior roles at the CAA, as an aviation safety consultant and within airline commercial operations.

“He brings years of aviation safety and regulation experience to the office, and we wish him every success in this critical role”.

Guernsey Deputy Neil Inder, who is President of the Committee for Economic Development, said: “Mr Nicholas is initially appointed as Acting Director of Civil Aviation for a six-month period. 

“In accordance with the Aviation Laws, it is then intended that the States of Guernsey and Jersey’s Minister for External Relations will be asked whether they wish to confirm him as Director of Civil Aviation for a further period of 36 months”.

Mr Nicholas said: “Having consulted on Channel Islands aviation safety projects previously, I am looking forward to working in the islands again. The existing teams in Jersey and Guernsey have done a great job in the absence of a full-time DCA and I look forward building on their work”

Each island has had their own DCA since early 2021, after the previous holder of the joint role, Dominic Lazarus, was sacked by the States of Guernsey after an investigation into his conduct found “a combination of repeated poor performance, failure to learn from previous mistakes and lack of competence as a regulator on the DCA’s part.”

Since then, former Jersey Airport Director Inez Bartelo, who had been Deputy DCA, stepped up to regulate for the island. 

Pictured: Inez Bartolo was Acting DCA for Jersey alone after Mr Lazarus was removed.

One of her first major decisions was to rescind a decision of a predecessor and rule that the 1937 terminal at the Airport was not an obstacle to safe flight operations and didn't have to be demolished.

That prompted the Ports of Jersey to redesign its own plans to develop the Airport. 

More recently, her decision to sign off on a private helicopter flight landing at Les Landes racecourse generated much discussion locally.