The Legal Regime for International Interests in Aircraft Equipment under the Cape Town Convention and Protocol

The Convention on International Interests in Mobile Equipment and the Protocol to the Convention on International Interests in Mobile Equipment on Matters specific to Aircraft Equipment were adopted on 16 November 2001 at a diplomatic conference held in Cape Town under the joint auspices of UNIDROIT and ICAO. The entry into force of the Cape Town Convention and Protocol have occurred on 1 March 2006. The Cape Town Convention and Protocol provides an international legal regime for the creation, perfection and priority of security, title retention and leasing interests in aircraft equipment, which will be underpinned by an international registry. The purpose of this paper is to explain the objectives and principles of the Cape Town Convention and Protocol, to review the provisions relating to the international interests in aircraft equipment and international registry for their protection under the Cape Town Convention and Protocol, and to discuss the issues on Korea's accession to the Cape Town Convention and Protocol. As the anticipated results of this paper, it will contribute to facilitate the financing of the acquisition and use of aircraft equipment of high value or particular economic significance in an efficient manner, and to save very large sums of money annually in financing charges, also the international interests in aircraft equipment will be recognized and protected universally.