*2019 Winner Postgraduate Course of the Year in Law in the gradIreland Higher Education Awards; proud finalist in 2020.  

Application information

Applications for this course are now closed. If you are interested in applying for a future offering of the course please register for our Interested List.

Short video testimonial

Solicitors and Trainees

To pay online click on the 'Book Now' button, otherwise please complete one of the application forms, containing our bank details, in the Download section below and send it to diplomateam@lawsociety.ie, indicating in your cover email should you need an invoice to pay by EFT (Electronic Fund Transfer) or if you wish to pay by card over the phone.

Other Professionals

We welcome applications for this course from suitably qualified professionals. This application will need to be approved before you can book online. Please note, for non-members this course is subject to a supplemental fee of €335 bringing the total course fee to €3,500. No fees are required prior to approval. To apply please email the following documents to diplomateam@lawsociety.ie :

1. Completed application form (see below)
2. Curriculum Vitae
3. Short cover letter setting out your relevant experience

Download

• Application form  (pdf - for handwritten use)
• Application Form (word - for PC use)
• Timetable
• Faculty booklet (to follow)

Further information on this course including course structure, module scheme, faculty and workshop dates are set out below. Clicking on the links will bring you directly to that section or simply scroll through to read all the content.

• Programme structure
• Modules
• Workshops
• Assessments
• Who should attend?
• Faculty  

Programme objectives

On completion of this training programme, participants will be able to: 

• Analyse the key legal issues pertaining to the sale and lease of aircraft;
• Critically evaluate the finance structures involved, how to finance an aviation transaction, and funding available;
• Explain the key regulatory issues pertaining to aviation;
• Summarise the legal issues relating to key aviation matters, such as engines, maintenance reserves, security, taxation, insurance, records, and repossession;
• Draft and amend the key legal and financial documents and structures in aviation leasing and finance transactions;
• Advise on a range of aviation issues that arise in practice – be it from a lender, lessor, lessee, or airline.

Programme structure and approach to learning

Ireland is internationally recognised as the global hub for aviation leasing and finance, with 14 of the top 15 global aircraft lessors enjoying a presence here. More than 60% of the world’s fleet of leased aircraft is owned, leased, or managed in Ireland. The major industry players have been attracted by Ireland’s stable political regime, membership of the EU, favourable time zone, and talented workforce – not to mention our legal and regulatory advantages. In addition, Ireland’s network of over 70 double tax treaties, combined with the absence of withholding tax on aircraft lease rentals and a corporate tax rate of 12.5%, makes Ireland a commercially attractive place to set up and run an aircraft leasing company. 

This advanced-level diploma provides comprehensive coverage of the key aspects of the aviation leasing and finance industry. It aims to deliver an in-depth analysis of the core legal and practical issues that parties typically encounter in aircraft leasing and finance transactions. 

Modules

The programme is based on the following module scheme and covers key themes as listed below:

Module 1: Introduction to the aviation industry

• Origins of aviation industry in Ireland,
• Profile of aviation industry 2023,
• The bounce back after Covid-19 
• Reasons for development of Ireland as aviation hub,
• Analysis of main industry players in the sector,
• Overview of regulatory framework,
• Aviation sustainability.

Module 2: Purchase and Leasing Aircraft

• Reasons for investing in aircraft,
• Aircraft operating lease agreements and key clauses,
• Purchasing aircraft – the practical considerations,
• Relevant purchase documentation,
• Delivery of aircraft – acceptance certificates, relevant clauses,
• Aircraft trading – GATS trading e-platform.

Module 3: Aviation Finance

• Commercial debt financing for aviation,
• Analysis of key capital markets structures,
• PDP financing from a leasing company and bank perspective,
• Analysis of typical Expert Credit Agencies structure (ECA),
• Function of the Export-Import Bank (US) and Irish Stock Exchange,
• Typical security taken over aircraft.

Module 4: Regulatory environment

• Role of Irish Aviation Authority,
• The Chicago Convention, ICAO, IATA
• The Cape Town Convention,
• The International Registry of Mobile Assets,
• European Aviation Safety Agency Regulations,
• EU Emissions Trading Scheme,
• Registration and de-registration of aircraft.

Module 5: Taxation and Aviation

• Importance of Irish tax residence,
• Tax opinions, legal opinions,
• Double taxation treaty network,
• Withholding tax,
• Section 110 Companies.

Module 6: Insurance and Aviation

• Airline aviation insurances and key clauses,
• Lease insurance provisions in aircraft operating leases,
• Lessor considerations,
• Claims management,
• Standard endorsement analysis.

Module 7: Applied leasing issues

• Jurisdictional issues,
• Redelivery of aircraft,
• Helicopters – leasing, registration,
• Engine leasing,
• Maintenance reserves,
• Aircraft records management,
• Corporate service providers.

Module 8: Repossession and recovery

• Repossession in practice,
• Key documentation, key clauses,
• Material adverse changes,
• Relevant default provisions,
• Termination notices,
• Applications to court,
• Enforcement – practical steps.

Module 9: Fleet planning

• Fleet planning by airlines,
• Strategies engaged,
• Case studies,
• Lessor positioning.

Module 10: Case law and future trends

• Irish and UK aviation case law update,
• Overview of the aviation industry in Asia,
• Future trends for aviation industry.

Module 11: Career Panel event

This will afford students the opportunity to get expert advice from professionals in the industry about how to enter the aviation industry or how to successfully move sectors within the aviation industry.

Workshops

Workshops are a key feature of this course. These are designed to be interactive and involve working in groups on selected case-study problems and analysis, with an emphasis on the application of the law to common scenarios encountered in practice.

Workshop dates:

• Saturday 2 March 2024
• Saturday 13 April 2024
• Saturday 11 May 2024
• Saturday 1 June 2024

Assessments

Assignment due for submission in July 2024.

Who should attend?

In order to apply you must have a minimum of two years’ full-time experience in the aviation industry, or alternatively, have successfully completed the Certificate in Aviation Leasing and Finance . 

This course is suitable for:

• Solicitors, barristers, and trainees who advise aviation clients or who wish to join the aviation sector;
• Professionals working in the aviation industry who wish to expand their knowledge with a view to career advancement or moving laterally to another discipline within the industry;
• Professionals working in aircraft leasing companies or airlines;
• Contract administrators and engineers;
• Professionals in financial institutions that fund the purchase of aircraft;
• Accountants, finance professionals, and tax consultants advising aviation clients; and
• Insurance professionals specialising in aviation insurance.

We welcome applications for this course from other professionals who are suitably qualified. Please explain your interest and set out any relevant experience in a cover letter and a brief CV. Such applications are subject to a supplemental fee of €300. An application form can be downloaded on our website. Those who have successfully completed the Certificate in Aviation Leasing and Finance Law will be eligible for a discount on their diploma application. 

Hear from our graduates

“As a solicitor working in the aircraft leasing and finance industry, I chose to undertake this diploma in order to further develop and enhance my specialist knowledge in the sector and the diploma certainly delivered on that front. The programme and syllabus is very comprehensive and very well designed. I studied many topics which I was already quite familiar with from my day to day work and this gave me the opportunity to really drill down into these areas and develop my expertise. Equally, we covered topics I was a lot less familiar with and getting the opportunity to study these areas and understand the fundamentals of them has really broadened my knowledge base. 

“The programme is also perfectly tailored to busy working professionals. The course organisers are clearly very cognisant of the fact that the majority of people undertaking the diploma will have very demanding jobs and so the flexible online manner in which the course is offered is superb and most welcome.”

– Aengus Farrell (Associate, Matheson), Diploma in Aviation Leasing & Finance Graduate 2019

Faculty

The teaching faculty for this diploma comprises a fantastic array of world-renowned legal practitioners from Ireland, the UK,  the USA and Asia, along with leading aviation industry specialists. Lecturers and tutors are drawn from the leading law firms specialising in aviation law, aircraft leasing and management companies, the International Registry of Mobile Assets, asset management companies, insurance companies and the Irish Aviation Authority. Previous lectures have included:

• Donna Ager, Maples Group,
  
• David Berkery, Vinson & Elkins,
• Rob Cowan, Aviareto,
• Dr. Donal Hanley, Professor,
• Dr. David Yu, NYU, Shanghai,
• Jeanette Delahanty, Castlelake Aviation,
• Patrick Farrell, Norton Rose Fulbright,
• Marie Ryan, Avolon,
• Gwen Edwards, CMS, 
• Chris Hardisty, Clifford Chance,
• Stuart Kennedy, Matheson,
• Brenda Caulfield, CDB Aviation,
• Kate Fitzpatrick, Aercap, 
• Stephen Gardiner, Matheson,
• Daniel Kiely, BoComm Leasing, 
• Kirk Malahy, AerCap,
• Killian McSharry, Walkers,
• Yvonne McWeeney, Matheson,
• Kieran Oliver, Shannon Engine Support,
• Marie O’Brien, A&L Goodbody,
• Christine O’Donovan, Mason Hayes & Curran,
• Niamh O'Meara, Milestone Aviation Group,
• Georgina O’Riordan, McCann Fitzgerald,
• David Fiore, Ex-Im Bank,
• Daniel Roberts, Lobo Leasing Limited,
• Kevin Masterson, Irish Aviation Authority,
• Shane Carroll, JLPS Limited,
• Mark Shtenko, Deucalion,
• Lucy Shtenko, Watson Farley & Williams,
• Ronan Stewart, Ventoux Aviation,
• Gerry Thornton, Matheson,
• Mary Townsend, ASL Aviation Holdings,
  Jeff Veber, Vedder Price.

CPD

The number of hours of CPD that solicitors may claim in relation to this course will depend on the way in which you access each of the individual sessions. For latest details and the booklet, see CPD scheme.

Contact

Sara van den Bergh, Solicitor, Course Leader: s.vandenbergh@lawsociety.ie

*Every effort has been made to ensure the information contained in these pages is accurate and up to date. However timetables and course content are subject to change and date and time changes may occur due to factors beyond our control.

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