Aviation Finance & Leasing 2024 Comparisons

A sales agreement, if executed while the asset is in India, runs the risk of being levied with several taxes in India, such as goods and services tax and stamp duty. Where an original document (executed outside of India) is not stamped with the requisite stamp duty, it must be affixed with the requisite stamp duty within three months after it has been received in India. Certain states also impose stamp duty on copies of sales agreements.

The enforceability of a sales agreement will not be affected by the language in which it is written. However, if a sales agreement needs to be submitted to a court or a government entity, it is recommended to have it translated into English and notarised. Furthermore, if a document is not properly stamped, courts in India have the power to detain the document and refuse to admit it into evidence unless and until it is properly stamped.

Under Indian law, if an offer by one party is accepted by another for consideration, such an act or series of acts shall constitute “transferring title”, and this holds for all installed parts, including an auxiliary power unit.

Under the general applicability of Indian law, the sale of an ownership interest in an entity that owns an aircraft or engine shall be recognised as a sale of that entity only.

There is no prohibition on bills of sale in relation to aircraft or engines being governed by any foreign law in India.

A bill of sale should ideally note that a valid contract has been entered into – ie, that there has been an offer by the seller and acceptance by the purchaser, and that the seller has received consideration.

If a bill of sale is executed in any language other than English, it is recommended that a translated copy be provided for its proper enforcement. Notarisation is also recommended.

Generally, a bill of sale is not required to be registered, filed or subject to any consent from any government entity. At the time of registration of an aircraft, the registration authority may require a notarised copy of the bill of sale.

Execution of a bill of sale or the consummation of the sale of the ownership interest may be taxed in India while an aircraft is located in India. Most such transactions are undertaken when the aircraft is flying over international waters or flying over or parked on the territory of another country.

If validly executed, operating/wet/finance leases or leases concerning only engines or parts are permissible and will be recognised under the law of India. Wet and finance leases require specific approval of the regulatory authorities in advance of execution.

It is fairly common for a foreign law-governed lease to be recognised in India. A court shall apply such law as long as the parties' rights deriving from such a lease are not opposed to public policy and are not in breach of Indian law.

India is an exchange-controlled country; therefore, any remittance of foreign exchange (including US dollars) requires the approval of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) or any authority it prescribes. Most of these approvals have been delegated by the RBI to its commercial banks (known as authorised dealer, or AD, banks), making it easier for a domestic lessee to make rent payments to foreign operating lessors in foreign exchange. Specific approval is required from the RBI in case of remittance of payments under finance leases.

Repatriation of foreign exchange as rent payments requires the indirect approval of the RBI. In relation to operating leases, the power to approve is delegated to AD banks, but the remittance of payments for finance leases requires the specific approval of the RBI. Similarly, in cases where a lease is enforced by a foreign lessor (operating or finance), the RBI's approval would also be required before the repatriation of any realised proceeds.

The execution of a lease agreement physically in India would typically attract the levy of stamp duty. The stamp duty on lease agreements executed overseas must be paid within three months of such a document’s entry into India.

A lessor does not need to be licensed or otherwise qualified in India to do business with a domestic lessee. However, a foreign lessor based in a prohibited or sanctioned country would not be permitted to do business in India.

No mandatory terms are required to be in a lease; the lease itself must be a valid and binding contract between two parties competent to contract.

Tax and “gross-up” clauses are permissible and may be enforced by the courts, provided they form part of the binding contract entered into between the parties.

A lease agreement can cover parts installed or replaced on an aircraft or engine after its execution, provided the agreement contemplates such inclusion/coverage. For parts not covered under the lease, the parties may enter a simple side letter or short lease amendment agreement.

India will recognise the separate (and distinct) rights of both the owner(s) of the airframe and the owner(s) of each engine. As such, with India being a common law jurisdiction, title annexation does not apply.

Indian law recognises the concept of a trust and the role of an owner trustee.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is the authority responsible for maintaining the aircraft register in India and records the details of the owner, lessor, operator and mortgagee (if applicable). The effect of such notation on the aircraft register shall amount to notice to all third parties regarding the existence of such an interest in that aircraft.

Registration is possible even if the owner differs from the operator. Once registered, an aircraft is issued a certificate of registration by the DGCA, containing details such as the name, address and nationality of the owner, lessor, operator and mortgagee (if applicable) of the aircraft.

At the time of registration of an aircraft taken on lease, the applicant is required to submit a copy of the lease agreement to the DGCA. DGCA requirements state that any lease amendments or novations must also be filed with the DGCA. There is no engine-specific register nor any requirement to submit a lease in relation to an aircraft engine to any authority in India.

An aircraft taken on lease by an Indian operator from a foreign lessor cannot be registered in India unless the applicant has submitted a copy of the lease to the DGCA. Leases are not subject to any consent from any government entity.

A copy of the lease agreement, the electronic CA-28 aircraft registration form and other documents shall be filed for registering aircraft with the DGCA. This process may take anywhere from two to four weeks.

Before a lessee may import an aircraft into India, it must seek the consent of the DGCA. The DGCA first grants “in principle” approval for the import of the aircraft, subject to satisfaction regarding the safety of the aircraft intended to be imported, and then accords its final approval. While no consent is required as a pre-requisite to the execution of a lease, the “no objection” of the DGCA is required before the import of an aircraft on lease will be permitted.

There is no specific form in which a lease must be registered on the aircraft registry. If it is executed in a different language, a lease needs to be translated into English. Furthermore, a notarised copy of the lease would be valid and registrable on the aircraft registry.

There is a fee for the registration of an aircraft on the Indian aircraft registry based on the aircraft's weight. No other taxes or duties are payable for registering a lease.

Aircraft habitually based in India must be registered in the country. There are very few circumstances in which a foreign-registered aircraft is permitted to operate habitually in India, with the most common being in relation to a wet lease (when a foreign-registered aircraft is permitted to operate in India). Wet leases are also only permitted in the country in exceptional circumstances.

Copies of the following documents must be uploaded on the DGCA's online platform, e-GCA, along with the completed CA-28 aircraft registration form (notarisation of the documents is recommended):

• customs clearance certificate/bill of entry of the aircraft;
• certificate of deregistration from the previous registering authority;
• evidence to the effect that the aircraft has been purchased or is wholly owned by the applicant;
• an affidavit stating that the aircraft has been purchased from a previous owner, if applicable;
• a copy of the lease agreement if the aircraft is taken on a dry lease;
• a document of registration of the company and the names, addresses and nationalities of the directors if the aircraft is owned by a company or corporation;
• a copy of the import licence issued by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade or permission for the import of aircraft issued by the Ministry of Civil Aviation/DGCA;
• in cases where the aircraft has been mortgaged/hypothecated, the owner/operator shall submit their consent for this and the papers to this effect; and
• letters from the owner, lessor, operator and mortgagee (if applicable) confirming the names and nationality of their directors, and requesting for or consenting to (as the case may be) the aircraft registration.

A foreign lessor may be required to pay income or other taxes upon leasing an aircraft or engine to an Indian lessee, depending on the domicile of the foreign lessor and the provisions of the specific double taxation avoidance treaty with the country of domicile of the foreign lessor and India. Ordinarily, where a lessee is required to withhold tax but does not do so, the onus would remain with the lessee; the responsibility would not shift to the foreign lessor.

A foreign lessor would ordinarily not be deemed to be resident, domiciled in or carrying out any business in India by virtue of being a party to a lease or because of enforcement of a lease. However, it is always prudent to have a tax expert study the relevant double tax avoidance treaty between the country of domicile of the foreign lessor and India.

Unless the direct involvement and consequent negligence of the foreign lessor are proven in respect of aircraft or engine maintenance and operations, no liabilities would be imposed on the foreign lessor as a result of their being a party to such a lease.

A lessee under a dry lease remains primarily liable for loss or damage caused by the aircraft to third parties and for injuries to the person or property of third parties or passengers, and is responsible for any breach of environmental laws; in the event of a claim, however, both the lessor and the lessee would generally get sued. Needless to say, both the lessor and the lessee will be liable for negligence in relation to the aircraft arising as a result of their own acts and omissions.

The Indian law on vicarious liability confines the liability of the master to the torts committed by their servants and agents where these were within the scope of the servant’s/agent’s authority. As the relationship between the lessor and lessee is on a principal-to-principal basis, there will be no vicarious liability either. However, there are four exceptions to the above rule:

• where the lessor retains control over the lessee and interferes with and/or makes themselves a party to the tortious act;
• where the act contracted to be done is wrongful or illegal;
• where a legal or statutory duty is imposed on the lessor; and
• where the act contracted to be done is, by its nature, likely to cause danger to others – in such a case, there is a duty on the part of the lessor to take all reasonable precautions against such a risk.

Creditors of a domestic lessee may exercise a lien over the aircraft, but do not have the right to sell the leased aircraft.

The following third-party rights would take priority over a lessor’s rights under an aircraft or engine lease:

• the Airports Authority of India can exercise a lien on the aircraft for any unpaid dues, such as landing and parking charges – this also includes the private airport operators exercising under the powers vested to the Airports Authority of India;
• an unpaid bailee can exercise a mechanic's lien;
• statutory dues such as taxes, workmen's wages, etc, form the first charge on the asset; and
• the government or its agencies can confiscate, detain or requisition aircraft (whether foreign-owned or otherwise) under certain circumstances, such as if the central government declares an emergency or if the aircraft is involved in criminal activity.

Indian registered aircraft may be insured by an Indian insurer, which in turn would seek reinsurance on the international insurance market – provided, however, that there is a 4% reinsurance retention (ie, obligatory cession), which is mandatorily required to be reinsured with the General Insurance Company of India.

The operator must have insurance coverage for liability towards the hull, crew, passengers and third parties. Insurance is also mandatory for baggage, etc, as may be required under the Carriage by Air Act, 1972.

A 4% reinsurance retention is mandatorily required with the General Insurance Company of India.

“Cut-through” clauses are enforceable in India.

Assignments of insurances and reinsurances are routinely carried out in aircraft transactions in India.

A foreign lessor may terminate an aircraft lease if the lessee defaults on their obligations under the lease. As long as the foreign lessor is acting within the terms of the lease, there are no restrictions on their ability to terminate. A foreign lessor would be required to obtain permission from the customs authorities to re-export the aircraft from India. The sale of the aircraft following such termination is permissible.

There is no procedure for exercising self-help remedies under local laws in India. Peaceful repossession of the aircraft can, of course, be obtained without judicial intervention. Legally, the lessor may terminate the agreement and take possession or control of the aircraft. In cases where there is no co-operation, the lessor has the option to approach the court.

There are no specific courts that are explicitly competent to decide aviation disputes. The value, facts and circumstances of the aviation dispute would determine the forum.

The Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (CPC) provides for summary procedures under Order XXXVII. Summary procedures may only be effective in cases where a foreign lessor seeks to recover unpaid rent and other monies under the lease and not to enforce the lease. The courts of law are ready to intervene upon proper proceedings being filed.

Interim measures such as the grounding of the aircraft can be obtained fairly quickly, usually within a week or two of the initiation of the legal action. Where there is an arbitration clause, the court and the arbitral tribunal have the power to pass an interim protection order.

In India, as elsewhere, the granting of an injunction under the CPC is a discretionary remedy, which may be granted unconditionally or upon the court's imposed terms. In exercising its jurisdiction, the court will not enter into a pre-trial assessment of the lessor's claim. If the court is satisfied that the lessor has a prima facie case against the lessee and that, in the absence of an injunction, “irreparable injury” or loss that cannot be compensated in the form of damages is likely to be caused to the lessor, it will grant the injunction. Before granting an injunction, the court will direct that notice of it be given to the lessee, except in cases where it appears that the object of granting the injunction would be defeated by such delay as would result from this.

India would recognise a lease governed by foreign law and will enforce its terms and sustain claims arising under it as long as the rights are not in breach of Indian law or public policy. Submission to a foreign jurisdiction would also be recognised.

Reciprocating Territories

A foreign decree can only be executed in India directly as if it had been passed by a court in India in certain cases. Section 44A of the CPC provides, inter alia, that where a foreign judgment has been rendered by a superior court in any country or territory outside India, which the government has by a notification declared to be a reciprocating territory, it may be enforced in India by proceedings in execution as if the relevant court of India had rendered the judgment.

Conditions for Enforceability of Foreign Judgments

Courts in India may refuse execution if the decree falls within any of the following exceptions specified in Section 13 of the CPC, which, inter alia, provides that a foreign judgment shall be conclusive of any matter directly adjudicated upon, except where:

• a court of competent jurisdiction has not pronounced it;
• it has not been given on the merits of the case;
• it appears on the face of the proceedings to be founded on an incorrect view of international law or a refusal to recognise the law of India in cases where such law is applicable;
• the proceedings in which the judgment was obtained were opposed to natural justice;
• it has been obtained by fraud; or
• it sustains a claim founded on a breach of any law in force in India.

Section 44A, however, only refers to decrees or judgments under which a sum of money is payable. Essentially, it must be a money decree to fall within the purview of Section 44A.

Enforcement of Judgments from Non-reciprocating Territories

In the absence of any reciprocal arrangement or treaty, a suit will have to be filed to enforce any such judgment or order obtained. The United Kingdom and Northern Ireland have been declared as reciprocating territories for the purpose of Section 44A. Curiously, there is no such arrangement with the USA.

In a suit on a foreign judgment, the Indian court cannot go into the merits of the original claim nor question its correctness or propriety. Through precedent, the courts have held that the word “judgment” in the expression “foreign judgment” has been assigned the same meaning as given to it in English law, whereby it refers to the decree or order of a foreign court. A foreign judgment must be final and conclusive in the court in which it is passed in order to be considered a valid cause of action.

In order to establish that a final and conclusive judgment has been pronounced, it must be shown that, in the court in which it has been pronounced, it conclusively, finally and forever established the existence of the right of which it is sought to be made conclusive evidence in India to make it res judicata (ie, a thing conclusively decided between parties).

Indian courts would render a judgment in a foreign currency upon request and upon the satisfaction of sufficient cause.

As long as the court does not form the opinion that the default interest or the penalty imposed on the lessee is excessive or uncalled for, there are no limitations on a lessor's ability to recover default interest or charge additional rent following the termination of the lease for default. If a court concludes that the default interest or penalty on the lessee is not sustainable, it may levy a rate of interest on its own accord, which would ordinarily be the prevailing market rate of interest.

A lessor under an aircraft lease seeking enforcement of such a lease would not be required to pay any taxes or fees. The lessor may, however, have to pay any unpaid taxes that were the lessee's responsibility, in order to export the aircraft from the country.

If the lease terms provide a notice period, then such notice period must be adhered to unless specifically waived by the lessee.

In India, the doctrine of sovereign immunity does not apply to statutory corporations or bodies incorporated under the (Indian) Companies Act, 2013 or to any government-owned entities. This doctrine applies only to exercising certain sovereign functions the state performs.

India has ratified the Geneva Convention and the New York Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards. Any foreign award under the New York Convention can be enforced in India in accordance with the provisions of Part II of the (Indian) Arbitration and Conciliation Act 1996. Where the court concerned in India is satisfied that such a foreign award is enforceable under the Act, the award is deemed to be a decree of that court and enforceable as such. The courts will not revisit the issues involved in the arbitration nor sit as a court of appeal.

In general, it is prudent to factor in a significant amount of time to properly enforce one’s rights in India, mainly due to the country's complex bureaucracy. In case of any contest by the lessee, enforcement may be delayed.

India recognises the concepts of both contractual assignment and novation.

As long as the New York or English law-governed assignment and assumption agreement or novation agreement is a valid contract under Indian law, the courts in India will uphold the validity of such an agreement. The consent of the lessee will also be required for such an agreement to be valid and enforceable. As long as the agreement itself is not opposed to public policy, such an agreement does not need to contain any specific mandatory terms in order to be valid under Indian law.

The aircraft and/or engine lease assignment and assumption/novation agreement should be translated if it is not in English, and then notarised.

The DGCA recently mandated that all aircraft lease assignment and novation agreements must be filed with the regulator. As such, there is no requirement for an engine lease assignment and novation agreement to be filed with the DGCA, but it is recommended. Such agreements are not subject to any consent from any government entity.

The procedure for filing an aircraft or engine lease assignment and assumption/novation agreement is fairly simple: a notarised copy of the agreement may be filed under a covering letter with a request that it be placed on the aircraft file. A change in the ownership of an aircraft needs to be recorded in the aircraft register and on the certificate of registration of the aircraft; the rules and regulations also state that it is illegal for any person to fly or assist in flying such an aircraft until the name of the new owner is endorsed on the certificate of registration. Permission must specifically be sought from the DGCA to continue flying the aircraft until such activity is carried out.

No consent is required in advance, but it is usual practice to apply to the DGCA seeking permission to continue flying the aircraft in case of a change of ownership.

No taxes or duties are payable in respect of such an assignment and assumption/novation agreement. As is usual practice with lease agreements, the original assignment and assumption/novation agreement, if brought into India, must be “stamped” within three months of it first being received in the country. Certain states also require copies of agreements to be “stamped”.

In cases where the ownership interest of an entity owning an aircraft is transferred with legal title to the asset remaining with that entity, a change on the certificate of registration of the aircraft would not be required, so the aircraft may continue flying unhindered.

An aircraft in India may be deregistered on the application of the lessee/operator, the owner, the lessor, the holder of the Irrevocable De-Registration and Export Request Authorisation or its certified designee.

DGCA Suo Moto

The DGCA may also suo moto cancel the registration of an aircraft if:

• it no longer satisfies the ownership test;
• the registration has been obtained by furnishing false information;
• the aircraft could more suitably be registered in some other country;
• the lease in respect of the aircraft has been terminated in accordance with the terms of the lease agreement;
• the certificate of airworthiness in respect of the aircraft has expired for a period of five years or more;
• the aircraft has been destroyed or permanently withdrawn from use; or
• it is inexpedient in terms of the public interest that the aircraft should remain registered in India.

Lessee/Operator or Foreign Lessor/Owner

The lessee/operator or foreign lessor/owner may apply to the DGCA for the deregistration of an aircraft where the lease in respect of the aircraft has expired or has been terminated in accordance with the terms of the lease. The applicant would have to approach the DGCA with a written application requesting deregistration and the reason for such a request. The consent of all the parties named on the certificate of registration should also be enclosed.

IDERA Holder

An IDERA holder or their authorised signatory or certified designee is required to lodge an IDERA with the DGCA as per the extant guidelines.

An IDERA holder may also apply to the DGCA for the deregistration of the aircraft in light of the Cape Town Convention and Aircraft Protocol.

The IDERA holder would have to approach the DGCA with an application as prescribed under Aeronautical Information Circular (AIC) 12 of 2018 issued by the DGCA.

The consent of the lessee or operator is required in all situations, except when an IDERA holder or its certified designee applies to the DGCA for deregistration, annexing the original or notarised IDERA.

If deregistration is sought under an IDERA, the IDERA holder or its certified designee must submit an application form as per AIC 12 of 2018, annexing the original or notarised copy of the IDERA. The IDERA holder or its certified designee must also provide evidence that all international interests ranking in priority to that of the IDERA holder in relation to the aircraft have been discharged or, alternatively, provide the consent of the entity named as the priority interest holder in the aircraft as per the International Registry.

Alternatively, when deregistration is not sought under the IDERA route, the owner, mortgagee or lessor must apply to the DGCA annexing the original “no objection” letters from each of the entities named on the aircraft's certificate of registration. The DGCA always has the power to request any additional documentation that it may deem fit during the scrutiny of an application for deregistration.

Deregistration under the IDERA route as per AIC 12 of 2018 and Rule 30(7) of the Aircraft Rules, 1937 shall be carried out within five working days from the date of receipt of the application from the IDERA holder or its certified designee. However, in recent experience, the DGCA has taken closer to 28 days to deregister certain aircraft. Deregistration under any other method may take anywhere from one to four weeks, assuming the DGCA does not request any additional documents, which may be sought on a case-by-case basis.

There is no precedent of the DGCA providing advance assurances to an aircraft owner, mortgagee or lessor regarding the prompt deregistration of an aircraft.

No fees or taxes are chargeable in respect of the deregistration of an aircraft. Costs are also minimal.

A deregistration power of attorney should satisfy the general principles of powers of attorney – ie, it should not confer any power that the issuer itself does not possess. Furthermore, a power of attorney must be executed on Indian stamp paper and attested by a notary public. Also, it is recommended that it be executed in English or any language the grantor can fluently understand. Advance recordation of the deregistration power of attorney with the DGCA is not required but is recommended.

The person exercising powers under the deregistration power of attorney would need to demonstrate that they are duly authorised by the attorney (in the case of a corporate entity) to sign and act on behalf of such an attorney. A board resolution or officers certificate issued by the attorney would usually suffice.

It is recommended that deregistration powers of attorney be governed by Indian law.

Usually, if a deregistration power of attorney is stated to be irrevocable, the grantor would not be able to revoke it. However, in practice, the grantor could always dispute a power of attorney on the grounds of fraud, coercion or misrepresentation.

Under India's regulations, an IDERA holder or its certified designee can deregister and export an aircraft from India without the lessee's consent. If the mortgagee of an aircraft is the IDERA holder or the certified designee, it may also export the aircraft without the owner's or lessor's consent. The asset does not need to be located in India at the time of deregistration.

The following permissions are required for the export of an aircraft from India:

• permission from the DGCA under AIC 12 of 2018 (after the IDERA holder pays government dues accrued against the aircraft for three months prior to the date of application for deregistration); and
• permission from the customs and tax authorities and from the Reserve Bank of India.

These permissions cannot be issued in advance, and the time required to grant each licence may range from two to three weeks.

No taxes are payable in respect of the export of an aircraft from India; costs and fees may vary on a case-by-case basis.

The DGCA usually requests proof of deactivation of the Mode S code from the aircraft. All original documentation (request letters, etc) should be notarised, and adequate proof should be included to demonstrate that the signatory of original documents submitted to the DGCA is duly authorised to do so by their company/employer. In another recent matter, the DGCA refused to deregister aircraft within five working days from the date of receipt of the application from the IDERA holder and requested various documentation instead. Adequate responses had to be filed and paperwork provided to overcome the objections raised by the DGCA.

The present statutory regime for the reorganisation and insolvency resolution of a corporate entity is governed by the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 (the “Code”), some provisions of which came into force in November 2016. The Code brings the insolvency laws in India under a single umbrella with an objective to, inter alia, maximise the valuation of the corporate debtor's assets through corporate restructuring or liquidation in a time-bound manner.

The Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process (CIRP) can be initiated upon the occurrence of default of a minimum of INR10 million by a financial or operative creditor, or at the instance of the corporate entity itself. The corporate entity can initiate the voluntary liquidation process where no default has been committed.

Companies incorporated in India can also be wound up by order of the NCLT under the provisions of the Companies Act, 2013 on an application being filed by the company, or in the following circumstances:

• if the company has acted against the interests of the sovereignty and integrity of India, the security of the State, etc;
• if the affairs of the company have been conducted in a fraudulent manner, etc;
• if the company has made a default in filing its financial statements or annual returns for the immediately preceding five consecutive financial years with the Registrar; or
• if the tribunal is of the opinion that it is just and equitable that the company should be wound up.

There is no clear framework for cross-border co-operation in the instance of overseas insolvency proceedings under any statute in India. The provisions under the Code dealing with cross-border insolvency are based on the scheme of entering into separate bilateral agreements with the government of foreign countries and the issuance of letters of request (LOR) by the competent tribunal.

However, in the CIRP of Jet Airways India Limited, which commenced in India in June 2019, it was brought to the attention of the tribunal in India that a competent court in the Netherlands had already initiated insolvency proceedings against Jet Airways, wherein a Boeing 777-300ER aircraft had been seized by a creditor at Amsterdam's Schiphol airport. The tribunal ordered the resolution professional appointed in India to consider the prospect of co-ordinating with the Dutch trustee, and consequently a “cross-border insolvency protocol” was executed between both parties to promote co-operation and co-ordination among the two authorities in different jurisdictions on the matter.

There has been judicial activism and reports from the committee constituted by the government to make provisions under the Indian statute in line with the UNCITRAL Model Law on Cross-Border Insolvency.

While an order admitting an insolvency application filed by the lessee would not result in the IDERA being ineffective, the powers under a deregistration power of attorney would likely still be affected, considering the management and control of the company shifts to the resolution professional (akin to an administrator), who has over-reaching powers under the Code. Therefore, lessors, owners and mortgagees of aircraft must still be prudent and act swiftly upon the initiation of insolvency proceedings.

If a liquidator is appointed or if a similar process is initiated, the lease will not be set aside. The aircraft owner and its rights (under an operating lease) will be recognised, and the aircraft will not be deemed part of the lessee's property. Government dues, taxes, wages, etc, will always take precedence over the lessor's rights in terms of recovery of monies.

In an operating lease, the owner of the aircraft will always be recognised as the title holder. The main risk for a lender in the insolvency of the borrower, guarantor or entity providing security is the inability to recover its debt.

Under the Code, the tribunal may pass an order commencing a corporate insolvency resolution process – this triggers a moratorium of 180 days, extendable by a maximum further period of 90 days (or any further time the tribunal may deem fit, not exceeding 330 days in total). In the recent GoFirst insolvency, the court extended the moratorium by a further 60 days beyond the 330-day period on discretionary grounds.

If the debt owed by a debtor is above INR100,000 (increased to INR10 million in March 2020, due to the COVID-19 crisis), the Code proposes two independent processes:

• an insolvency resolution process; or
• liquidation.

A creditor or the corporate debtor itself must apply to the NCLT to initiate the CIRP of the debtor company. Once a corporate debtor is admitted into the CIRP, its board of directors is suspended and its management is placed under an independent “interim resolution professional”. Simultaneously, a moratorium takes effect, which prohibits:

• the continuation or initiation of any legal proceedings against the corporate debtor;
• the transfer of its assets;
• the enforcement of any security interest;
• the recovery of any property from it by an owner or lessor; and
• the suspension or termination of the supply of essential goods and services to it.

However, as per the notification dated 3 October 2023, this moratorium shall not apply to transactions, arrangements or agreements, under the Cape Town Convention and the Protocol, relating to aircraft, aircraft engines, airframes and helicopters.

The moratorium lasts for the duration of the CIRP period – ie, 180 days extendable by another 90 days (or any further time the tribunal may deem fit, not exceeding 330 days in total). The interim resolution professional will then invite and verify claims made by the corporate debtor's creditors, classify them, and form a committee of creditors comprised of all the financial creditors of the corporate debtor, who shall, in turn, appoint an independent professional to function as the “resolution professional”. Any resolution plan for the revival of the company needs to be approved by financial creditors holding 66% of the voting share.

If no plan is approved by the committee within the timeframe available, it may opt for liquidation. The NCLT is then required to order the liquidation of the corporate debtor. If an order of liquidation is passed, a liquidator will be appointed to sell the assets of the corporate debtor and distribute the proceeds among the creditors.

Ipso facto defaults are regular inclusions in lease transactions relating to aircraft in India and would be recognised to repossess an aircraft during lessee insolvency proceedings. Defaults under the Code that arose during the COVID-19 pandemic have been excluded from the period from 25 March 2020 to 24 March 2021.

In cases where a domestic lessee is wound-up, an aircraft on an operating lease may be taken back by its owner, and the lease agreement would no longer subsist. All rights flowing from the lease – rent, security deposit and maintenance reserves – would also end.

The 2001 Cape Town Convention on International Interests in Mobile Equipment and the Protocol on Matters Specific to Aircraft Equipment (Aircraft Protocol) are in force in India. However, several implementation issues have been dealt with over the years by the MoCA, which has been holding frequent consultations with the Aviation Working Group. Various amendments have been made to India's subordinate legislation – ie, the Aircraft Rules, 1937, Civil Aviation Requirements (CARs) and AICs, which enshrine the tenets of the Cape Town Convention.

Several conflicts remain between local municipal law and the Cape Town Convention – in such scenarios, local law shall prevail over international obligations. To remedy this issue, the government introduced a draft of the Protection and Enforcement of Interests in Aircraft Objects Bill, 2022 on 13 April 2022 and invited comments and suggestions from the general public. The government further notified another draft on 20 July 2022 and has received all public comments. The Bill must follow the procedure prescribed to be placed before both houses of Parliament before it can be enacted into law.

The Convention

India has made extensive declarations under the Convention, as listed below.

Specific declaration under Article 39(1)(a)

“The following categories of non-consensual right or interest have priority under its laws over an interest in an aircraft object equivalent to that of the holder of a registered international interest and shall have priority over a registered international interest, whether in or outside insolvency proceedings, namely:

• liens in favour of airline employees for unpaid wages arising since the time of a declared default by that airline under a contract to finance or lease an aircraft object;
• liens or other rights of an authority of India relating to taxes or other unpaid charges arising from or related to the use of that aircraft object and owed by the owner or operator of that aircraft object, arising since the time of default by that owner or operator under a contract to finance or lease that aircraft object; and
• liens in favour of repairers of an aircraft object in their possession to the extent of service or services performed on and value added to that aircraft object.”

General declaration under Article 39(1)(b)

“Nothing in the Convention shall affect its right or that of any entity thereof, or any intergovernmental organisation in which India is a member, or other private provider of public services in India, to arrest or detain an aircraft object under its laws for payment of amounts owed to the Government of India, any such entity, organisation or provider directly relating to the service or services provided by it in respect of that object or another aircraft object.”

Declaration under Article 40

“The following categories of non-consensual right or interest shall be registrable under the Convention as regards any category of aircraft object as if the right or interest were an international interest and shall be regulated accordingly, namely:

• liens in favour of airline employees for unpaid wages arising prior to the time of a declared default by that airline under a contract to finance or lease an aircraft object;
• liens or other rights of an authority of India relating to taxes or other unpaid charges arising from or related to the use of an aircraft object and owed by the owner or operator of that aircraft object, arising prior to the time of a declared default by that owner or operator under a contract to finance or lease that aircraft object; and
• rights of a person obtaining a court order permitting attachment of an aircraft object in partial or full satisfaction of a legal judgment.”

General declaration under Article 52

“The Convention shall apply to all its territorial units.”

Declaration under Article 53

“All the High Courts within their respective territorial jurisdiction are the relevant courts for the purposes of Article 1 and Chapter XII of the Convention.”

Mandatory declaration under Article 54(2)

“Any and all remedies available to the creditor under the Convention which are not expressed under the relevant provision thereof to require an application to the court may be exercised without court action and without leave of the court.”

The Protocol

India has made extensive declarations under the Protocol, as follows.

Declaration under Article XXX(1) in respect of Article VIII

India will apply Article VIII.

Declaration under Article XXX(2) in respect of Article X providing for the application of the entirety of Article X

India will apply Article X of the Protocol in its entirety, and the number of working days to be used for the purposes of the time limit laid down in Article X(2) of the Protocol shall be equal to no more than:

• ten working days in respect of the remedies specified in Article 13(1)(a), (b) and (c) of the Convention (respectively, preservation of aircraft objects and their value; possession, control or custody of aircraft objects; and immobilisation of aircraft objects); and
• 30 working days in respect of the remedies specified in Article 13(1)(d) and (e) of the Convention (respectively, lease or management of aircraft objects and the income thereof; and sale and application of proceeds from aircraft objects).

General declaration under Article XXX(3) in respect of Article XI providing for the application of Alternative A in its entirety to all types of insolvency proceedings

India will apply Article XI, Alternative A, of the Protocol in its entirety to all types of insolvency proceedings, and the waiting period for the purposes of Article XI(3) of that Alternative shall be two calendar months.

Declaration under Article XXX(1) in respect of Article XII

India will apply Article XII.

Declaration under Article XXX(1) in respect of Article XIII

India will apply Article XIII.

Article XIII of the Protocol applies domestically. For the DGCA to record an IDERA in relation to an aircraft, an IDERA holder or their authorised signatory or a certified designee of the authorised signatory shall submit an application as per Appendix B of CAR Section 2, Airworthiness Series F Part I Issue II. Along with the application, the applicant must submit an original IDERA or two notarised copies thereof.

Indian courts have had limited opportunities to deal with issues pertaining to the enforcement of the Convention and Protocol. By way of recent judgments, especially the ACG Aircraft Leasing Ireland Limited v Union of India and Others case, on 26 April 2024 the Delhi High Court recognised the mandatory nature of Rule 30(7) of the Aircraft Rules, 1937 and upheld the duty cast upon the DGCA to cancel the certificate of registration. All the case law to date deals extensively with India's international obligations under the Convention/Protocol and with deregistration; however, no court has directly dealt with the issue of the physical export of an aircraft from India under the Convention and Protocol.

India has ratified neither the 1948 Geneva Convention on the International Recognition of Rights in Aircraft nor the 1933 Rome Convention on the Unification of Certain Rules relating to the Precautionary Arrest of Aircraft.

There are very strict regulations and restrictions on loans from foreign lenders, especially in foreign exchange. The RBI is the relevant regulator, and must issue prior approval before any borrowings can be made.

India is an exchange-controlled country. The relevant enactment is the Foreign Exchange Management Act of 1999 and the rules and regulations made thereunder, which are administered by the RBI. Any financing or repatriation of the realisation of proceeds under a loan, guarantee or security document would require the approval of the RBI.

Guarantees, especially for foreign exchange-denominated transactions, are regulated by the RBI's Foreign Exchange Management (Guarantees) Regulation, 2000 and other regulations. The borrower would require prior approval from the RBI to grant security to foreign lenders.

Prior approval of the RBI would be required for any guarantee involving the guarantee of debt owed to a foreign entity by an Indian entity.

In practice, there are no cases involving a domestic special-purpose vehicle that owns the financed aircraft.

Negative pledges are recognised.

The question of whether material restrictions/requirements are imposed on intercreditor arrangements is assessed on a case-by-case basis.

The concept of agency and the role of an agent under a syndicated loan are recognised in India.

The usual practice is the issuance of bonds as subordinated debt instruments. There are extensive RBI guidelines on what forms of subordination are permissible and restrictions on the percentage of debt that may be subordinated.

The transfer of outstanding debt is permissible and recognised, subject to RBI approval, which may be required on a case-by-case basis.

There are no usury or interest limitation laws. However, courts in India always have the power to fix interest rates if an opinion is formed that the applied interest is harsh or excessive.

Typical forms of security granted in aviation finance transactions in India could include taking over the security of the immovable property by way of a mortgage or movable property/bank accounts, etc, by way of a deed of hypothecation.

A security agreement, if executed properly (and if it satisfies the test of being a valid contract between two parties competent to contract), would be upheld as being valid in relation to the aircraft, engines, warranties or insurance.

Indian law recognises the concept of a trust, with the relevant national legislation being the Indian Trusts Act, 1882. India is not a party to the Hague Convention on Trusts, 1986.

Pursuant to a security assignment or mortgage, the borrower may assign their rights to the aircraft under an aircraft lease to a security trustee.

It is possible to assign the rights and benefits only without also assigning the attendant obligations of the lessor as long as such assignment is valid under the governing law.

A security assignment or a guarantee may be governed by English or New York law, and does not need to be governed by Indian law to be fully enforceable.

No particular form of security assignment is required in India, nor does an assignment need to be registered in India. However, the security assignment should preferably be filed and recorded with the DGCA, which will endorse the name of the mortgagee and/or the details of the hypothecation on the certificate of registration. The English language security assignment document will suffice and shall be accepted by the DGCA.

It is advisable to notarise the security assignments; where they are executed abroad, they should preferably be authenticated by an Indian consular or other diplomatic officer. In recent experience, it has been observed that most government departments, including the DGCA, accept notarised copies of documents, making the requirement for consularisation more or less redundant.

With the aircraft being a movable asset, there is no mandatory requirement to register any mortgages, liens, encumbrances, etc, on it in India. However, the aircraft mortgage can be registered with the Sub-Registrar of Assurances under the Indian Registration Act, 1908 within four months of its execution. This registration (of movables) constitutes persuasive value against a claim by a bona fide purchaser without notice. Registration with the Registrar of Companies is also possible; however, it is not compulsory if the mortgagor of the aircraft is not an Indian entity having its registered place of business in India.

Domestic law security instruments are not required. Where the aircraft's owner is a foreign entity/citizen, local law filings are not required.

Charges in relation to aircraft owned by Indian entities only are required to be registered with the Registrar of Companies as per the provisions of the (Indian) Companies Act, 2013, and rules made thereunder.

The transfer of security interests over an aircraft and/or engines is recognised in India.

If the identity of the secured parties under a security assignment changes, the document evidencing this may be filed with the DGCA on its creation.

This is not applicable under Indian law.

Usually, a secured party under a security assignment would not be deemed to be a resident, domiciled, carrying on business nor subject to any taxes in India.

A domestic law mortgage over an aircraft or engine is not required in India.

Both aircraft and spare engines are movable objects, so there is no difference between the forms of security required.

A bank account can be charged by way of hypothecation. The deed of hypothecation would need to be filed with the bank maintaining the account, which must be charged in order for it to be perfected.

The question of whether a third party could take or register a lien over an aircraft or engine would depend on who is trying to discharge the lien. Where the lessee seeks to discharge this lien, it would be liable to pay the total outstanding amount payable to that third-party contractor/repairer. However, if a lessor or secured party seeks to discharge a lien, in all probability it would have to bear only the value of the work actually done on that particular aircraft asset. In a case of deregistration and export by filing an IDERA under AIC 12 of 2018, the IDERA holder must bear the cost of all charges accrued three months prior to the date of submission of the IDERA, owed to the central government, any entity thereof or any intergovernmental organisation in which India is a member, or other private provider of public services in India.

A fleet lien is not recognised under the new Cape Town Convention and Aircraft Protocol regulations.

Third-party government entities have the right to arrest, detain, attach or sell an aircraft for the payment of amounts owed. However, under the new regime in India, these dues are limited to three months prior to the date of application by the IDERA holder.

A lien can be discharged immediately on payment of the monies owed to the party exercising the lien.

There is a register of charges maintained by the Registrar of Companies. However, only Indian owners of aircraft assets are required to register a charge against such aircraft with the Registrar. The interests of the aircraft mortgagee or security trustee shall be noted on the aircraft's certificate of registration and on the aircraft register maintained by the DGCA. Such registration shall result in notice to all third parties regarding the interest of the security trustee or mortgagee in the aircraft. Furthermore, the DGCA shall also always require the consent of the mortgagee/security trustee named on the certificate of registration/aircraft register for any amendment of the entries in relation to the aircraft.

Fleet-wide detention of aircraft taken on an operating lease, especially after the termination of the operating lease, would not be recognised.

A potential purchaser of an aircraft must check the aircraft register maintained by the DGCA as well as the International Registry maintained under the Cape Town Convention and Aircraft Protocol.

In the practical sense, there should be no difference in enforcing a security assignment as opposed to a loan or guarantee.

A security trustee may enforce its rights under a security assignment pursuant to only a notice and acknowledgement executed by the lessor and the relevant lessee.

Domestic courts in India will uphold foreign law as the governing law, as well as submission to a foreign jurisdiction, subject to this not being opposed to Indian public policy.

Please see 2.6.6 Domestic Courts' Recognition of Foreign Judgments/Awards regarding the enforcement of foreign judgments and arbitral awards.

There is no remedy for self-help in India. Peaceful repossession of the aircraft can be obtained without judicial intervention. In cases where there is no co-operation, the secured party has the option to apply to a court.

The court in which an enforcement action under a security agreement/aircraft mortgage is decided would depend on the jurisdiction in India where the dispute arises and the nature and value of the claim.

Summary judgment may only be effective in cases where a secured party seeks to recover debt and other monies under the security agreement. There are no conditions that need to be complied with, apart from the fact that court fees will need to be paid on the amount claimed by the defaulting defendant.

On the request of a secured party, courts in India would pass judgment in a foreign currency.

There are no major taxes or fees that a secured party would be required to bear in connection with enforcing a security agreement/aircraft mortgage.

From a practical standpoint, since the courts in India are overburdened with work, lenders have preferred to have security documents governed by English law, and any enforcement takes place in England. The UK is a reciprocating territory, and money decrees passed in the UK may be enforced in India much more easily than decrees from non-reciprocating territories.