The role comprises of several regulatory responsibilities for Channel Islands Controlled Air Space, including legal powers that cover regulation of the Guernsey, Alderney, and Jersey 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.

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

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

Mr Nicholas' appointment was announced by Deputy Neil Inder, Guernsey's President of Economic Development, and Jersey's Minister for External Relations.

Deputy Inder said it will be a temporary appointment initially but all being well it will continue on a permanent basis.

“We’re pleased to welcome John to this important role. He has a lot of experience. John is initially appointed as Acting Director of Civil Aviation for a 6-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 Mr Nicholas as Director of Civil Aviation for a further period of 36 months.”

The Minister for External Relations in Jersey, Deputy Philip Ozouf, agreed that this is a welcome appointment for the islands as a whole.

“I welcome the joint appointment of Mr Nicholas to the Channel Islands Office of the DCA as Director. John is a highly experienced aviation regulator and has worked in several senior roles at the UK Civil Aviation Authority (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.”

Pictured: Deputy Neil Inder and Deputy Philip Ozouf announced the appointment of a pan island DCA this week. John Nicholas will oversee safety matters at Guernsey and Jersey airports as well as Alderney (above). 

Mr Nicholas said it is a role he will be familiar with from previous work, and he is keen to get started.

“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.”

Mr Nichols will be the first pan-island DCA since early 2021. Each island has had their own DCA since then, 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.”

The vote by the States of Guernsey saw deputies agree to remove him by 27 votes to 1, with 9 abstentions. The one politician who voted against his removal was the former Economic Development President, Deputy Charles Parkinson.

Deputy Inder was Guernsey's Economic Development President at the time of the November 2020 vote, and he said it was not a decision that he or his committee were recommending lightly, but he said "it has become evident that there is just no alternative."

Pictured: Ash Nicholas was Acting DCA for Guernsey and Alderney for more than a year.

Since Mr Lazarus was removed from the pan island role of Director of Civil Aviation, Guernsey and Jersey have been covered by two acting-Directors.

Ash Nicholas has overseen civil aviation for Guernsey and Alderney, while Inez Bartolo has been the Acting DCA for Jersey. 

Ash Nicholas remains working across Guernsey and Alderney airports, having worked for the Bailiwick Ports since leaving Guernsey Police following a lengthy career with the force. 

Pictured top: Guernsey Airport.