Reply #122: The rule is the rule.

[RH]

What happens is what happens.

With respect to ownership the moot issue is which person the rule applies to in practice, not what the rule is. From what I can make of it the ownership in terms of the registration responsiblity may fall either to a freehold owner, a lessee, an airline operator, or anybody else if they be suitably appointed, the matter being for them to sort out between themselves, not something for the aviation authority to determine.

Hence the question: What exactly happens? Or more to the point, what exactly happened with respect to ownership?

Given that insurances and other liabilities were also owned I am not at all surprised if it was a dodgy, buck passing affair.