14 C.F.R. Subpart A—General
Title 14 - Aeronautics and Space
This part prescribes the requirements for registering aircraft under 49 U.S.C. 44101–44104. Subpart B applies to each applicant for, and holder of, a Certificate of Aircraft Registration. Subpart C applies to each applicant for and holder of, a Dealers' Aircraft Registration Certificate. [Amdt. 47–27, 70 FR 244, Jan. 3, 2005] The following are definitions of terms used in this part: Resident alien means an individual citizen of a foreign country lawfully admitted for permanent residence in the United States as an immigrant in conformity with the regulations of the Immigration and Naturalization Service of the Department of Justice (8 CFR Chapter 1). U.S. citizen means one of the following: (1) An individual who is a citizen of the United States or one of its possessions. (2) A partnership of which each member is such an individual. (3) A corporation or association created or organized under the laws of the United States or of any State, Territory, or possession of the United States, of which the president and two-thirds or more of the board of directors and other managing officers thereof are such individuals and in which at least 75 percent of the voting interest is owned or controlled by persons who are citizens of the United States or of one of its possessions. [Amdt. 47–20, 44 FR 61939, Oct. 29, 1979; Amdt. 47–27, 70 FR 244, Jan. 3, 2005] (a) An aircraft may be registered under 49 U.S.C. 44103 only when the aircraft is— (1) Not registered under the laws of a foreign country and is owned by— (i) A citizen of the United States; (ii) An individual citizen of a foreign country lawfully admitted for permanent residence in the United States; or (iii) A corporation not a citizen of the United States when the corporation is organized and doing business under the laws of the United States or a State, and the aircraft is based and primarily used in the United States; or (2) An aircraft of— (i) The United States Government; or (ii) A State, the District of Columbia, a territory or possession of the United States, or a political subdivision of a State, territory, or possession. (b) No person may operate an aircraft that is eligible for registration under 49 U.S.C. 44101–44104, unless the aircraft— (1) Has been registered by its owner; (2) Is carrying aboard the temporary authorization required by §47.31(b); or (3) Is an aircraft of the Armed Forces. (c) Governmental units are those named in paragraph (a) of this section and Puerto Rico. [Doc. No. 7190, 31 FR 4495, Mar. 17, 1966, as amended by Amdt. 47–20, 44 FR 61939, Oct. 29, 1979; Amdt. 47–27, 70 FR 244, Jan. 3, 2005] (a) A person who wishes to register an aircraft in the United States must submit an Application for Aircraft Registration under this part. (b) An aircraft may be registered only by and in the legal name of its owner. (c) 49 U.S.C. 44103(c), provides that registration is not evidence of ownership of aircraft in any proceeding in which ownership by a particular person is in issue. The FAA does not issue any certificate of ownership or endorse any information with respect to ownership on a Certificate of Aircraft Registration. The FAA issues a Certificate of Aircraft Registration to the person who appears to be the owner on the basis of the evidence of ownership submitted pursuant to §47.11 with the Application for Aircraft Registration, or recorded at the FAA Aircraft Registry. (d) In this part, “owner” includes a buyer in possession, a bailee, or a lessee of an aircraft under a contract of conditional sale, and the assignee of that person. [Amdt. 47–20, 44 FR 61939, Oct. 29, 1979, as amended by Amdt. 47–27, 70 FR 244, Jan. 3, 2005] (a) U.S. citizens. An applicant for aircraft registration under this part who is a U.S. citizen must certify to this in the application. (b) Resident aliens. An applicant for aircraft registration under 49 U.S.C. 44102 who is a resident alien must furnish a representation of permanent residence and the applicant's alien registration number issued by the Immigration and Naturalization Service. (c) Trustees. An applicant for aircraft registration under 49 U.S.C. 44102 that holds legal title to an aircraft in trust must comply with the following requirements: (1) Each trustee must be either a U.S. citizen or a resident alien. (2) The applicant must submit with the application— (i) A copy of each document legally affecting a relationship under the trust; (ii) If each beneficiary under the trust, including each person whose security interest in the aircraft is incorporated in the trust, is either a U.S. citizen or a resident alien, an affidavit by the applicant to that effect; and (iii) If any beneficiary under the trust, including any person whose security interest in the aircraft is incorporated in the trust, is not a U.S. citizen or resident alien, an affidavit from each trustee stating that the trustee is not aware of any reason, situation, or relationship (involving beneficiaries or other persons who are not U.S. citizens or resident aliens) as a result of which those persons together would have more than 25 percent of the aggregate power to influence or limit the exercise of the trustee's authority. (3) If persons who are neither U.S. citizens nor resident aliens have the power to direct or remove a trustee, either directly or indirectly through the control of another person, the trust instrument must provide that those persons together may not have more than 25 percent of the aggregate power to direct or remove a trustee. Nothing in this paragraph prevents those persons from having more than 25 percent of the beneficial interest in the trust. (d) Partnerships. A partnership may apply for a Certificate of Aircraft Registration under 49 U.S.C. 44102 only if each partner, whether a general or limited partner, is a citizen of the United States. Nothing in this section makes ineligible for registration an aircraft which is not owned as a partnership asset but is co-owned by— (1) Resident aliens; or (2) One or more resident aliens and one or more U.S. citizens. [Amdt. 47–20, 44 FR 61939, Oct. 29, 1979, as amended by Amdt. 47–27, 70 FR 244, Jan. 3, 2005] (a) If a voting trust is used to qualify a domestic corporation as a U.S. citizen, the corporate applicant must submit to the FAA Aircraft Registry— (1) A true copy of the fully executed voting trust agreement, which must identify each voting interest of the applicant, and which must be binding upon each voting trustee, the applicant corporation, all foreign stockholders, and each other party to the transaction; and (2) An affidavit executed by each person designated as voting trustee in the voting trust agreement, in which each affiant represents— (i) That each voting trustee is a citizen of the United States within the meaning of 49 U.S.C. 40102(a)(15). (ii) That each voting trustee is not a past, present, or prospective director, officer, employee, attorney, or agent of any other party to the trust agreement; (iii) That each voting trustee is not a present or prospective beneficiary, creditor, debtor, supplier or contractor of any other party to the trust agreement; (iv) That each voting trustee is not aware of any reason, situation, or relationship under which any other party to the agreement might influence the exercise of the voting trustee's totally independent judgment under the voting trust agreement. (b) Each voting trust agreement submitted under paragraph (a)(1) of this section must provide for the succession of a voting trustee in the event of death, disability, resignation, termination of citizenship, or any other event leading to the replacement of any voting trustee. Upon succession, the replacement voting trustee shall immediately submit to the FAA Aircraft Registry the affidavit required by paragraph (a)(2) of this section. (c) If the voting trust terminates or is modified, and the result is less than 75 percent control of the voting interest in the corporation by citizens of the United States, a loss of citizenship of the holder of the registration certificate occurs, and §47.41(a)(5) of this part applies. (d) A voting trust agreement may not empower a trustee to act through a proxy. [Amdt. 47–20, 44 FR 61939, Oct. 29, 1979, as amended by Amdt. 47–27, 70 FR 245, Jan. 3, 2005] (a) Each corporation applying for registration of an aircraft under 49 U.S.C. 44102 must submit to the FAA Registry with the application— (1) A certified copy of its certificate of incorporation; (2) A certification that it is lawfully qualified to do business in one or more States; (3) A certification that the aircraft will be based and primarily used in the United States; and (4) The location where the records required by paragraph (e) of this section will be maintained. (b) For the purposes of registration, an aircraft is based and primarily used in the United States if the flight hours accumulated within the United States amount to at least 60 percent of the total flight hours of the aircraft during— (1) For aircraft registered on or before January 1, 1980, the 6-calendar month period beginning on January 1, 1980, and each 6-calendar month period thereafter; and (2) For aircraft registered after January 1, 1980, the period consisting in the remainder of the registration month and the succeeding 6 calendar months and each 6-calendar month period thereafter. (c) For the purpose of this section, only those flight hours accumulated during non-stop (except for stops in emergencies or for purposes of refueling) flight between two points in the United States, even if the aircraft is outside of the United States during part of the flight, are considered flight hours accumulated within the United States. (d) In determining compliance with this section, any periods during which the aircraft is not validly registered in the United States are disregarded. (e) The corporation that registers an aircraft pursuant to 49 U.S.C. 44102 shall maintain, and make available for inspection by the Administrator upon request, records containing the total flight hours in the United States of the aircraft for three calendar years after the year in which the flight hours were accumulated. (f) The corporation that registers an aircraft pursuant to 49 U.S.C. 44102 shall send to the FAA Aircraft Registry, at the end of each period of time described in paragraphs (b)(1) and (2) of this section, either— (1) A signed report containing— (i) The total time in service of the airframe as provided in §91.417(a)(2)(i), accumulated during that period; and (ii) The total flight hours in the United States of the aircraft accumulated during that period; or (2) A signed statement that the total flight hours of the aircraft, while registered in the United States during that period, have been exclusively within the United States. [Amdt. No. 47–20, 44 FR 61940, Oct. 29, 1979, as amended by Amdt. 47–24, 54 FR 34330, Aug. 18, 1989; Amdt. 47–27, 70 FR 245, Jan. 3, 2005] Except as provided in §§47.33 and 47.35, each person that submits an Application for Aircraft Registration under this part must also submit the required evidence of ownership, recordable under §§49.13 and 49.17 of this chapter, as follows: (a) The buyer in possession, the bailee, or the lessee of an aircraft under a contract of conditional sale must submit the contract. The assignee under a contract of conditional sale must submit both the contract (unless it is already recorded at the FAA Aircraft Registry), and his assignment from the original buyer, bailee, lessee, or prior assignee. (b) The repossessor of an aircraft must submit— (1) A certificate of repossession on FAA Form 8050–4, or its equivalent, signed by the applicant and stating that the aircraft was repossessed or otherwise seized under the security agreement involved and applicable local law; (2) The security agreement (unless it is already recorded at the FAA Aircraft Registry), or a copy thereof certified as true under §49.21 of this chapter; and (3) When repossession was through foreclosure proceedings resulting in sale, a bill of sale signed by the sheriff, auctioneer, or other authorized person who conducted the sale, and stating that the sale was made under applicable local law. (c) The buyer of an aircraft at a judicial sale, or at a sale to satisfy a lien or charge, must submit a bill of sale signed by the sheriff, auctioneer, or other authorized person who conducted the sale, and stating that the sale was made under applicable local law. (d) The owner of an aircraft, the title to which has been in controversy and has been determined by a court, must submit a certified copy of the decision of the court. (e) The executor or administrator of the estate of the deceased former owner of an aircraft must submit a certified copy of the letters testimentary or letters of administration appointing him executor or administrator. The Certificate of Aircraft Registration is issued to the applicant as executor or administrator. (f) The buyer of an aircraft from the estate of a deceased former owner must submit both a bill of sale, signed for the estate by the executor or administrator, and a certified copy of the letters testimentary or letters of administration. When no executor or administrator has been or is to be appointed, the applicant must submit both a bill of sale, signed by the heir-at-law of the deceased former owner, and an affidavit of the heir-at-law stating that no application for appointment of an executor or administrator has been made, that so far as he can determine none will be made, and that he is the person entitled to, or having the right to dispose of, the aircraft under applicable local law. (g) The guardian of another person's property that includes an aircraft must submit a certified copy of the order of the court appointing him guardian. The Certificate of Aircraft Registration is issued to the applicant as guardian. (h) The trustee of property that includes an aircraft, as described in §47.7(c), must submit either a certified copy of the order of the court appointing the trustee, or a complete and true copy of the instrument creating the trust. If there is more than one trustee, each trustee must sign the application. The Certificate of Aircraft Registration is issued to a single applicant as trustee, or to several trustees jointly as co-trustees. [Doc. No. 7190, 31 FR 4495, Mar. 17, 1966, as amended by Amdt. 47–20, 44 FR 61940, Oct. 29, 1979; Amdt. 47–23, 53 FR 1915, Jan. 25, 1988] (a) Each signature on an Application for Aircraft Registration, on a request for cancellation of a Certificate of Aircraft Registration or on a document submitted as supporting evidence under this part, must be in ink. (b) When one or more persons doing business under a trade name submits an Application for Aircraft Registration or a request for cancellation of a Certificate of Aircraft Registration, the application or request must be signed by, or in behalf of, each person who shares title to the aircraft. (c) When an agent submits an Application for Aircraft Registration or a request for cancellation of a Certificate of Aircraft Registration in behalf of the owner, he must— (1) State the name of the owner on the application or request; (2) Sign as agent or attorney-in-fact on the application or request; and (3) Submit a signed power of attorney, or a true copy thereof certified under §49.21 of this chapter, with the application or request. (d) When a corporation submits an Application for Aircraft Registration or a request for cancellation of a Certificate of Aircraft Registration, it must— (1) Have an authorized person sign the application or request; (2) Show the title of the signer's office on the application or request; and (3) Submit a copy of the authorization from the board of directors to sign for the corporation, certified as true under §49.21 of this chapter by a corporate officer or other person in a managerial position therein, with the application or request, unless— (i) The signer of the application or request is a corporate officer or other person in a managerial position in the corporation and the title of his office is stated in connection with his signature; or (ii) A valid authorization to sign is on file at the FAA Aircraft Registry. (4) The provisions of paragraph (d)(3) do not apply to an irrevocable deregistration and export request authorization when an irrevocable deregistration and export request authorization under the Cape Town Treaty is signed by a corporate officer and is filed with the FAA Aircraft Registry. (e) When a partnership submits an Application for Aircraft Registration or a request for cancellation of a Certificate of Aircraft Registration, it must— (1) State the full name of the partnership on the application or request; (2) State the name of each general partner on the application or request; and (3) Have a general partner sign the application or request. (f) When co-owners, who are not engaged in business as partners, submit an Application for Aircraft Registration or a request for cancellation of a Certificate of Aircraft Registration, each person who shares title to the aircraft under the arrangement must sign the application or request. (g) A power of attorney or other evidence of a person's authority to sign for another, submitted under this part, is valid for the purposes of this section, unless sooner revoked, until— (1) Its expiration date stated therein; or (2) If an expiration date is not stated therein, for not more than 3 years after the date— (i) It is signed; or (ii) The grantor (a corporate officer or other person in a managerial position therein, where the grantor is a corporation) certifies in writing that the authority to sign shown by the power of attorney or other evidence is still in effect. [Doc. No. 7190, 31 FR 4495, Mar. 17, 1966, as amended by Amdt. 47–2, 31 FR 15349, Dec. 8, 1966; Amdt. 47–3, 32 FR 6554, Apr. 28, 1967; Amdt. 47–12, 36 FR 8661, May 11, 1971; Amdt. 47–27, 70 FR 245, Jan. 3, 2005] (a) Number required. An applicant for Aircraft Registration must place a U.S. identification number (registration mark) on his Aircraft Registration Application, AC Form 8050–1, and on any evidence submitted with the application. There is no charge for the assignment of numbers provided in this paragraph. This paragraph does not apply to an aircraft manufacturer who applies for a group of U.S. identification numbers under paragraph (c) of this section; a person who applies for a special identification number under paragraphs (d) through (g) of this section; or a holder of a Dealer's Aircraft Registration Certificate who applies for a temporary registration number under §47.16. (1) Aircraft not previously registered anywhere. The applicant must obtain the U.S. identification number from the FAA Aircraft Registry by request in writing describing the aircraft by make, type, model, and serial number (or, if it is amateur-built, as provided in §47.33(b)) and stating that the aircraft has not previously been registered anywhere. If the aircraft was brought into the United States from a foreign country, the applicant must submit evidence that the aircraft has never been registered in a foreign country. (2) Aircraft last previously registered in the United States. Unless he applies for a different number under paragraphs (d) through (g) of this section, the applicant must place the U.S. identification number that is already assigned to the aircraft on his application and the supporting evidence. (3) Aircraft last previously registered in a foreign country. Whether or not the foreign registration has ended, the applicant must obtain a U.S. identification number from the FAA Aircraft Registry for an aircraft last previously registered in a foreign country, by request in writing describing the aircraft by make, model, and serial number, accompanied by— (i) Evidence of termination of foreign registration in accordance with §47.37(b) or the applicant's affidavit showing that foreign registration has ended; or (ii) If foreign registration has not ended, the applicant's affidavit stating that the number will not be placed on the aircraft until foreign registration has ended. Authority to use the identification number obtained under paragraph (a)(1) or (3) of this section expires 90 days after the date it is issued unless the applicant submits an Aircraft Registration Application, AC Form 8050–1, and complies with §47.33 or §47.37, as applicable, within that period of time. However, the applicant may obtain an extension of this 90–day period from the FAA Aircraft Registry if he shows that his delay in complying with that section is due to circumstances beyond his control. (b) A U.S. identification number may not exceed five symbols in addition to the prefix letter “N”. These symbols may be all numbers (N10000), one to four numbers and one suffix letter (N 1000A), or one to three numbers and two suffix letters (N 100AB). The letters “I” and “O” may not be used. The first zero in a number must always be preceded by at least one of the numbers 1 through 9. (c) An aircraft manufacturer may apply to the FAA Aircraft Registry for enough U.S. identification numbers to supply his estimated production for the next 18 months. There is no charge for this assignment of numbers. (d) Any unassigned U.S. identification number may be assigned as a special identification number. An applicant who wants a special identification number or wants to change the identification number of his aircraft may apply for it to the FAA Aircraft Registry. The fee required by §47.17 must accompany the application. (e) [Reserved] (f) The FAA Aircraft Registry assigns a special identification number on AC Form 8050–64. Within 5 days after he affixes the special identification number to his aircraft, the owner must complete and sign the receipt contained in AC Form 8050–64, state the date he affixed the number to his aircraft, and return the original form to the FAA Aircraft Registry. The owner shall carry the duplicate of AC Form 8050–64 and the present Certificate of Aircraft Registration in the aircraft as temporary authority to operate it. This temporary authority is valid until the date the owner receives the revised Certificate of Aircraft Registration issued by the FAA Aircraft Registry. (g) [Reserved] (h) A special identification number may be reserved for no more than 1 year. If a person wishes to renew his reservation from year to year, he must apply to the FAA aircraft Registry for renewal and submit the fee required by §47.17 for a special identification number. [Doc. No. 7190, 31 FR 4495, Mar. 17, 1966, as amended by Amdt. 47–1, 31 FR 13314, Oct. 14, 1966; Amdt. 47–5, 32 FR 13505, Sept. 27, 1967; Amdt. 47–7, 34 FR 2480, Feb. 21, 1969; Amdt. 47–13, 36 FR 16187, Aug. 20, 1971; Amdt. 47–15, 37 FR 21528, Oct. 12, 1972; Amdt. 47–16, 37 FR 25487, Dec. 1, 1972; Amdt. 47–17, 39 FR 1353, Jan. 8, 1974; Amdt. 47–22, 47 FR 12153, Mar. 22, 1982] (a) Temporary registration numbers are issued by the FAA to manufacturers, distributors, and dealers who are holders of Dealer's Aircraft Registration Certificates for temporary display on aircraft during flight allowed under Subpart C of this part. (b) The holder of a Dealer's Aircraft Registration Certificate may apply to the FAA Aircraft Registry for as many temporary registration numbers as are necessary for his business. The application must be in writing and include— (1) Sufficient information to justify the need for the temporary registration numbers requested; and (2) The number of each Dealer's Aircraft Registration Certificate held by the applicant. There is no charge for these numbers. (c) The use of temporary registration numbers is subject to the following conditions: (1) The numbers may be used and reused— (i) Only in connection with the holder's Dealer's Aircraft Registration Certificate; (ii) Within the limitations of §47.69 where applicable, including the requirements of §47.67; and (iii) On aircraft not registered under Subpart B of this part or in a foreign country, and not displaying any other identification markings. (2) A temporary registration number may not be used on more than one aircraft in flight at the same time. (3) Temporary registration numbers may not be used to fly aircraft into the United States for the purpose of importation. (d) The assignment of any temporary registration number to any person lapses upon the expiration of all of his Dealer's Aircraft Registration Certificates. When a temporary registration number is used on a flight outside the United States for delivery purposes, the holder shall record the assignment of that number to the aircraft and shall keep that record for at least 1 year after the removal of the number from that aircraft. Whenever the owner of an aircraft bearing a temporary registration number applies for an airworthiness certificate under Part 21 of this chapter he shall furnish that number in the application. The temporary registration number must be removed from the aircraft not later than the date on which either title or possession passes to another person. [Amdt. 47–4, 32 FR 12556, Aug. 30, 1967] (a) The fees for applications under this part are as follows: (b) Each application must be accompanied by the proper fee, that may be paid by check or money order to the Federal Aviation Administration. [Doc. No. 7190, 31 FR 4495, Mar. 17, 1966; 31 FR 5483, Apr. 7, 1966, as amended by Doc. No. 8084, 32 FR 5769, Apr. 11, 1967] Each application, request, notification, or other communication sent to the FAA under this Part must be mailed to the FAA Aircraft Registry, Department of Transportation, Post Office Box 25504, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73125–0504, or delivered to the Registry at 6425 S. Denning Ave., Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73169. [Amdt. 47–27, 70 FR 245, Jan. 3, 2005]
Title 14: Aeronautics and Space
PART 47—AIRCRAFT REGISTRATION
Subpart A—General
§ 47.1 Applicability.
§ 47.2 Definitions.
§ 47.3 Registration required.
§ 47.5 Applicants.
§ 47.7 United States citizens and resident aliens.
§ 47.8 Voting trusts.
§ 47.9 Corporations not U.S. citizens.
§ 47.11 Evidence of ownership.
§ 47.13 Signatures and instruments made by representatives.
§ 47.15 Identification number.
§ 47.16 Temporary registration numbers.
§ 47.17 Fees.
(1) Certificate $5.00 of Aircraft Registration (each aircraft)(2) Dealer's 10.00 Aircraft Registration Certificate(3) Additional 2.00 Dealer's Aircraft Registration Certificate (issued to same dealer)(4) Special 10.00 identification number (each number)(5) Changed, 10.00 reassigned, or reserved identification number(6) Duplicate 2.00 Certificate of Registration
§ 47.19 FAA Aircraft Registry.
