The Federal Aviation Administration (“FAA”) has issued the Final Rule regarding the Re-registration and Renewal of Aircraft Registration, (“Final Rule”). The Final Rule becomes effective on October 1, 2010. The Final Rule requires all current U.S. registered aircraft to re-register and receive a new certificate of registration that will include an expiration date and only be valid for a period of three years.
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Re-Registration Summary
- All current U.S. registered aircraft or those registered prior to October 1, 2010 have been assigned a date on which their certificates of registration will expire. The expiration date is based on the month in which the aircraft was registered to the current owner. All aircraft owners must re-register their aircraft pursuant to the schedule set forth in the Final Rule (table below). The schedule provides for the re-registration of all U.S. registered aircraft over a period of three years.
- All certificates issued by the FAA after October 1, 2010 including those issued for re-registered aircraft will state an expiration date and will be valid for a period of three years.
Renewal Summary
- All aircraft registrations issued after October 1, 2010 must be renewed prior to the expiration date stated on the certificate of registration. No registration will be valid for longer than 3 years.
Re-Registration Schedule
The schedule set forth in the Final Rule (below) assigns an expiration date to all certificates issued prior to October 1, 2010 and the time frame for re-registration is based on the month the current owner’s certificate of registration was issued.
Aircraft Re-Registration Schedule
| If the Certificate was issued in: | The certificate expires on: | The owner must apply for re-registration between these dates, – to allow delivery of a new certificate before expiration. | |
| March of any year | March 31, 2011 | November 1, 2010 | and January 31, 2011 |
| April of any year | June 30, 2011 | February 1, 2011 | and April 30, 2011 |
| May of any year | September 30, 2011 | May 1, 2011 | and July 31, 2011 |
| June of any year | December 31, 2011 | August 1, 2011 | and October 31, 2011 |
| July of any year | March 31, 2012 | November 1, 2011 | and January 31, 2012 |
| August of any year | June 30, 2012 | February 1, 2012 | and April 30, 2012 |
| September of any year | September 30, 2012 | May 1, 2012 | and July 31, 2012 |
| October of any year | December 31, 2012 | August 1, 2012 | and October 31, 2012 |
| November of any year | March 31, 2013 | November 1, 2012 | and January 31, 2013 |
| December of any year | June 30, 2013 | February 1, 2013 | and April 30, 2013 |
| January of any year | September 30, 2013 | May 1, 2013 | and July 31, 2013 |
| February of any year | December 31, 2013 | August 1, 2013 | and October 31, 2013 |
The time frames (also known as filing windows) during which the owner has to complete re-registration are critical. Each aircraft owner must re-register during the filing window detailed in the Final Rule to avoid having the current certificate expire prior to the issuance of the new certificate.
FAA Disclaimers
- The FAA will make a good faith effort to complete the processing and issue the new certificate prior to the expiration of the old certificate. However, the FAA is not under any obligation to complete the process before the expiration date.
- The Final Rule does not require the FAA to issue an extension of time in the event the FAA is unable to process the re-registration application in a timely manner.
- If the aircraft owner misses the filing window they can and should still apply for re-registration. Applications to re-register filed after the filing window closes will be processed by the FAA, but the FAA is under no obligation to process the re-registration before the expiration date.
FAA Notices to Owners
Notices will be sent by mail from the FAA direct to aircraft owners at 3 intervals prior to and after the expiration of the current certificate. The first notice will be sent to the owner at the address on file approximately 180 days prior to the expiration date of the current certificate. The notice will include basic instructions and outline the expiration date and filing window for re-registration. The first notice will also provide a pass code for online re-registration.
- Verify your address by following this link Search Aircraft Registration Information to the FAA registration web page. Search by N-number for quick results. Also verify that the names of owners shown are correct.
- If the mailing address is wrong, the owner should update the address promptly.
- If an ownership change has occurred, the seller should report the sale to the Registry, and the purchaser should submit their application for registration, evidence of ownership and $5 registration fee to the Registry as soon as possible.
The second notice will be sent to aircraft owners that failed to file the application for re-registration during the filing window. The second notice will be mailed approximately 60 days before the expiration date of the current registration. Aircraft owners that did not file during the filing window will not be able to file the application for re-registration online and must submit the 8050-1A paper form to the FAA. These owners run the risk of having their current certificate expire before the FAA has processed the re-registration and will have to ground the aircraft if this occurs.
A final notice will be sent to owners after the expiration date of the current certificate. This notice will let aircraft owners know the aircraft must be grounded and provide instructions to apply for reinstatement. It will also advise owners of the ability to reserve the U.S. registration number in their name prior to the cancellation of the aircraft registration.
To read the official rule click here – FAA Final Rule
Here is a more user friendly version – FAA Summary
