An aircraft is eligible
for registration in the United States only if it is owned by:
1. A U.S. citizen. A U.S.
citizen by definition of FAR Section 47.2 can be an individual, or
partnership where each individual is a U.S. citizen, or a corporation
organized under the laws of the United States, State, Territory or
possession of the United States of which the president and two-thirds of the
board of directors are U.S. citizens and 75 percent of the voting interest
is owned or controlled by U.S. citizens;
2. A resident alien;
3. A corporation (other than classified as a U.S. citizen), lawfully
organized and doing business under the laws of the United States or of any
state thereof, if the aircraft is based and used primarily in the United
States; or
4. A government entity (federal, state, or local).
The aircraft may not be
registered in a foreign country during the period it is registered in the
United States.
If you purchase an
aircraft, you must apply for a Certificate of Aircraft Registration from the
Civil Aviation Registry before it may be operated. Do not depend on a bank,
loan company, aircraft dealer, or anyone else to submit the application for
registration. Do it yourself (in the name of the owner, not in the name of
the bank or other mortgage holder).
You can help make sure
your aircraft is properly registered by verifying that the aircraft
description entered on the Aircraft Registration Application and Aircraft
Bill of Sale (or equivalent) is identical to the data inscribed on the
aircraft manufacturer's data plate. The data plate is permanently affixed to
the aircraft fuselage by the manufacturer. This quick and simple check
should help avoid delays in the issuance of the AC Form 8050-3, Certificate
of Aircraft Registration.
Aircraft Previously
Registered in the United States
You should immediately
submit evidence of ownership, an Aircraft Registration Application, and a $5
registration fee to the Federal Aviation Administration, Civil Aviation
Registry, AFS-750, Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center, P.O. Box 25504,
Oklahoma City, OK 73125. Fees required for aircraft registration may be paid
by check or money order made payable to the Treasury of the United States.
A bill of sale form that
meets the FAA's requirements for evidence of ownership is AC Form 8050-2,
Aircraft Bill of Sale, which may be obtained from the nearest FSDO. The form
includes an information and instruction sheet. If a conditional sales
contract is the evidence of ownership, an additional $5 fee is required for
recording. For FAA registration, the bill of sale need not be notarized.
(Refer to figure 1)