The rules governing federal registration of U.S. aircraft have changed. According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), aircraft must now be re-registered every three years. The final ruling was published on July 20, 2010. Go online to: www.faa.gov for detailed and up-to-date information.
The final rule establishes a three-month “timely filing window.” That window is when applications have to be submitted to ensure the aircraft owner will receive a new certificate prior to the old certificate expiring.
The final rule also establishes a (three-year) phase-in schedule for re-registration of all aircraft, based on the month in which the aircraft’s original certificate was issued.
The first re-registration notices were sent on or shortly after October 1, 2010, for aircraft that were registered in March of any year. These aircraft are assigned an expiration date of March 31, 2011. The owners of these aircraft must apply for re-registration between November 1, 2010 and January 31, 2011, their assigned timely filing window.
If aircraft registration has expired and a re-registration certificate has not been issued, received, and placed in the aircraft, then the aircraft is without authority to operate.
Aircraft registration certificates issued on or after October 1, 2010, will show an expiration date.
Aircraft registration issued under re-registration expires three years after the last day of the month in which it is issued.
Aircraft registration issued due to renewal expires three years from the expiration date of the previous certificate.
Aircraft registration issued to a new, import, or reinstated aircraft entering or re-entering the U.S. Civil Aircraft Register expires three years after the last day of the month in which it is issued.
When an aircraft is not re-registered or the registration is not renewed, the cancellation of the N-number assigned to that aircraft will take place approximately 90 days after the expiration of an aircraft’s registration. Upon cancellation, an N-number will be unavailable for assignment or reservation for a period of five years.
If aircraft registration has expired and the N-number has been canceled, application may be made to register the aircraft under 14 CFR § 47.31, using the standard application for registration and payment of the $5 registration fee. The process to reinstate a previously registered aircraft remains unchanged.
When a post office or drop box is used as a mailing address, the street or physical address of the applicant must be entered on the aircraft registration application.
All of the above information in the aircraft re-registration paragraph above was taken directly from the FAA web page. You are advised to go to the FAA site for the most current and accurate information. Also you can get additional detailed information on the FAA’s FAQ page located at: http://www.faa.gov/licenses_certificates/aircraft_certification/aircraft_registry/reregistration_faq/
**http://www.faa.gov/licenses_certificates/aircraft_certification/aircraft_registry/reregistration/Are
