What Aircraft Must Be Registered in the United States?

Any Civil Aircraft That Weighs More Than .55 Pounds Must Be Registered 

In America, a civil aircraft has to be registered if it weighs more than .55 pounds. That’s just 250 grams. 

So, this includes drones, amateur-constructed aircraft, everything from 747s to experimental light sport craft. 

Use this link to apply for aircraft registration FAA. 

American Aircraft Registration Laws 

At the National Aviation Center, we help aircraft owners throughout the United States find and complete the forms they need for their aircraft. Whether registering, renewing, or transferring your aircraft, we have you covered with all the necessary documentation in one convenient place. Here, you can find the documentation for American aircraft of any size. 

The following laws could be pertinent to your situation:

INFORMATION TO AID IN THE REGISTRATION OF U.S. CIVIL AIRCRAFT ELIGIBILITY 

 

  1. An aircraft is eligible for United States registration only if it is owned by (a) a citizen of the United States, (b) an individual citizen of a foreign country lawfully admitted for permanent residence in the United States, (c) a corporation (not a U.S. citizen) lawfully organized under the laws of the United States or any State thereof as long as the aircraft is based and primarily used in the United States, or (d) a governmental unit, and it is not registered under the laws of any foreign county. OPERATION OF AN UNREGISTERED AIRCRAFT MAY SUBJECT THE OPERATOR TO CIVIL PENALTY.

 

  1. DEFINITION OF UNITED STATES CITIZEN a. An individual who is a citizen of the United States or one of its possessions. b. A partnership of which each individual is a citizen of the United States. c. 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. HOW TO REGISTER 

 

  1. SMALL UNMANNED AIRCRAFT (sUA). sUA weighing between .55 and 55 lbs., including everything on-board at take-off, must register pursuant to Title 14 CFR Part 48 – Registration and Marking Requirements for Small Unmanned Aircraft. Use the online system at https://registermyuas.faa.gov for sUA except those owned by a trustee or a company using a voting trust to qualify as a U.S. citizen. If an N-number is needed to operate in a foreign country, or the sUA is owned through a trust or voting trust, then the sUA must be registered off-line under 14 C.F.R. Part 47 – Aircraft Registration. MANNED & UNMANNED AIRCRAFT REGISTRATIONIN ACCORDANCE WITH 14 C.F.R. PART 47 The owners of: manned aircraft, unmanned aircraft weighing 55 lbs. or more including everything on-board at take-off, sUA owned by a trustee or a company using a voting trust to meet U.S. citizenship requirements, and sUA that need an N-number to operate in other countries must apply to the Aircraft Registration Branch, at P.O. Box 25504, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73125-0504 for a Certificate of Aircraft Registration. This requires an Aircraft Registration Application, AC Form 8050-1, documentary evidence of ownership and the current registration fee. . Aircraft registration regulations are found in Title 14 Code of Federal Regulation Parts 47 and 48. 

 

NAME REQUIREMENTS 4. An aircraft may be registered only by and in the legal name of its owner. It is important that a name be the same on all conveyances submitted. A corporation has only one name which is approved in its charter or certificate of incorporation: do not use abbreviated or shortened names. An individual should avoid the use of nicknames and should show “Jr.” or “Sr.” if applicable. A woman’s full given name should be used (Harriet A. Jones) rather than her married name (Mrs. George E. Jones).

 

  1. TRADE NAME. When a trade name is used by an individual, by co-owners, or by a corporation, the trade name alone is not sufficient since it is not the legal entity owning the aircraft. The trade name may appear on conveyances in addition to the legal name of the owner (John Doe d.b.a. as Doe Air). 

 

AIRCRAFT REGISTRATION APPLICATION 6. The aircraft registration application must be signed by the owner /applicant. The owner’s name on the application must be identical to the name as shown on the evidence of ownership. The type of registration block checked and the title of the signer must also agree. (See requirements for Types of Registration, Items 27 through 31.) The application must also meet the following requirements: a. The typed or printed name of the signer(s) must be included in the signature element. b. If a post office or mail drop address is used for mailing purposes, a physical location or physical address must also be shown. c. The application must be completed and essentially “perfect” in original appearance. There can be no white out, strike throughs, or other alterations that obscure the content of the original text or the information provided by the applicant. 

EVIDENCE OF OWNERSHIP 7. The applicant for registration of an aircraft last registered in the United States must submit conveyances completing the chain of ownership from the last registered owner, through any intervening owners, to the applicant.

 

  1. A BILL OF SALE. AC Form 8050-2, or its equivalent, which transfers all right, title, and interest in a specifically described aircraft, is evidence of ownership. 

 

  1. A CONTRACT OF CONDITIONAL SALE may be recorded as evidence of ownership and the certificate of registration issued to the buyer.

 

  1. TRANSFER OF EQUITABLE INTEREST. A transfer of equitable interest under a contract of conditional sale or lease with a purchase option, previously recorded with the Aircraft Registration Branch, shall be executed by the original conditional buyer (or their assignee) and by the seller under the contract of conditional sale (or their assignee) to show consent to the transfer. It shall describe the original contract, including the date, names of parties, date of FAA recording, and conveyance number, and the aircraft by make, model, serial number, and registration number. A recording fee, in addition to the registration fee, is required. 

 

  1. TRANSFER OF INTEREST. A transfer of interest (by an instrument other than a bill of sale) in an aircraft subject to the security agreement or chattel mortgage whereby the seller conveys all of their right, title and interest in an aircraft to a purchaser is eligible for recording as evidence of ownership. The instrument may contain an assumption clause pertaining to the recorded security document. The transfer agreement should be signed by the seller, the purchaser (if the purchaser assumes the debt), and by the lienholder to denote assent to the transfer. It shall describe the original agreement by its date, parties, date of FAA recording, and conveyance number, and the aircraft by make, model, serial number, and registration number. A recording fee, in addition to the registration fee, is required.

 

  1. REPOSSESSION. The repossessor of an aircraft must submit a Certificate of Repossession on AC Form 8050-4 or its equivalent, accompanied by the original or a certified true copy of the security instrument upon which repossession is based, unless the instrument is already recorded with this office (See 42: Certified True Copy). 

 

  1. FORECLOSURE. When repossession is through foreclosure proceedings resulting in a sale, a bill of sale is required in addition to a certified true copy of the court order of foreclosure. The bill of sale must be signed by the sheriff or other authorized person who conducted the sale and must include a statement that the sale was made under applicable local law. 

 

  1. JUDICIAL SALE. 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, stating that the sale was made under applicable local law. 

 

  1. FORECLOSURE OF MECHANIC’S LIEN. If the lienholder conducts the sale, the lienholder must provide the citation of the law under which sale was conducted, a statement that it was conducted in accordance with the law, and documentary evidence of compliance. 

 

  1. COURT ORDER. If title to an aircraft has been in controversy and ownership has been determined by a court of law, a certified copy of the court order may be submitted as evidence of ownership. The aircraft must be specifically described in the order and the owner of record must be a party to the action. 

 

  1. AFFIDAVIT. If, for good reason, the applicant cannot produce the required evidence of ownership, they may submit for consideration an affidavit stating why they cannot produce the required evidence, accompanied by whatever further evidence is available to prove the transaction. The further evidence may be receipts, statements of witnesses, copies of canceled checks, or returned certified mail documenting attempts to contact former owner(s). 

 

  1. NEW HOME-BUILT & LIGHT SPORT AIRCRAFT: a. Aircraft built from a Kit. The applicant for registration of an aircraft built from a kit that has not been registered anywhere must submit an Aircraft Registration Application, AC Form 8050-1, accompanied by a Bill of Sale, AC Form 8050-2, for the kit from the kit manufacturer, an Affidavit of Ownership, AC Form 8050-88, and the registration fee. b. Aircraft built from plans or miscellaneous parts. The applicant for registration of an aircraft built from a set of plans or miscellaneous parts that has not been registered anywhere, must submit an Aircraft Registration Application, AC Form 8050-1, an Affidavit of ownership, AC Form 8050-88, and the registration fee. c. Special or Experimental Light Sport Aircraft. The applicant for registration of an aircraft built in accordance with U.S. Light Sport Consensus Standards that has not been registered anywhere must submit a Light Sport Aircraft Manufacturer’s Affidavit, AC Form 8050-88A, completed by the manufacturer, an Aircraft Bill of Sale, AC Form 8050-2, from the manufacturer, an Aircraft Registration Application, AC Form 8050-1, and the registration fee. CONVEYANCES SUBMITTED FOR THE RECORD 19. AMENDMENT. An amendment (such as to the date, the description of the collateral, the title of the signer, names of the parties, etc.) may be submitted to amend, correct or clarify any instrument which is on file with the Aircraft Registration Branch. The amendment should state its purpose and describe the original instrument by date, parties, collateral, and, if recorded, the FAA recording number and date. The amendment must be signed by the parties to the original conveyance.

 

  1. INCOMPLETED SALE. When a transaction is not completed, but a conveyance has already been submitted, FAA records may be amended by the submission of a statement signed by the parties to the conveyance explaining the circumstances. The statement should declare that the sale was not consummated and that the named purchaser has no right, title or interest in the aircraft. The erroneous conveyance should be described within the statement by its date, parties, collateral, and, if recorded, the FAA recording number and date. There is a $5 fee for each item of collateral for which a statement is submitted. 

 

  1. DISCLAIMER OF INTEREST. A statement disclaiming any interest in a specifically described aircraft may be recorded upon payment of a $5 recording fee. Such a statement is appropriate to clear the record when a conveyance on file indicates the possibility of an interest by someone outside the chain of ownership.