Aircraft Registration Requirements

Paperwork is often an unavoidable part of life. Be it for your job, car, home, or medical matters, you may find yourself tasked with navigating documentation matters on a daily basis. Owning your own airplane, and staying on top of your aircraft registration, is of course no exception. While there is a significant magnitude of freedom that comes with owning and operating your own aircraft, it also comes with a high degree of responsibility. In truth, merely operating a plane puts you and others at risk, so keeping current on safety measures–which includes your documentation with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)–is an absolute must. Keeping your registration up-to-date and valid is a simple way to maintain compliance with legal authorities.

Just as you would not drive a car without proper registration, you would not want to take off in an undocumented airplane. The FAA closely monitors all aircraft in the United States, and they require all aircraft owners to not only register their aircraft but submit renewals on a fairly regular basis. The reason for this is that aircraft ownership frequently changes–the secondary aircraft market is an active one, and new aviators are taking to the skies every day. By maintaining accurate records, the FAA can better regulate our airspace and protect the safety of pilots and passengers alike.

What is Needed to Submit an Aircraft Registration?

Purchasing your own aircraft can be a sizable milestone in your life. Chances are if you have found yourself in such a transaction, it is the result of many years of hard work. Before you can hit the runway and enjoy your new airplane, however, you will want to file an application for initial registration.

Officially called a Form AC 8050-1, this document establishes a record of ownership of your airplane. When completing this form, you will be asked to fill in some basic information, including Your name and address, your plane’s N-number, manufacturer, and make. You will also want to include your aircraft’s serial number as well as the signatures of yourself and any other owners. 

To process this document with the FAA, you will be asked to include proof of ownership. Typically, this is done by including a Form AC 8050-2, otherwise called a bill of sale. In a way, this serves as a receipt for your transaction and confirms the buyers and sellers of the aircraft. 

You will also want to ensure that you are, in fact, eligible to register an aircraft in the U.S. In order to do this, you will need to be a U.S. citizen or a permanent legal resident. There are certain exceptions to this for corporations and partnerships. 

File Your FAA Documents Online at the Corporation Center

If you meet the necessary eligibility requirements and have all of the compulsory information, it is time to submit your Form AC 8050-1 to the FAA. One avenue for doing this is to visit the FAA’s website, download and print a PDF file of this form, complete it in ink, and mail it to the appropriate government office.

At the National Aviation Center, we can help you save time and energy by filing your registration online. Using our secure, simple-to-complete web forms, you can process this and other FAA documents in just a few minutes. If you would like to learn more, contact us by phone or email today.