Frequently Asked Questions

The FAA Aviation Register is the official, comprehensive national record of all civil aircraft in the United States. Also known as the “FAA Aircraft Registry,” this database contains vital information about each registered aircraft, including its ownership, identification numbers, and legal status. Securing a place on it is a mandatory step for most aircraft owners, as it serves as the official proof of registration with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), making it a foundational requirement for legal flight operations within U.S. airspace.


FAA Aircraft Registration Explained 
Properly registering your aircraft with the FAA is more than just a procedural task; it is a legal necessity. The FAA Aviation Register formally links an aircraft to its owner and establishes its nationality as a U.S. aircraft. This is crucial for regulatory oversight, safety, and security. When an aircraft is registered, it receives a unique N-number, which must be displayed on the exterior of the aircraft. This number is used to identify the plane on flight plans, in air traffic control communications, and in all official documentation.
Why Registration is Required
The requirement for aircraft registration is rooted in federal law and international agreements. It allows the FAA to maintain a clear and accurate record of all civil aircraft operating in the country. This registry is essential for several reasons:

Safety Oversight: Moreover, the FAA uses the registry to track aircraft and ensure they meet airworthiness standards and all maintenance requirements.
Law Enforcement: Additionally, the registry helps law enforcement and homeland security agencies identify and efficiently track aircraft for vital security purposes.
Legal Ownership: Furthermore, registration provides a clear public record of legal ownership, which is essential when buying, selling, or financing an aircraft.
International Operations: A valid Certificate of Aircraft Registration is required for flying internationally, as it proves the aircraft's nationality and compliance with U.S. regulations.

Essentially, without a valid registration, an aircraft cannot be legally flown. Operating an unregistered aircraft can lead to significant penalties, including fines and potential legal action.
Who Needs to Register an Aircraft?
The federal regulations are clear about who must register their aircraft. In general, all civil aircraft operating in the United States must be registered with the FAA unless they fall under specific, limited exemptions. This includes a wide range of aircraft types, from small, single-engine private planes to large commercial airliners.
Eligibility Criteria for Registration
To be eligible to register an aircraft in the U.S., the owner must meet specific citizenship requirements as defined by the FAA. The regulations, detailed in Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 47, outline who qualifies as a U.S. citizen for registration purposes. Generally, an aircraft owner must be one of the following:

An individual who is a citizen of the United States.
A resident alien.
A corporation or association organized under the laws of the U.S. or a state, territory, or possession of the U.S., of which the president and at least two-thirds of the board of directors are U.S. citizens.
A government entity (U.S. government, a state, or a subdivision).

If an aircraft is owned by a partnership, all partners must be U.S. citizens. For entities like LLCs, there are also specific citizenship requirements that must be met. These rules are in place to ensure that aircraft registered in the U.S. have a substantial connection to the country.
The Aircraft Registration Process
Navigating the FAA's registration process can seem complex, as it requires precise documentation and strict adherence to deadlines. One key step is ensuring your aircraft is listed correctly in the FAA Aviation Register, which confirms your legal status as the aircraft’s owner. The process begins with providing evidence of ownership and submitting the correct application forms.
Essential Documentation
The cornerstone of the registration process is proving you are the legal owner of the aircraft. This is typically accomplished with an aircraft bill of sale form. This legal document serves as a receipt, showing that the ownership of the aircraft has been transferred from the seller to you. The bill of sale must include the aircraft's make, model, and serial number, as well as the names and signatures of both the buyer and seller.

Along with proof of ownership, you must also submit an Aircraft Registration Application, FAA Form 8050-1. Moreover, this form collects essential details about the aircraft and its owner. Therefore, it is critical that all information provided on the application is accurate and matches the supporting documents. Otherwise, any discrepancies can lead to significant delays or rejection of your application.
Expediting Your Registration with Our Help
However, while the FAA process is thorough, it is not always fast. The standard processing times for mailed applications can take weeks or even months, leaving you grounded while you wait. At the National Aviation Center, we specialize in streamlining this entire process. Our online platform is designed to make submitting your documentation easier than ever.

We have developed user-friendly forms that guide you through each step, ensuring you provide all the necessary information correctly the first time. Our team of experts reviews every submission for accuracy and completeness before it is sent to the FAA. This pre-check minimizes the risk of errors that could cause delays. 

By using our services, you can significantly reduce the waiting time and get your Certificate of Aircraft Registration much faster than through traditional methods.
Maintaining Your Aircraft Registration
Once you have successfully registered your aircraft, the responsibility does not end. FAA registration is not permanent and must be maintained.
The Importance of Renewal
Your Certificate of Aircraft Registration is valid for three years and expires on the last day of the month it was issued. The FAA will send a notice to the registered owner before the expiration date, but it is ultimately the owner's responsibility to ensure a timely renewal. An expired registration means your aircraft is not legal to fly. 

Completing your FAA registration renewal on time is crucial to avoid any lapse in your authority to operate. Our platform simplifies the renewal process, allowing you to submit your renewal application quickly and efficiently online, ensuring you remain in compliance without any interruption.

Life changes, and so can the details associated with your aircraft. If you move, you must update your address with the FAA within 30 days. If you sell the aircraft, you must report the sale. Keeping the FAA Aviation Register current with your latest information is a regulatory requirement. We assist with documentation updates like address changes and ownership transfers, keeping your FAA records accurate and up to date.
Help With the Aviation Register and More 
At the National Aviation Center, we are dedicated to supporting aircraft owners with all their FAA Aviation Register documentation needs. From initial registration and managing your ownership records to handling your FAA registration renewal, our services are designed to save you time and eliminate complexity.

Explore our services today to see how we can help you with every aspect of your FAA documentation. Let us handle the paperwork so you can focus on what matters most—flying.

An N-number is the registration number for an aircraft registered in the United States.
It's a unique identifier assigned by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The "N" stands for "National" and is followed by a combination of numbers and letters.

Airplane tail numbers are essentially the unique identification codes assigned to aircraft. They are similar to license plates for cars.


Purpose: They are used to identify specific aircraft for air traffic control, regulatory purposes, and for tracking ownership and maintenance records.
Location: Typically displayed on the tail of the aircraft, but can also be found on the fuselage.
Format: Varies by country, but generally consists of a combination of letters and numbers.

The "N" in US tail numbers stands for "National".

It was assigned to the United States under the International Air Navigation Convention held in 1919. This convention established a system of international aircraft identification, with each country being allocated a specific letter.

N-numbers, the registration numbers for U.S. aircraft, adhere to specific guidelines:


Format: Consists of the letter "N" followed by one to five alphanumeric characters.
Numeric Start: The initial character must be a number (excluding zero).
Character Limit: The total number of characters (excluding the "N") cannot exceed five.
Letter Placement: Letters can be placed at the end of the number, with a maximum of two letters.
Reserved Numbers: N1 to N99 are reserved for FAA use.
Obsolete Prefixes: NC, NX, NR, and NL are no longer issued.

An Aircraft Security Agreement is a legal document that establishes a security interest in an aircraft. This means that the aircraft is used as collateral to secure a loan or other financial obligation.

In the United States, aircraft registration is now valid for seven years.

This means that if you registered your aircraft after January 23, 2023, you won't need to renew it until seven years from the date of initial registration.

If your aircraft registration expired before January 23, 2023, it was valid for three years.

An Airworthiness Certificate is an official document issued by a civil aviation authority that certifies an aircraft is in airworthy condition. This means it meets the required safety standards for flight.

Essentially, it's like a driver's license for an aircraft. Without a valid Airworthiness Certificate, an aircraft cannot legally fly.

American Citizens and Foreign Country Citizens Lawfully Admitted for US Permanent Residence

United States citizens can register an aircraft, as can individual citizens of foreign countries who have been lawfully admitted for permanent residence in America. 

Additionally, a corporation can register an aircraft if the corporation is organized and doing business under American laws or in a State within America, provided that the aircraft is both primarily used in America or based in the country. 

Use the following link for FAA registration. 

An aircraft abstract is typically a concise summary of an aircraft's technical data and specifications. It provides essential information about the aircraft's design, performance, and capabilities.

No, you may not operate a U.S.-registered aircraft in the U.S. unless you possess a U.S. pilot license (certificate).

You can record a security agreement against an aircraft by filling out our Aircraft Security Agreement form.

Processing time is generally 12 to 16 weeks after documents are received. In compliance with statutory requirements, documents are processed in the order in which they are received.

An aircraft is eligible for U.S. Registration if it is not registered in another country and it is owned by:

An individual who is a United States citizen,
A partnership each of whose partners is an individual who is a U.S. citizen,
A corporation or association:
organized under the laws of the U.S. or a State, the District of Columbia, or a U.S. territory or possession,
of which the president and at least two-thirds of the board of directors and other managing officers are U.S citizens, and
in which at least 75% of the voting interest is owned or controlled by persons that are U.S. citizens,
An individual citizen of a foreign country lawfully admitted for permanent residence in the U.S.,
A U.S. governmental unit or subdivision
A non-U.S. citizen corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the U.S. or one of the States as long as the aircraft is based and primarily used in the U.S. (60% of all flight hours must be from flights starting and ending within the U.S.)

If you are registering an aircraft for the first time, you will need to submit a form for Initial Registration.

General aviation aircraft are aircraft operated under 14 CFR part 91 rules, which could be any category of airplane, including transport category and rotorcraft.  Additionally, airplanes operated under 14 CFR parts121 and 135, which may include small airplanes, are not considered General Aviation aircraft when operated under these rules.

The regulations do not consider physical cleaning of an aircraft as maintenance or preventative maintenance.  However, when preparing the aircraft for cleaning requires removal of components or protection of components, that may fall under the definition of maintenance or preventative maintenance.  For example, before cleaning an aircraft, it may be necessary to close and secure the upper and lower fan cowl doors on a transport category aircraft.  The FAA considers the closing and securing of the engine fan cowl doors maintenance.  Additionally, after the cleaning process, it may be necessary to reapply lubrication compounds and preservatives to aircraft components, both of which could be considered maintenance/preventative maintenance.  Conversely, we do not consider cleaning seat cushions/covers maintenance or preventative maintenance.

14 CFR part 1 defines a small aircraft as an aircraft of 12,500 lbs or less maximum certificated take-off weight.  Therefore, any airplane, including transport category airplanes, could be considered small by the Part 1 definition if the airplane is less than 12,500 lbs.

You may contact your nearest FAA Aircraft Certification Office with questions about airworthiness of an aircraft.

You can record an aircraft claim of lien by filling out our Claim of Lien form.