airplane registration

Getting to Know the Airplane Registration Process

Aviation is a pretty unique hobby. It takes a special sort of individual to want to pilot their own aircraft, cruising thousands of feet above the ground completely on their own. There is something to be said about the freedom afforded to those who pilot airplanes, and it is hard to beat the feeling of flying among the clouds. Of course, flying a plane is also a privilege, and it is not one that is bestowed upon people lightly. If you are a budding aviator, you should be prepared for many hours of coursework and in-cockpit instruction before you can take your pilot’s license exam. Buying an aircraft of your own will also take a fair amount of saving (planes really don’t have a ceiling when it comes to price points) and research. With so many different types of planes out there, it might take a bit of due diligence to determine which one is right for your needs. Once you do secure an aircraft of your own, you will also need to complete the airplane registration process with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

Since flying an aircraft can be inherently dangerous–both to those onboard and on the ground–it stands to reason that it is a rather tightly-regulated practice. The Federal Aviation Administration is tasked with crafting legislation, implementing rules, and providing safety guidelines for all things airborne in the United States. The FAA also issues pilot’s licenses and manages a complete registry of all airplanes operating within the country. If you have recently purchased a plane of your own, you are undoubtedly eager to get up in the sky. First, though, you are going to want to thoroughly complete your FAA paperwork, and that is where working with us at the National Aviation Center can save you a fair amount of time and energy.

How to Fill Out an Airplane Registration

So, your brand new plane is sitting in your hanger, ready for take-off. You just need to complete a small bit of paperwork before you can take to the skies. Completing a Form AC 8050-1 – Aircraft Registration Application with the FAA will assign your airplane its tail number, which is officially called an N-number. This alphanumeric string of digits demonstrates that your aircraft is registered with the FAA. To complete your Form AC 8050-1, you will need to fill in some information about yourself, such as your name and address. You will also need to provide some details about your plane, such as its make, model, and serial number. Once processed, your registration will be valid for a period of three years, at which point you will need to submit a renewal application. 

airplane registration

Save Time – Use Our Online Forms

Whether you need to register a plane for the first time, or you recently received a renewal notice from the FAA, there are a couple of ways in which you can take care of those items. You can track down paper applications by printing them out from the FAA’s website, inking them by hand, and mailing them to the FAA for processing. Or, you can save yourself some time and use our streamlined web forms. We have fillable online documents for all of your FAA paperwork needs. To learn more, take a minute to explore our convenient website.