In many ways, airplanes are a marvel of engineering. Able to soar miles above the ground, transporting passengers from city to city, it is truly amazing that this technology is at our disposal. Things have certainly come a long way since the Wright brothers took off from Kitty Hawk, North Caroline, though the same basic aviation principles are still in play today. An airplane requires a lot of functional mechanical processes, and if you own an airplane, it is your duty to see that it is properly maintained and repaired when necessary. If you are a mechanic, and this is how you make your living, unpaid invoices can become something of a headache. In this scenario, you may need to explore the idea of filing an airplane Claim of Lien.
You work hard and your time is valuable. It is understandably frustrating to be stiffed on the bill for work that you have done on an aircraft. The good news is, however, that you do have legal pathways to seek the compensation that you are owed. By filing a Claim of Lien, you are effectively putting an aircraft’s owner on notice, and it can be a good tool to motivate payment. Of course, this is a legal process, so it is wise to consult with an attorney before moving forward with filing a Claim of Lien.
Understanding How a Claim of Lien Works
After performing a considerable amount of work on aircraft, you have sent out multiple invoices to the owner for your fees. Unfortunately, those invoices have been ignored, and you are still waiting on the payment you are owed. So, now what? Well, instead of playing the waiting game, there is a formal legal process you can use to extract payment from your delinquent client.
At this point, you may wish to submit a Claim of Lien with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Your claim should include some important details about the aircraft you worked on. You are going to want to provide the plane’s N-number, make, serial number, and model. Additionally, you are going to need to provide some information about yourself, as well as a thorough description of the work that was done on the aircraft. You can then “perfect” the lien by submitting it to the FAA’s offices in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma for processing.
So, what happens then? Well, a lien against an aircraft’s registration is a major hassle for an aircraft owner. It can cause problems with their financing arrangement, and they may have difficulty selling their aircraft. In some cases, you can even gain possession of the aircraft until the work has been paid. As a lien is a pretty significant hassle for an aircraft owner, it typically coaxes them into paying what they owe.
File Your Lien Online
At the National Aviation Center, we offer a simplified online form for filing a Claim of Lien. Once completed, we can then use our SSL-encrypted web portal to submit your documents to the FAA. If you would like to learn more about our services, contact one of our friendly customer service representatives by phone or email today.