Florida Lawyer News Services | Robbins Equitas

The FAA Proposes To Terminate All Certificates For Currently Registered Aircraft !

In this era of escalating fuel and other costs associated with flying, the FAA would collect a nearly $50 million windfall if its proposal to re-register aircraft is adopted. Additionally, aircraft owners would collectively pay about $5 million a year in renewal fees.

Basically, all aircraft owners that desire to maintain their registration will have to re-register their aircraft within a specified time period.  The FAA is proposing to terminate all certificates for currently registered aircraft and then to reissue certificates for those aircraft that are eligible for registration.  The new certificates will be issued with staggered expiration dates, and, once those terms expire, renewals will be granted for successive three-year terms.  Upon sale of an aircraft, the purchaser will have a limited time to complete the registration process and reserve the N-number before the certificate is canceled.  Upon expiration of a Dealer’s Certificate, the N-numbers of aircraft registered on that certificate will be cancelled if application for registration has not been made.

The rationale for this change is an increase in the number of aircraft on the Registry whose owners cannot be positively and accurately identified in a timely manner.  Removing the N-numbers of the unqualified aircraft is expected to eliminate a large pool of questionable N-numbers.  The FAA estimates that about one-third of the 343,000 aircraft currently registered are no longer eligible for registration.  The FAA also pointed to increasing user needs for accurate and current aircraft information and concerns of homeland security.

I disagree that this is the best method of achieving these objectives. If the FAA is interested in purging the rolls of obsolete N-numbers, a simple letter to owners, which requires a response by return mail, would be preferable. By contrast, the FAA’s proposal will be costly and time-consuming. The continuing commitment to register and re-register periodically could be a paperwork nightmare and one borne by both aircraft owners and the FAA.

Moreover, historically, aircraft registration has enjoyed permanence and convenience, unlike registration of vessels and automobiles. It seems imprudent to upset this established practice. Finally, I’m concerned that the FAA’s proposal, aside from being inconvenient, will open the door to a host of new fees associated with their proposed required, periodic re-registration.

The proposal clearly seeks to raise more fees from the present one-time $5 registration fee. The FAA reauthorization bill seeks to impose an initial registration and re-registration fee of $130, followed by a $45 renewal fee every three years thereafter.

To voice your opposition to this FAA proposal, contact your Congressman and Senators. Email and phone numbers can be obtained at: http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/index.html

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