Aero-Tips!

A good pilot is always learning -- how many times have you heard this old standard throughout your flying career? There is no truer statement in all of flying (well, with the possible exception of "there are no old, bold pilots.")

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Aero-Tips 11.16.06

If you're lucky enough to own an airplane, be sure to keep the FAA updated with any address changes. Here's why:

Big help... or Big Brother?

• The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) uses the aircraft registration database to distribute safety and maintenance-related information such as Airworthiness Directives to the registered owners of aircraft. Aircraft manufacturers use these addresses to send their own safety notices (for example: Service Bulletins).
• This database also serves when local law enforcement and Flight Service Stations begin the search for a down or overdue aircraft.
• Aircraft registrations with incorrect addresses have continuously drawn the attention of law enforcement agencies. More recently, aircraft with incorrect registration addresses have become an important issue to law enforcement and other agencies dedicated to protecting our country from terrorism.

Keeping an aircraft's registration address current, then, helps with search-and-rescue operations, and ensures important safety information can be delivered in a timely manner.  It's also the law: FAR 47.43 gives you 30 days after making a permanent change of address to update your airplane registration with the FAA.

Making the change

The FAA makes it easy by providing an online form for updating your aircraft registration address. You can type the information into the form, but still need to print hard copy and mail it to the FAA in Oklahoma City-they need your original signature so you can't file the change of address electronically. You can also fax or mail a letter to Oklahoma City following instructions on the FAA's website.

Keep a copy in your airplane that will serve as your temporary aircraft registration until the new form comes by mail. Note: you will not be able to operate your airplane outside the United States with a temporary aircraft registration.

Aero-tip of the day: If you change your mailing address and you own an airplane, update the FAA.

FMI: Aero-Tips