State Requires Pilots To Register ... For a $20 Fee

If you live in Illinois, and you are a pilot, the state government has found a way to extract another $20 from you wallet. Call it what you will, but it looks a lot like a pilot tax.

According to the Illinois Department of Transportation website, pilots who reside in Illinois are required to register their federal certificate with the state for a minimal fee. According to Section 14.300 of the Aviation Safety Administrative Rule, 92 Illinois Administrative Code 14, no person shall engage in the operation of aircraft in Illinois unless current and qualified under 14 CFR 61, effective October 1, 2002.

Notable exemptions to pilot registration include military pilots (who only fly government aircraft), non-solo student pilots, pilots flying aircraft exclusively engaged in interstate or foreign commerce, and non-Illinois residents lawfully registered in their home state.

All holders of Federal Airman Certificates engaged in the operation of aircraft in Illinois shall complete a Application for Registration of Federal Airman Certificate: AER 1967 form within 30 days after establishing residency in Illinois. Each completed application shall contain at least the same information that is shown on the Federal Airman Certificate, including all ratings attached to the certificate.

The one-time fee for the registration of each Federal Airman Certificate is $20.00. Remittance shall be payable to the State Treasurer of Illinois and shall be included at the time the application for registration is submitted.

A Certificate of Registration, with no expiration date, will be mailed to the registrant as soon as possible.

The Federal Airman Certificate and the division’s Certificate of Registration shall be kept in the personal possession of the pilot when he/she is operating an aircraft in Illinois. Both certificates must be presented for inspection upon demand by any passenger, any peace officer of this state, any officer or authorized employee or designee of the division, or any official, manager or person in charge of any airport or restricted landing area in Illinois upon which the airman lands.

FMI: registry.faa.gov/activeairmen/M70_Active_Pilots_Detail_Great_Lakes.pdf