New Ruling Permits Online Aircraft Registration Submissions

The Federal Aviation Administration recently issued a new ruling that permits electronic issuance of aircraft registration and dealer's registration certificates. This shift eliminates the long-standing reliance on paper documents and snail mail, replacing them with instant electronic delivery.

For decades, aircraft registration certificates have been issued in physical form, printed on card stock and mailed to registrants. With over 5,000 certificates issued each month, the traditional process required printing, postage, and labor for sorting and mailing. This outdated system often causes delays, with certificates typically arriving 7 to 10 business days after issuance.

The rule, FAA-2024-2765, took immediate effect on January 17 and is part of a broader effort to digitize the Civil Aviation Registry. With this, aircraft owners and dealers will no longer need to wait for a paper certificate to arrive in the mail. Instead, the FAA will issue registration certificates electronically, ensuring near-instant delivery.

This change brings several key benefits, the most obvious being reduced wait times and lower costs. It also frees up some much-needed time for the administration by eliminating manual signatures, mailing, and processing of hard-copy certificates.

The push for modernization began with the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018, which mandated upgrades to the Civil Aviation Registry. One key requirement was the digitization of registry functions to improve efficiency and public access. In response, the FAA developed the Civil Aviation Registry Electronic Services (CARES) system: a web-based portal that allows users to submit applications, upload documents, pay fees, and track the status of their registrations.

While the CARES system is still being phased in, the FAA will immediately begin emailing electronic certificates to registrants through existing systems. CARES is expected to be fully implemented by late 2025, though the FAA will still offer physical certificates for those who prefer traditional paperwork.

“The FAA is modifying FAA regulations in a way to help the industry do business with today’s technology,” stated Scott McCreary, a member of NBAA’s Tax Committee and Regulatory Industry Advisory Group.

FMI: www.federalregister.gov