As A Recreational Flyer It’s Easy To Enjoy The Flying And Forget Some Of The Finer Points Of FAA Paperwork Requirements

In accordance with the Code of Federal Regulations, FAA certificate holders are required to update their mailing address within 30 days of obtaining a new address. The thing that’s easy to forget is that both the pilot and the aircraft hold a certificate. If the addresses for the pilot and the registered owner of the aircraft, as listed on the registration certificate, are out of date more than 30 days neither are legal to fly.

It would seem logical that there is a way to simply notify the FAA of an address change, and this change would be recorded for both the pilot and your aircraft. However, logic is not a strong point when it comes to FAA paperwork. The notification process for the pilot certificate is different from that for the aircraft registration certificate.

Pilot Certificate

There are two ways to update your pilot address information. You can update your address online…this method requires that you register with Online Services, or you can mail the FAA a Change of Address Notification (INFORMATION) form. If you just send a written notice, it must include your name, date of birth, social security number or certificate number, and the new address.

Here’s an interesting twist to the pilot certificate address notification. You are not required to obtain a new pilot certificate showing your new address, and the FAA will not issue you a new pilot certificate with your revised address.

You can continue to use your existing pilot certificate even if the address on the certificate is wrong provided you have made the appropriate address change notification. If you want your pilot certificate to have an accurate address, you can request a new certificate from the FAA and pay the $2 charge.

Aircraft Registration

There are three ways to change the address on a registration certificate. You can mail the FAA either an Aircraft Registration Application, AC Form 8050-1, or you can mail or fax the FAA a letter containing the:

• Identity of the aircraft by N-Number
• Manufacturer name
• Model designation
• Serial number
• New mailing address
• Signature of the registered owner.

Whether it’s a pilot certificate or an aircraft registration, the FAA has to know the actual physical location of where you live. If your new address is a PO Box, listed as General Delivery, a Rural Route, or a Star Route, you must provide directions or a map for locating the residence.

If the only way you can afford to own your recreational aircraft is by living in the back of your 1964 Ford Fairlane station wagon, we have no idea how the FAA will handle that.

FMI: FAA address change