Cleaving the Red Tape

The FAA has finalized a rule by which the duration of aircraft registration certificates will be extended from three to seven years.

The draft of the direct final rule states that aircraft owners shall henceforth be required to confirm their aircraft registration information and renew their certificates every seven years—unless an event or circumstance requires the issuance of a new registration before that time. If, however, the agency determines that the registration information is inaccurate, an owner may be required to submit new registration forms.

The direct final rule abrogates obsolete regulations addressing re-registration, including the removal of a provision requiring the FAA to issue a letter extending temporary authorization in the event an aircraft registration has been denied—or otherwise not issued—within ninety-days of the application.

In 2010, the FAA mandated that aircraft owners re-register their aircraft every three years. Prior to that time—accepting a stipulation that owners keep their registration up-to-date—the aircraft registration period was indefinite.

Congress—by dint of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018—directed the agency to extend the three-year period to seven for noncommercial general aviation aircraft. The FAA, however, decried the burden of distinguishing between commercial and noncommercial general aviation aircraft, stating: “It is impracticable to have different durations for commercial and noncommercial general aviation aircraft registrations. Therefore, the FAA is extending the registration duration for all aircraft to seven years.”

The rule will apply to existing registrations—one issued in 2020 will now expire in 2027, for instance—as well as new issuances.

The NBAA extolled the rule, asserting it will greatly reduce the number of applications for ownership renewals awaiting FAA approval at any given time, thereby drawing down the agency’s administrative burden, and expediting the approval of renewals. Furthermore, the rule expands authority for aircraft owners to operate beyond the registration renewal date from ninety-days following expiration to 12 months – a timeframe apt to provide a buffer against delays in renewals stemming from agency backlog.

NBAA director of flight operations and regulations Brian Koester remarked: “We applaud the FAA for hearing our concerns over the current requirements and making this change. The new rule comes with tangible benefits that will help drive convenience and efficiency for business aircraft owners.”

Having opted for a direct final rule—rather than the more traditional and time-consuming notice of proposed rulemaking process—the FAA will accept comments for thirty-days after subject rule is published in the Federal Register.

The rule is to take effect sixty-days after publication.

FMI: www.nbaa.org