When purchasing an aircraft, the use of an FAA copy (formerly called the “pink” copy) of the registration application form 8050-1 for temporary registration has been changed from 90 days to unlimited up to the time the certificate is received or the application is denied by the FAA. The new policy language is stated below:
Except when the most recent registration of the subject aircraft is expired or cancelled, 14 CFR 47.31(c) provides temporary authority for an airworthy U.S. aircraft to be operated within the United States without registration when a copy of the signed aircraft registration application is carried in the aircraft. This temporary authority is valid (i) until the applicant receives the Certificate of Aircraft Registration, (ii) until the date FAA denies the application, (iii) or as provided by paragraph (c)(2) of this section.
Paragraph (c)(2) referenced above sets a limit of 12 months from when the FAA lists the application as “pending” that the temporary authority may be used. The “pending” period does not start until the application is processed. As of this writing, the FAA is processing applications received in September 2022. With the FAA being behind on processing applications, if you are concerned about whether or not they have received your application, there is a quarterly index of applications received that may be viewed here.
Reregistration
The FAA is extending the duration of aircraft registration certificates from three to seven years, effective Jan. 23, 2023. If your registration certificate expires after this date, the registration certificate will automatically be extended for an additional four years.
Civil Aviation Registry Electronic Services (CARES)
The FAA is moving toward online registration services. Currently, paper forms may still be filled out and submitted. After Dec. 5, 2022, individual aircraft owners were able to:
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Complete and digitally sign self-guided aircraft registration applications;
- Upload legal and supplemental documents;
- Receive auto-generated notifications;
- Request aircraft registration N numbers; and
- Make online payments.
Corporations and LLCs will be added at some point in the future. You will need to sign up for a CARES account to access these features. More information on Aircraft Registration is available here.
