## 4 

## Aircraft registration 

I f you purchase an aircraft and intend to operate in the National Air Space, you must register the aircraft with the Aircraft Registration Branch (AFS-750). Aircraft may be registered under a Certificate of Aircraft Registration or Dealer’s Aircraft Registration Certificate issued by AFS-750. 

m CAUTION: The application must be submitted in the name of the owner(s), not in the name of the bank or other mortgage holder. 

## Aircraft registration Branch 

You may confirm any required fees with AFS-750 prior to submitting any aircraft documents for processing. AFS-750 contact information is in the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Contact Information appendix on pages A1–A2 of this handbook. Visit the “Aircraft Registration” link on the FAA website at www.faa.gov for information regarding aircraft registration, recording liens, fees, importing and exporting aircraft, requesting special N-numbers, obtaining copies of aircraft records, downloading forms, an interactive aircraft registration database, etc. You may also order aircraft records by mail, fax, or telephone. 

In compliance with statutory requirements, documents are processed in date-received order. You may check to see if your documents have been received by using the FAA website “Aircraft Registration” link, and selecting the “Download the Aircraft Registration Database” link to search the document index. 

The FAA updates the “Aircraft Registration Inquiry” site at midnight on each federal workday. You can find new information immediately following this update. Please allow up to 20 days for processing N-number reservations and renewals and up to 30 days for all other non-priority actions. 

m CAUTION: The act of registration is not evidence of ownership of an aircraft in any proceeding in which ownership by a particular person is in issue. The FAA does not issue any certificate of ownership or endorse any information with respect to ownership on a Certificate of Aircraft Registration. The FAA issues a Certificate of Aircraft Registration to the person who appears to be the owner on the basis of the evidence of ownership submitted with the Aircraft Registration Application, or recorded at the FAA Aircraft Registry. Failure to properly register your aircraft may invalidate insurance, as well as have other serious consequences. You may need to follow up with AFS-750 to ensure that your aircraft registration was accomplished successfully. 

