Aircraft Registration & Transactions

Light Business Airplane Buyer’s Guide

Provides a synopsis of the offerings currently available in the Light Business Airplane (LBA) category to assist companies in their purchase planning. Learn More.
Like-Kind Exchange

Under Section 1031 of the Internal Revenue Code, gains from the exchange of like-kind properties may be exempt from taxation. Learn More.
Cape Town Convention

The Cape Town International Registry was launched as a means to protect financial interests in aircraft and engine transactions. If certain criteria are met, all aircraft and engine transactions, whether domestic or international, are subject to the registry. Learn More.
U.S. Registered Foreign Civil Aircraft (Part 375)

Part 375 of the Department of Transportation regulations establishes restrictions on the operation of foreign civil aircraft, which includes not only the operation of foreign registered aircraft, but also U.S. registered aircraft that are owned, controlled, or operated by non-U.S. citizens. Learn More
Aircraft Transactions Resource

Serves as a means to organize an aircraft transaction process and provides a launching pad to numerous NBAA member resources related to the acquisition or sale of a business aircraft. Learn More

News Items

New, Onerous FAA Aircraft Registration Regulations Published This Week

July 19, 2010
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) had estimated that approximately one third of aircraft registrations are no longer valid. To rectify this, this week the FAA will publish sweeping new regulations regarding aircraft registration. Over a three year period, FAA will terminate the N number registrations of all aircraft registered before October 1, 2010, and will require the re-registration of each aircraft to retain U.S. civil aircraft status. Aircraft registrations will be valid for three years and registration certificates will include the expiration date. The FAA will cancel the N-numbers of aircraft that are not re-registered or renewed. NBAA is analyzing the new rule and its significant impact on business aircraft owners.

NBAA Welcomes FAA Non-Citizen Trust Policy Clarification

May 17, 2010
Resulting from safety concerns, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) recently considered placing restrictions on non-citizen owner trust registrations of aircraft. NBAA quickly teamed with other affected parties and sent a letter to the FAA expressing the significant and harmful consequences such a decision would have on the business aviation industry, resulting in delayed transactions and the potential for sales to be halted. NBAA President & CEO Ed Bolen then met with FAA Acting Deputy Administrator David Grizzle, and other officials last week. In response to the industry’s urgent concerns, the FAA issued a letter clarifying that the FAA continues to process registration involving non-citizen owner trust registrations and the Agency is not challenging the registration of aircraft currently registered under non-citizen owner trusts. View the FAA letter.

NBAA Urges Owners to Exercise Caution with FAA Registry Priority Requests

August 4, 2006
Aircraft owners filing an initial N number registration or change to the aircraft registration, when requesting priority registrations from the FAA, must declare an international flight and provide proof of the upcoming flightt. Under new FAA policy, effective August 1, 2006, all Declarations of international flights will be compared with actual flights. Review the FAA guidance.