The FAA is extending the duration of aircraft registration certificates from three years to seven years to reduce costs and the burden to aircraft owners, who had to previously renew on a more frequent basis.
It also alleviates burdens for owners of U.S. registered aircraft by removing the requirement that the FAA issue a letter extending the validity of aircraft registration.
This change applies to traditional general aviation, commercial aircraft and larger drone registrations, the FAA says.
The ruling will go into effect 60 days after publication in the Federal Register, which is expected the week of Nov. 21, a FAA spokesperson said.
As a regulatory alternative, the FAA considered having the new rule apply only to noncommercial aircraft. However, after reviewing the potential costs, the FAA did not find the congressionally mandated alternative as cost beneficial, stating “there are no quantifiable or monetized benefits of not extending the duration of certificates of commercial aircraft.”
The National Business Aviation Association hails the move, required by the 2018 FAA Reauthorization Act.
“We applaud the FAA for hearing our concerns over the current requirements and making this change,” NBAA Director of Flight Operations and Regulations Brian Koester, said in a statement. “The new rule comes with tangible benefits that will help drive convenience and efficiency for business aircraft owners.”
The change reduces the number of applications awaiting FAA approval at any given time, which will expedite approvals, NBAA noted.
Additionally, the FAA is revising 14 CFR 47.31 (c)(1) to remove the requirement that the FAA issue a letter extending the temporary authority for an aircraft to operate when an aircraft registration has not been issued or denied within 90 days after the date the application was signed.
The change also requires aircraft owners to submit new registration forms to update their certificates prior to the seven-year expiration date if the FAA Administrator determines their registration information is inaccurate. These amendments apply to initial and renewed certificates.
Since the ruling was anticipated to be noncontroversial with no expected adverse comments, the FAA has determined this rule suitable for direct final rulemaking. A notice of proposed rulemaking has been deemed unnecessary.
Editor's Note: This story has been amended to add NBAA comments.
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