The registration certificate therefore is a certificate validating the aircraft's registration with the FAA, a required document as per Federal Aviation Regulations
No person may operate an aircraft in the United States, unless the aircraft:
Has been registered by its owner;
Is carrying aboard the temporary authorization required FAR 47.31(c); or
Is an aircraft of the Armed Forces of the United States
Furthermore, the registration certificate is one of the required documents that must be carried aboard an aircraft in order for it to be considered airworthy
A U.S. government unit or subdivision (States, District of Colombia, Puerto Rico, a territory, or possession of the U.S.); or,
A non-citizen corporation lawfully organized and doing business under the laws of the U.S. or one of the States as long as the aircraft is based and primarily used in the U.S. (60% of all flight hours must be flown from flights starting and ending within the U.S.)
Failure to meet any of the above requirements will invalidate the registration
Issuance:
Initial Registration:
Registering an aircraft for the first time requires the following be sent to the Aircraft Registration Branch:
The original Aircraft Bill of Sale (AC Form 8050-2)
The registration fee (as per 47.17) made payable to the Federal Aviation Administration
Registration Renewal:
Renewals are also processed by the Aircraft Registration Branch and require:
The Aircraft Registration Renewal Form, AC Form 8050-1B
A registration fee (as per 47.17) is required just as it would be for an initial registration
Renewals may be submitted during the six months preceding the expiration date
A schedule is published within FAR 47.40
Registration Processing:
Each application, request, notification, or other communication sent to the FAA under this Part must be mailed to the Registry:
Department of Transportation, Post Office Box 25504, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73125-0504, or delivered to the Registry at 6425 S. Denning Ave., Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73169
If you use a P.O. Box as a mailing address, you must also provide your street or physical location on the application
Your application for aircraft registration must include the typed or printed name of each applicant with their signature in the signature block
An aircraft is registered on the date the Registry determines that the submissions meet the requirements
The FAA will return any applications that do not include the printed or typed name of the signer
Aircraft will be assigned a registration number
The effective date of registration is shown by a date stamp on the Aircraft Registration Application, AC Form 8050-1, and as the date of issue on the Certificate of Aircraft Registration, AC Form 8050-3
Validity:
Registration certificates (AC Form 8050-3) expire every 3 years after an aircraft was registered, last renewed, or when any of the following occur:
The aircraft is registered under the laws of a foreign country
Surrendered to the FAA (revocation, cancellation)
The aircraft is totally destroyed or scrapped
The holder of the certificate loses their U.S. Citizenship
30 days have elapsed since the death of the holder of the certificate
Ownership is transferred
The owner, if an individual who is not a citizen of the U.S., loses status as a resident alien, unless that person becomes a citizen of the U.S. at the same time
Name change
Change of address (See FAR 47.45 for change of address procedures)
Corporations:
Discontinuance of business within the U.S. for any reason
The aircraft is no longer primarily based in the U.S.
Trustees:
Loses U.S. citizenship;
Loses status as a resident alien and does not become a citizen of the United States at the same time; or
In any manner ceases to act as trustee and is not immediately replaced by another who meets the requirements of Sec. 47.7(c)
Dealer Aircraft Registration:
A Dealer's Aircraft Registration Certificate, AC Form 8050-6, expires 1 year after the date it is issued
Each additional certificate expires on the date the original certificate expires or when:
Name change
Change of address
A change that affects status as a citizen of the United States; or
The discontinuance of business
Renewal instructions can be found on the FAA's website with deadlines listed under Federal Aviation Regulation 47.41
Registration Certificate Replacement:
If the original Certificate of Aircraft Registration, AC Form 8050-3, is lost, stolen, or mutilated, the registered owner may submit to the Registry a written request that states the reason a replacement certificate is needed and the fee required by FAR 47.17
The Registry will send a replacement certificate to the registered owner's mailing address or to another mailing address if requested in writing by the registered owner
The registered owner may request a temporary Certificate of Aircraft Registration pending receipt of a replacement certificate
The Registry issues a temporary Certificate of Aircraft Registration in the form of a fax that must be carried in the aircraft until receipt of the replacement certificate
Conclusion:
The procedures for aircraft registration and issuance of registration numbers are contained in 14 CFR part 47, Aircraft Registration (part 47)
Keep in mind however, that registration of an aircraft is NOT a function of airworthiness certification but rather a prerequisite for issuance
Rather, the FAA must ensure that an aircraft presented for airworthiness certification is properly registered
Specific instructions on how to register an aircraft can be found on the FAA's Aircraft Registry page
In the United States, the registration number is often referred to as the N-Number given the letter "N" which precedes the alphanumeric registration identifier
