U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

Aircraft Registration Branch, AFS-750 

P.O. Box 25504 

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73125-0504 

http://registry.faa.gov

RECORDING OF AIRCRAFT OWNERSHIP AND SECURITY DOCUMENTS

HOW TO RECORD

1. Any conveyance which affects title to, or any interest in, any specifically 

described aircraft, aircraft engine, aircraft propeller, or spare parts 

location, may be recorded. (See Items 2,3, and 4 below.) The complete, 

signed agreement of the parties (such as is contained in the security 

agreement) should be submitted to the FAA Aircraft Registry for 

recording. Promissory notes, financing statements, and disclosure 

statements are not appropriate documents to reflect the agreement of the 

parties, and are not recordable. 

Requirements for recordation of lien conveyances are contained in the 

Federal Aviation Regulations, Part 49, “Recording of Aircraft Titles 

and Security Documents.” (For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, 

U. S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D. C. 20402, or on the 

internet at www.access.gpo.gov. 

ELIGIBILITY 

2. AIRCRAFT. To be eligible for recording, an instrument granting a 

security interest in an aircraft must be signed in ink and describe the 

aircraft by manufacturer, model, serial number, and registration number. 

The debtor must be the registered owner of the aircraft; be the owner of 

record on the date the instrument is executed, as evidenced by documents 

on file with the FAA Aircraft Registry; or the lien document be 

accompanied by the debtor’s evidence of ownership, application, and $5 

registration fee. The recording fee of $5 for each aircraft must 

accompany the security instrument. 

3. ENGINES AND PROPELLERS. A lien instrument which affects 

interest in: 1) a specifically identified aircraft engine of 550 or more rated 

take-off horsepower (1,750lbs. thrust is equivalent to 550 horsepower), or 

2) a specifically identified aircraft propeller capable of absorbing 750 or 

more take-off horsepower (1,875lbs. thrust is equivalent to 750 

horsepower) may be recorded. A recording fee of $5 is required for each 

engine or propeller described. The manufacturer, model, serial number, 

and horsepower (or its equivalent) of each engine and propeller must be 

shown. 

4. SPARE PARTS LOCATIONS. An instrument executed for security 

purposes which affects title to, or interest in, an aircraft engine, propeller, 

or appliance maintained by, or on behalf of, an air carrier for installation 

or use in aircraft, in aircraft engines or propellers, or any spare parts 

maintained at a designated location by, or on behalf of, such an air carrier, 

may be recorded. The air carrier must have been certificated under Title 

49 United States Code 44705. The instrument must contain the statement 

that the spare parts are being maintained by, or for, an air carrier 

certificated under 49 USC 44705; the specific location or locations of the 

spare parts; and the name of the carrier. 

NAME REQUIREMENTS 

5. It is important that a name be the same on all conveyances submitted. A 

corporation has only one name under which it is incorporated; do not use 

abbreviated or shortened names. An individual should avoid the use of 

nicknames and should show “Jr.” and “Sr.” if applicable. A woman’s full 

given name should be used (Harriet A Jones) rather than her married 

name (Mrs. George E. Jones). 

6. TRADE NAME. When a trade name is used by an individual, by coowners, or by a corporation, the trade name alone is not sufficient since it 

is not the legal entity owning the aircraft. The trade name may appear on 

the conveyances in addition to the legal name of the owner. 

REQUIREMENTS FOR RECORDING 

7. TRANSFER OF EQUITABLE INTEREST. A transfer of equitable 

interest under a contract of conditional sale or lease with a purchase 

option, previously recorded with the FAA Aircraft Registry, shall be 

executed by the original conditional buyer (or their assignee) and the 

seller under the contract of conditional sale (or their assignee) to show 

consent to the transfer. It shall describe the original contract, including 

the date; names of parties; date of FAA recording and conveyance 

number; and the aircraft by make, model, serial number, and registration 

number. A recording fee, in addition to the registration fee, is required. 

8. TRANSFER OF INTEREST. A transfer of interest (by an instrument 

other than a bill of sale) in an aircraft subject to a security agreement 

whereby the seller conveys all their right, title, and interest in an aircraft 

to a purchaser is eligible for recording as evidence of ownership. The 

transfer agreement should be signed by the seller, the purchaser (if they 

assume the debt), and by the lienholder to denote assent to the transfer. It 

shall describe the original agreement by its date; parties; date of FAA 

recording and conveyance number; and the aircraft by make, model, serial 

number, and registration number. A recording fee, in addition to the 

registration fee, is required. 

9. ASSUMPTION AGREEMENT. An assumption agreement, whereby a 

purchaser assumes the debt under a security agreement, may be recorded. 

The assumption agreement must be signed by the new obligor and bear 

the assent of the holder of the lien. The assumption must describe the 

recorded lien by its date, parties, date of recording, and conveyance 

number, and aircraft by make, model, serial number, and registration 

number. A recording fee of $5 is required. 

10. MORTGAGE BY ONE CO-OWNER. A security instrument executed 

by one co-owner may be recorded if the conveyance specifically sets forth 

that they are mortgaging only their interest. The title “co-owner” must be 

shown beside the debtor’s name in the signature element. 

11. ASSIGNMENT. An assignment of a security interest by a secured party 

which is not attached to, or part of, the original instrument may be 

recorded separately. The assignment must describe the original security 

instrument by date, parties, collateral, and FAA recording date and 

conveyance number. The assignment must be signed by the assignor and 

accompanied by the recording fee of $5 for each piece of collateral 

affected. 

12. AMENDMENT OR SUPPLEMENT. An amendment or supplement 

to a recorded conveyance may be recorded if it describes the original 

conveyance by date, parties, and FAA recording date and conveyance 

number. It must meet the signature requirements of the original 

instrument. A recording fee of $5 for each piece of affected collateral is 

required. 

13. IRREVOCABLE DE-REGISTRATION AND EXPORT REQUEST 

AUTHORIZATION (IDERA). Effective March 1, 2006, an IDERA 

recognized under the Cape Town Treaty may be part of, or attached to, a 

security instrument, or filed separately. The format and content should 

be the same as that found in the Annex to the Protocol to Convention on 

International Interests in Mobile Equipment on Matters Specific to 

Aircraft Equipment, available at www.unidroit.org. An IDERA filed 

separately must also describe the original security instrument that it is 

related to by date, parties, FAA conveyance number, and recording date. 

NOTE: Acceptance of an IDERA does not ensure its enforceability. 

AFS-750-93 (04/07)
CONVEYANCES SUBMITTED FOR THE RECORD 

14. CONVEYANCE FILED IN ERROR. When a conveyance is filed in 

error or a transaction is not completed after documentation is submitted, 

the record may be set straight by the submission of a statement signed by 

the parties to the conveyance explaining the circumstances. The 

erroneous conveyance should be described by date, parties, collateral, 

and, if recorded, the FAA recording date and conveyance number. There 

is a $5 fee for each aircraft for which such a statement is recorded. 

15. DISCLAIMER OF INTEREST. A statement disclaiming any interest 

in a specifically described aircraft may be recorded upon payment of a $5 

recording fee. A disclaimer is not generally appropriate for recorded or 

unrecorded lien conveyances in the aircraft record (releases are required). 

The disclaimer is to disclaim any interest in the aircraft itself. 

GENERAL INFORMATION 

16. RELEASE. When a security instrument is recorded , notice is sent to the 

holder of the security interest if their mailing address is shown on the 

instrument. When the terms of the recorded conveyance have been 

satisfied, the holder should complete and sign the suggested release form 

at the bottom of the notice of recordation. If an equivalent release form is 

used, it must be signed by the lienholder and must describe the 

conveyance it is releasing by date, collateral, parties, FAA recording date, 

and conveyance number. A security instrument marked “PAID” is not 

sufficient to record the release of security interest. There is no fee for 

recording a release. 

17. CONVEYANCES FILED. Except as provided in Item 17, all 

conveyances filed for recordation which are subsequently recorded 

become a part of the permanent aircraft record and may not be returned. 

Copies of any document on file may be obtained upon request and 

payment of copy fee for each page furnished, in addition to a $2 search 

fee. 

18. RETURN OF ORIGINAL. If a person submitting a conveyance for 

recording wants the original returned, they must submit a certified true 

copy of the original. After recording, the copy is kept by the FAA and the 

original is returned to the sender stamped with the date and time of 

recording. (See Certified True Copy, Item 33.) 

SIGNATURE REQUIREMENTS 

19. INDIVIDUAL. When an aircraft is owned by one person, they are the 

individual owner. Their title in connection with aircraft instruments is 

“owner.” The individual owner’s name must be shown in addition to a 

trade name if one is used. (Example: John Doe, D.B.A. Doe Aircraft, 

signed by John Doe, owner.) 

20. CO-OWNERS. When an aircraft is owned by two or more persons as 

co-owners, each person who shares title to the aircraft must sign all 

instruments relating to the aircraft. The appropriate title would be 

“co-owner.” Each co-owners’s name must appear in addition to a trade 

name if one is used. If a corporation is a co-owner, the person(s) signing 

on behalf of the corporation must be identified by their corporate position. 

21. PARTNERSHIP. The names of all general partners must be stated with 

the partnership name on the application for registration. If there is only 

one general partner, so state. One partner may sign instruments for the 

partnership if the full partnership name is shown and the title, “partner,” 

follows their signature. The partnership name is either the name under 

which the partners do business or, if none, the names of all general 

partners. An aircraft owned by a partnership which has a corporation as a 

member (general or limited) is not eligible for registration. Such a 

partnership does not come with the definition of “citizen of the United 

States” (49 USC 1301(16). 

22. CORPORATION. The name of the corporation must be shown, and a 

corporate officer or a person in a managerial position must sign the 

instrument and show their corporate or managerial title. 

23. GOVERNMENT. Persons signing conveyances for government-owned 

aircraft must show their title as evidence of the capacity in which they act. 

AUTHORITY TO SIGN FOR ANOTHER 

24. In order to accept signatures not meeting the requirements of Items 18, 

19, 20, and 21, above, a copy of the document authorizing the signer to 

act must be submitted. 

25. AGENT. Submit the original or a certified true copy of the document 

authorizing the agent to act; i.e., power of attorney, signed by the 

individual, all co-owners, or a general partner, whichever is applicable. 

When signing for a corporation, submit a copy of the resolution of the 

board of directors authorizing the agent to act, certified as true by a 

corporate officer or someone in a managerial position. (See Certified True 

Copy Requirements, Item 32.) 

The principal’s name should be shown, followed by the agent’s signature 

and title. Example: John Miller by Sidney Smith, attorney-in-fact. 

26. GUARDIAN. The guardian of another person’s property which includes 

an aircraft, must submit a certified true copy of the court order appointing 

the guardian. The names of both the owner and guardian should appear 

on all documents where the signature of the guardian on behalf of the 

owner is required. 

27. ESTATE. A conveyance executed on behalf of the estate of a deceased 

owner must be signed by the authorized representative of the estate and 

should be accompanied by that representative’s authority to sign for the 

estate, unless such authority is already on file with us. The name of the 

estate should be shown, followed by the representative’s signature and 

title; i.e., Estate of John Doe by Richard Roe, Executor. The 

representative’s name must be signed exactly as it appears on the 

authorization document. 

28. EXECUTOR OR ADMINSTRATOR. A certified true copy of Letters 

Testamentary or Letters of Administration is required as authority for an 

executor or administrator to act. 

29. HEIR-AT-LAW. If no executor or administrator is appointed, a 

notarized statement from the heir-at-law is required. The affidavit should 

state that no application has been made for the appointment of an executor 

or administrator and that, insofar as the affiant can determine, no such 

application will be made; that they are the person entitled to the aircraft 

under the laws of the state having jurisdiction; or that under such laws 

they have the right to dispose of the aircraft. 

30. TRUSTEE. The appointed trustee must submit a certified true copy of 

the court order appointing the trustee or, if appointed without a court 

order, a certified true copy of the complete trust instrument. (see Certified 

True Copy Requirements, Item 32.) 

31. TRUSTEE IN BANKRUPTCY. A certified true copy of the court order 

naming the trustee is required to show the trustee’s authority to sign. The 

bankrupt’s name must be shown, followed by the signature and title of the 

trustee. 

CHANGE OF NAME 

32. When a change of name occurs, the original, certified true copy, or 

photostatic copy of the instrument approving the change is required; i.e., 

marriage certificate, certificate from the Secretary of State, certificate 

from Comptroller of U. S. Currency, approved merger agreement, etc. A 

photostatic copy must show official’s name, title, and state seal if 

applicable. 

CERTIFIED TRUE COPY 

33. A certified true copy must be a complete copy (front and back) of the 

original, including all terms, signatures, and dates, to which is attached a 

signed statement that the copy has been compared with the original and 

that it is a true copy. The copy must be legible, reproducible, and printed 

on paper permanent in nature. 

A document issued by a court of law should be certified as true by an 

officer of the court. 

Statutory: 49 United States Code Chapter 441 

Regulatory: 14 Code of Federal Regulations Parts 47 and 49. 

AFS-750-93 (04/07)