Aviation Law Alert - Government Shutdown Affects FAA Registration Office – Aircraft Transactions

The FAA Registry office in Oklahoma City, Okla. is closed while the U.S. Government is shut down. Accordingly, the FAA is not able to conduct title searches, file and record documents such as Bills of Sale or Aircraft Registrations, or obtain International Registry codes.

The shutdown of the FAA Registry office effectively precludes the closing of traditional aircraft transactions. Also, it is not possible to process required 3-year re-registration of aircraft during the shutdown.

Aircraft owners contemplating a transaction may want to take the FAA Registry closure into consideration before planning a closing date. Also, aircraft owners may want to consider checking the status of the aircraft registration and the required registration renewal status to see if the shutdown will impact the aircraft registry status. An aircraft not properly registered could be effectively grounded unless the owner avails itself of limited planning options.

The above is intended only for your information and should not be considered as legal advice. For more information regarding the issues described in this document, please contact Clifford G. Maine, chair of Barnes & Thornburg LLP’s Aviation group, at (616) 742-3944 or cmaine@btlaw.com.

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