Title 14Coast GuardRelease 119-73

§3909 Aircraft deemed public aircraft

Title 14 › Subtitle SUBTITLE III— - COAST GUARD RESERVE AND AUXILIARY › Chapter CHAPTER 39— - COAST GUARD AUXILIARY › § 3909

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Any aircraft on authorized Coast Guard duty is treated as a Coast Guard aircraft, a United States public vessel, and a Coast Guard vessel for purposes of sections 937 and 938 and other applicable laws. When on duty, qualified Auxiliary pilots are considered Coast Guard pilots, subject to sections 3904 and 3912.

Full Legal Text

Title 14, §3909

Coast Guard — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

While assigned to authorized Coast Guard duty, any aircraft shall be deemed to be a Coast Guard aircraft, a public vessel of the United States, and a vessel of the Coast Guard within the meaning of section 937 and 938 of this title and other applicable provisions of law. Subject to the provisions of section 3904 and 3912 of this title, while assigned to duty, qualified Auxiliary pilots shall be deemed to be Coast Guard pilots.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Based on title 14, U.S.C., 1946 ed., § 266a (Feb. 19, 1941, ch. 8, title I, § 7A, as added Sept. 30, 1944, ch. 453, § 4, 58 Stat. 760). The last clause of said section is eliminated because it might be construed to exempt planes of members from being licensed according to law. Changes were made in phraseology. 81st Congress,

House Report No. 557

.

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2018—Pub. L. 115–282, § 123(b)(2), substituted “section 937 and 938” for “section 646 and 647” and “section 3904 and 3912” for “section 823a and 831”. Pub. L. 115–282, § 119(b), renumbered section 828 of this title as this section. 1996—Pub. L. 104–324 reenacted section catchline without change and amended text generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “Any aircraft, while assigned to authorized Coast Guard duty shall be deemed to be a vessel of the Coast Guard within the meaning of section 646 of this title.”

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

14 U.S.C. § 3909

Title 14Coast Guard

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73