Title 49 › Subtitle SUBTITLE VII— - AVIATION PROGRAMS › Part PART A— - AIR COMMERCE AND SAFETY › Subpart subpart iii— - safety › Chapter CHAPTER 441— - REGISTRATION AND RECORDATION OF AIRCRAFT › § 44107
Requires the FAA to run a public system that records transfers, leases, and security papers that affect U.S. civil aircraft. It covers sales, leases, liens, and related releases or cancellations. It also covers certain engines (550+ takeoff horsepower), propellers (750+ shaft horsepower), parts kept for use by an air carrier with a certificate under 49 U.S.C. 44705, and spare parts for those carriers. Leases for those carrier parts can just describe the item by type and say where it is. Most documents must be acknowledged before a notary public or another officer who can notarize deeds, unless the FAA allows a different method. The FAA must stamp each filing with the time and date, record them in the order received, and index them by the aircraft or part description or location and by the parties’ names. Under the Cape Town Treaty, the FAA Civil Aviation Registry is the U.S. Entry Point to the International Registry for U.S. aircraft, certain U.S.-numbered aircraft notices, and aircraft engines. The FAA must take filings of prospective assignments, interests, or sales, but those notices expire after the 60th day unless the actual documents eligible for recording are filed by then. International registrations for aircraft (not engines) are valid only if the filer first records eligible documents with the U.S. Entry Point and the Entry Point approves the registration.
Full Legal Text
Transportation — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
Legislative History
Reference
Citation
49 U.S.C. § 44107
Title 49 — Transportation
Last Updated
Apr 6, 2026
Release point: 119-73