Title 49, TransportationRelease 119-110
§44107 Recordation of Conveyances, Leases, and Security Instruments
Title 49 › SUBTITLE VII — AVIATION PROGRAMS › PART A — AIR COMMERCE AND SAFETY › subpart iii — safety › CHAPTER 441 — REGISTRATION AND RECORDATION OF AIRCRAFT › § 44107
Summary
The FAA must set up a public system to record who owns or has legal claims on U.S. civil aircraft. It must record sales, leases, security deals (like conditional sales, assignments, and changes) that affect aircraft, certain large engines (550 rated takeoff horsepower or more), certain large propellers (750 rated takeoff shaft horsepower or more), engines/propellers/appliances kept for use by an air carrier with a certificate under section 44705, and spare parts for such carriers. It must also record releases, cancellations, and satisfactions linked to those records. Leases for parts kept for a carrier only need a general description and a location. Most documents must be acknowledged before a notary or another authorized official unless the FAA allows otherwise. The FAA must log the time and date every filing, record them in the order received, and index them by the aircraft or part description/location and by the parties’ names. Under the Cape Town Treaty, the FAA’s Civil Aviation Registry is the U.S. Entry Point to the International Registry for U.S. civil aircraft, some aircraft with U.S. ID numbers (for certain notices), and aircraft engines. The FAA must provide a way to file notices of future assignments or sales. Those notices expire after the 60th day unless the eligible documents are filed for recordation on or before that day. An international registration for an aircraft is valid only if the person first files the eligible U.S. documents with the U.S. Entry Point and the Entry Point approves the registration.
Full Legal Text
Title 49, §44107
Transportation, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)Establishment of System.—
The Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration shall establish a system for recording—
(1)conveyances that affect an interest in civil aircraft of the United States;
(2)leases and instruments executed for security purposes, including conditional sales contracts, assignments, and amendments, that affect an interest in—
(A)a specifically identified aircraft engine having at least 550 rated takeoff horsepower or its equivalent;
(B)a specifically identified aircraft propeller capable of absorbing at least 750 rated takeoff shaft horsepower;
(C)an aircraft engine, propeller, or appliance maintained for installation or use in an aircraft, aircraft engine, or propeller, by or for an air carrier holding a certificate issued under section 44705 of this title; and
(D)spare parts maintained by or for an air carrier holding a certificate issued under section 44705 of this title; and
(3)releases, cancellations, discharges, and satisfactions related to a conveyance, lease, or instrument recorded under paragraph (1) or (2).
(b)General Description Required.—
A lease or instrument recorded under subsection (a)(2)(C) or (D) of this section only has to describe generally the engine, propeller, appliance, or spare part by type and designate its location.
(c)Acknowledgment.—
Except as the Administrator otherwise may provide, a conveyance, lease, or instrument may be recorded under subsection (a) of this section only after it has been acknowledged before—
(1)a notary public; or
(2)another officer authorized under the laws of the United States, a State, the District of Columbia, or a territory or possession of the United States to acknowledge deeds.
(d)Records and Indexes.—
The Administrator shall—
(1)keep a record of the time and date that each conveyance, lease, and instrument is filed and recorded with the Administrator; and
(2)record each conveyance, lease, and instrument filed with the Administrator, in the order of their receipt, and index them by—
(A)the identifying description of the aircraft, aircraft engine, or propeller, or location specified in a lease or instrument recorded under subsection (a)(2)(C) or (D) of this section; and
(B)the names of the parties to each conveyance, lease, and instrument.
(e)International Registry.—
(1)Designation of united states entry point.—
As permitted under the Cape Town Treaty, the Federal Aviation Administration Civil Aviation Registry is designated as the United States Entry Point to the International Registry relating to—
(A)civil aircraft of the United States;
(B)an aircraft for which a United States identification number has been assigned but only with regard to a notice filed under paragraph (2); and
(C)aircraft engines.
(2)System for filing notice of prospective interests.—
(A)Establishment.—
The Administrator shall establish a system for filing notices of prospective assignments and prospective international interests in, and prospective sales of, aircraft or aircraft engines described in paragraph (1) under the Cape Town Treaty.
(B)Maintenance of validity.—
A filing of a notice of prospective assignment, interest, or sale under this paragraph and the registration with the International Registry relating to such assignment, interest, or sale shall not be valid after the 60th day following the date of the filing unless documents eligible for recording under subsection (a) relating to such notice are filed for recordation on or before such 60th day.
(3)Authorization for registration of aircraft.—
A registration with the International Registry relating to an aircraft described in paragraph (1) (other than subparagraph (C)) is valid only if (A) the person seeking the registration first files documents eligible for recording under subsection (a) and relating to the registration with the United States Entry Point, and (B) the United States Entry Point authorizes the registration.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Historical and Revision Notes
Revised SectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 44107(a)(1)49 App.:1403(a)(1).Aug. 23, 1958, Pub. L. 85–726, § 503(a)(1), (3), (b), 72 Stat. 772. 49 App.:1655(c)(1).Oct. 15, 1966, Pub. L. 89–670, § 6(c)(1), 80 Stat. 938; Jan. 12, 1983, Pub. L. 97–449, § 7(b), 96 Stat. 2444. 44107(a) (2)(A), (B)49 App.:1403(a)(2).Aug. 23, 1958, Pub. L. 85–726, § 503(a)(2), 72 Stat. 772; restated July 8, 1959, Pub. L. 86–81, § 1, 73 Stat. 180. 49 App.:1655(c)(1). 44107(a) (2)(C), (D)49 App.:1403(a)(3) (less words between 13th comma and semicolon). 49 App.:1655(c)(1). 44107(a)(3)49 App.:1403(b). 49 App.:1655(c)(1). 44107(b)49 App.:1403(a)(3) (words between 13th comma and semicolon). 44107(c)49 App.:1403(e).Aug. 23, 1958, Pub. L. 85–726, § 503(e), 72 Stat. 773; restated June 30, 1964, Pub. L. 88–346, § 2, 78 Stat. 236. 49 App.:1655(c)(1). 44107(d)49 App.:1403(f).Aug. 23, 1958, Pub. L. 85–726, § 503(f), 72 Stat. 773; July 8, 1959, Pub. L. 86–81, § 4, 73 Stat. 181. 49 App.:1655(c)(1). In subsection (a)(1) and (2), the words “title to” are omitted as being included in “interest in”. In subsection (a)(2), before subclause (A), the word “instruments” is substituted for “any mortgage, equipment trust . . . or other instrument” because it is inclusive. The word “supplement” is omitted as being included in “
Amendments
”. In subsection (a)(3), the words “The Secretary of Transportation shall also record under the system” are omitted as unnecessary because of the restatement. In subsections (a)(3) and (c), the words “lease, or instrument” are substituted for “other instrument” for clarity and consistency in this subchapter. In subsections (b) and (d), the words “or locations” are omitted because of 1:1. In subsection (b), the words “recorded under subsection (a)(2)(C) or (D) of this section” are added for clarity. The words “lease or instrument” are substituted for “instrument” for clarity and consistency in this subchapter. In subsection (c), before clause (1), the words “by regulation” are omitted because of 49:322(a). In clause (2), the words “possession of the United States” are substituted for “possession thereof” for clarity. In subsection (d), the words “lease, and instrument” are substituted for “other instruments” for clarity and consistency in this subchapter. In clause (1), the words “of the time and date of” before “recordation” are omitted as unnecessary because of the restatement. In clause (2), before subclause (A), the words “in files to be kept for that purpose” are omitted as unnecessary. In subclause (A), the words “location specified in a lease or instrument recorded under subsection (a)(2)(C) or (D) of this section” are substituted for “in the case of an instrument referred to in subsection (a)(3) of this section, the location or locations specified therein” for clarity and consistency in this subchapter.
Editorial Notes
Amendments
2004—Subsec. (a)(2)(A). Pub. L. 108–297, § 3(a)(1), substituted “550” for “750”. Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 108–297, § 3(a)(2), substituted “paragraph (1) or (2)” for “clause (1) or (2) of this subsection”. Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 108–297, § 3(b), added subsec. (e).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
of 2004 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 108–297 effective Mar. 1, 2006, and not applicable to any registration or recordation that was made before such date under this chapter or any legal rights relating to such registration or recordation, see section 7 of Pub. L. 108–297, set out as a note under section 44101 of this title.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
49 U.S.C. § 44107
Title 49, Transportation
Last Updated
Sep 22, 2026
Release point: 119-110