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FAA clarifies aircraft registration expiration dates

The FAA issued a clarification Oct. 12 explaining when aircraft registration certificates will expire under the new three-year renewal rule.

Once owners have transitioned to the new registration, the new certificates will expire three years from the month in which re-registration was accomplished, the FAA said. If an owner whose registration expires March 31, 2011, renews in October, for instance, the three-year registration will display an expiration date of Oct. 31, 2013.

“Those owners eligible for re-registration at this time possess registration certificates previously issued in March of any year,” the clarification reads. “Those certificates will expire on March 31, 2011, and after that date will not support operation of an aircraft. An owner who submits his re-registration application any time prior to the date the current certificate expires (i.e. March 31, 2011) will be issued a new certificate that will expire three years from the month in which re-registration was accomplished.”

The FAA also noted that it was sending the first round of re-registration notices (for owners with registration certificates issued in March of any year) over a period of about 10 days beginning Oct. 1, so some owners may get their notice later in the month than others.

Find out more about the rule and when your current registration certificate expires in the AOPA Pilot Information Center re-registration regulatory briefing.

AOPA ePublishing staff
AOPA ePublishing Staff editors are experienced pilots, flight instructors, and aircraft owners who have a passion for bringing you the latest news and AOPA announcements.

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