Document
14 CFR Ch. I (1–1–25 Edition) Pt. 48 (b) The holder of a Dealer’s Aircraft of a small unmanned aircraft system as Registration Certificate must imme- defined in § 1.1 of this chapter.
diately notify the Registry of any of (b) Small unmanned aircraft eligible the following— for registration in the United States (1) A change of name; must be registered and identified in ac- (2) A change of address; cordance with either: (3) A change that affects status as a (1) The registration and identifica- citizen of the United States; or tion requirements in this part; or (4) The discontinuance of business. (2) The registration requirements in part 47 and the identification and reg- [31 FR 4495, Mar. 17, 1966, as amended by istration marking requirements in sub- Amdt. 47–29, 75 FR 41983, July 20, 2010] parts A and C of part 45.
(c) Small unmanned aircraft intended PART 48—REGISTRATION AND to be operated outside of the territorial MARKING REQUIREMENTS FOR airspace of the United States, or reg- SMALL UNMANNED AIRCRAFT istered through a trust or voting trust, must be registered in accordance with Subpart A—General subparts A and B of part 47 and satisfy the identification and registration Sec.
marking requirements of subparts A 48.1 Applicability.
48.5 [Reserved] and C of part 45.
48.10 Definitions.
48.15 Requirement to register. § 48.5 [Reserved] 48.20 Eligibility for registration.
48.25 Applicants.
§ 48.10 Definitions.
48.30 Fees.
For purposes of this part, the fol- lowing definitions apply: Subpart B—Certificates of Aircraft Citizen of the United States or U.S. cit- Registration for Small Unmanned Aircraft izen means one of the following: 48.100 Registration: Small unmanned air- (1) An individual who is a citizen of craft operated for any purpose other than the United States or one of its posses- exclusively limited recreational oper- sions.
ations.
(2) A partnership each of whose part- 48.105 Registration: Small unmanned air- ners is an individual who is a citizen of craft intended exclusively for limited recreational operations. the United States.
48.110 Application.
(3) A corporation or association orga- 48.115 Requirement to maintain current in- nized under the laws of the United formation.
States or a State, the District of Co- 48.120 Invalid registration.
lumbia, or a territory or possession of 48.125 Foreign civil aircraft.
the United States, of which the presi- dent and at least two-thirds of the Subpart C—Aircraft Marking board of directors and other managing 48.200 General.
officers are citizens of the United 48.205 Display and location of unique identi- States, which is under the actual con- fier.
trol of citizens of the United States, A UTHORITY : 49 U.S.C. 106(f), 106(g), 40101, and in which at least 75 percent of the 40103, 40113–40114, 41703, 44101–44103, 44105– voting interest is owned or controlled 44106, 44110–44113, 44809(f), 45302, 45305, 46104, by persons that are citizens of the 46301, 46306.
United States.
S OURCE : Doc. No. FAA–2015–7396; Amdt. No.
Registry means the FAA, Civil Avia- 48–1; 80 FR 78645, Dec. 16, 2015, unless other- tion Registry, Aircraft Registration wise noted.
Branch.
Resident alien means an individual Subpart A—General citizen of a foreign country lawfully admitted for permanent residence in § 48.1 Applicability.
the United States as an immigrant in (a) This part provides registration conformity with the regulations of the and identification requirements for Department of Homeland Security (8 small unmanned aircraft that are part CFR Chapter 1).
Federal Aviation Administration, DOT § 48.100 legal name of its owner, unless the § 48.15 Requirement to register.
owner is less than 13 years of age. If the No person may operate a small un- owner is less than 13 years of age, then manned aircraft that is eligible for reg- the small unmanned aircraft must be istration under 49 U.S.C. 44101–44103 un- registered by a person who is at least less one of the following criteria has 13 years of age.
been satisfied: (c) In accordance with 49 U.S.C.
(a) The owner has registered and 44103(c), registration is not evidence of marked the aircraft in accordance with aircraft ownership in any proceeding in this part; which ownership of an unmanned air- (b) The aircraft is operated exclu- craft by a particular person is in issue.
sively in compliance with 49 U.S.C.
(d) In this part, ‘‘owner’’ includes a 44809 and weighs 0.55 pounds or less on buyer in possession, a bailee, a lessee of takeoff, including everything that is on a small unmanned aircraft under a con- board or otherwise attached to the air- tract of conditional sale, and the as- craft; or signee of that person.
(c) The aircraft is an aircraft of the Armed Forces of the United States.
[Doc. No. FAA–2015–7396; Amdt. No. 48–1; 80 FR 78645, Dec. 16, 2015, as amended by Doc.
[Doc. No. FAA–2015–7396; Amdt. No. 48–1; 80 No. FAA–2019–1100; Amdt. No. 48–3; 86 FR FR 78645, Dec. 16, 2015, as amended by Doc.
4504, Jan. 15, 2021] No. FAA–2019–1100; Amdt. No. 48–3; 86 FR 4504, Jan. 15, 2021] § 48.30 Fees.
§ 48.20 Eligibility for registration.
(a) The fee for issuing or renewing a A small unmanned aircraft may be Certificate of Aircraft Registration as registered under 49 U.S.C. 44103 and described in § 48.100 is $5.00 per aircraft.
under this part only when the aircraft (b) The fee for issuing or renewing a is not registered under the laws of a Certificate of Aircraft Registration as foreign country and is— described in § 48.105 is $5.00 per certifi- (a) Owned by a U.S. citizen; cate.
(b) Owned by an individual citizen of (c) Each application for and renewal a foreign country lawfully admitted for of a Certificate of Aircraft Registra- permanent residence in the United tion must be accompanied by the fee States; described in paragraphs (a) and (b), as (c) Owned by a corporation not a cit- applicable, paid to the Federal Avia- izen of the United States when the cor- tion Administration through the web- poration is organized and doing busi- based aircraft registration system, or ness under the laws of the United in another manner if prescribed by the States or a State within the United Administrator.
States, and the aircraft is based and [Doc. No. FAA–2015–7396; Amdt. No. 48–1; 80 primarily used in the United States; or FR 78645, Dec. 16, 2015, as amended by Doc.
(d) An aircraft of— No. FAA–2019–1100; Amdt. No. 48–3; 86 FR (1) The United States Government; or 4504, Jan. 15, 2021] (2) A State, the District of Columbia, a territory or possession of the United Subpart B—Certificates of Aircraft States, or a political subdivision of a State, territory, or possession. Registration for Small Un- manned Aircraft § 48.25 Applicants.
§ 48.100 Registration: Small unmanned (a) To register a small unmanned air- aircraft operated for any purpose craft in the United States under this other than exclusively limited rec- part, a person must provide the infor- reational operations.
mation required by § 48.110 to the Reg- istry in a form and manner prescribed (a) Certificate of Aircraft Registration.
by the Administrator. Upon submission A Certificate of Aircraft Registration of this information, the FAA issues a issued in accordance with § 48.110 to a Certificate of Aircraft Registration to small unmanned aircraft used for any that person. purpose other than operating exclu- (b) A small unmanned aircraft must sively in compliance with 49 U.S.C.
be registered by its owner using the 44809 constitutes registration for the 14 CFR Ch. I (1–1–25 Edition) § 48.105 small unmanned aircraft identified on the United States and one of the fol- the application. lowing events occurs: (b) Effective date of registration. An (i) The corporation ceases to be law- aircraft is registered when the appli- fully organized and doing business cant receives a Certificate of Aircraft under the laws of the United States or Registration for the specific aircraft. any State thereof; or The effective date of registration is (ii) The aircraft was not operated ex- shown by the date of issue on the Cer- clusively within the United States dur- tificate of Aircraft Registration issued ing the period of registration under for the aircraft. this part.
(c) Registration renewal. A Certificate [Doc. No. FAA–2015–7396; Amdt. No. 48–1; 80 of Aircraft registration issued under FR 78645, Dec. 16, 2015. Redesignated and this part expires 3 years after the date amended by Doc. No. FAA–2019–1100; Amdt.
of issue unless it is renewed.
No. 48–3, 86 FR 4504, Jan. 15, 2021] (1) The holder of a Certificate of Air- § 48.105 Registration: Small unmanned craft Registration must renew the Cer- aircraft intended exclusively for tificate by verifying, in a form and limited recreational operations.
manner prescribed by the Adminis- trator, that the information provided (a) Certificate of Aircraft Registration.
in accordance with § 48.110 is accurate A Certificate of Aircraft Registration and if it is not, provide updated infor- issued in accordance with § 48.110 for mation. The verification may take small unmanned aircraft to be operated place at any time within the six exclusively in compliance with 49 months preceding the month in which U.S.C. 44809 constitutes registration for the Certificate of Aircraft registration all the small unmanned aircraft used expires. exclusively for operations in compli- (2) A certificate issued under this ance with 49 U.S.C. 44809 owned by the paragraph expires three years from the individual identified on the applica- expiration date of the previous certifi- tion.
cate. (b) Effective date of registration. An (d) Other events affecting effectiveness aircraft is registered when the appli- of Certificate. Each Certificate of Air- cant receives a Certificate of Aircraft craft Registration issued by the FAA Registration. The effective date of reg- under this subpart is effective, unless istration is shown by the date of issue registration has ended by reason of on the Certificate of Aircraft Registra- having been revoked, canceled, expired, tion issued under this part.
or the ownership is transferred, until (c) Registration renewal. A Certificate the date upon which one of the fol- of Aircraft registration issued under lowing events occurs: this part expires 3 years after the date (1) Subject to the Convention on the of issue unless it is renewed.
International Recognition of Rights in (1) The holder of a Certificate of Air- Aircraft when applicable, the aircraft craft Registration must renew the Cer- is registered under the laws of a foreign tificate by verifying, in a form and country. manner prescribed by the Adminis- (2) The small unmanned aircraft is trator, that the information provided totally destroyed or scrapped. in accordance with § 48.110 is accurate (3) The holder of the Certificate of and if it is not, provide updated infor- Aircraft Registration loses U.S. citi- mation. The verification may take zenship. place at any time within the six (4) Thirty days have elapsed since the months preceding the month in which death of the holder of the Certificate of the Certificate of Aircraft registration Aircraft Registration. expires.
(5) The owner, if an individual who is (2) A certificate issued under this not a citizen of the United States, loses paragraph expires three years from the status as a resident alien, unless that expiration date of the previous certifi- person becomes a citizen of the United cate.
States at the same time. (d) Other events affecting effectiveness (6) The owner is a corporation other of Certificate. Each Certificate of Air- than a corporation which is a citizen of craft Registration issued by the FAA Federal Aviation Administration, DOT § 48.115 under this part is effective, unless reg- (7) For any unmanned aircraft istration has ended by reason of having equipped with a remote identification been revoked, canceled or expired, or broadcast module, the serial number until the date upon which one of the issued by the manufacturer of the re- following events occurs: mote identification broadcast module (1) The holder of the Certificate of in accordance with the design and pro- Aircraft Registration loses U.S. citi- duction requirements of part 89 of this zenship. chapter. An applicant may submit the (2) Thirty days have elapsed since the serial number of more than one remote death of the holder of the Certificate of identification broadcast module as part Aircraft Registration. of the application for aircraft registra- (3) The owner, if an individual who is tion under § 48.105. The serial number of not a citizen of the United States, loses a remote identification broadcast mod- status as a resident alien, unless that ule provided in this application must person becomes a citizen of the United not be listed on more than one Certifi- States at the same time.
cate of Aircraft Registration at the same time.
[Doc. No. FAA–2015–7396; Amdt. No. 48–1; 80 (8) Other information as required by FR 78645, Dec. 16, 2015. Redesignated and the Administrator.
amended by Doc. No. FAA–2019–1100; Amdt.
No. 48–3, 86 FR 4504, Jan. 15, 2021] (b) Provision of information. The infor- mation identified in paragraph (a) of § 48.110 Application.
this section must be submitted to the Registry through the web-based small (a) Required information. Each appli- unmanned aircraft registration system cant for a Certificate of Aircraft Reg- in a form and manner prescribed by the istration issued under this part must Administrator.
submit all of the following information (c) Issuance of Certificate of Aircraft to the Registry: Registration. The FAA will issue a Cer- (1) Applicant’s name and, for an ap- tificate of Aircraft Registration upon plicant other than an individual, the completion of the application require- name of the authorized representative ments provided in paragraph (a) of this applying for a Certificate of Aircraft section.
Registration.
(2) Applicant’s physical address and, [Doc. No. FAA–2015–7396; Amdt. No. 48–1; 80 for an applicant other than an indi- FR 78645, Dec. 16, 2015. Redesignated and vidual, the physical address of the au- amended by Doc. No. FAA–2019–1100; Amdt.
thorized representative. If the appli- No. 48–3, 86 FR 4504, Jan. 15, 2021] cant or authorized representative can- § 48.115 Requirement to maintain cur- not receive mail at a physical address, rent information.
then provide a mailing address.
(3) Applicant’s email address or, for (a) The holder of a Certificate of Air- applicants other than individuals, the craft Registration must ensure that email address of the authorized rep- the information provided under § 48.110 resentative. remains accurate.
(4) Applicant’s telephone number(s) (b) The holder of a Certificate of Air- and, for an applicant other than an in- craft Registration must update the in- dividual, the telephone number(s) of formation using the web-based small the authorized representative. unmanned aircraft registration system (5) The aircraft manufacturer and within 14 calendar days of the fol- model name. lowing: (1) A change in the information pro- (6) For any standard remote identi- vided under § 48.110.
fication unmanned aircraft, the serial (2) When aircraft registration re- number issued by the manufacturer of quires cancellation for any reason in- the unmanned aircraft in accordance cluding sale or transfer, destruction, or with the design and production require- export.
ments of part 89 of this chapter. The serial number provided in this applica- [Doc. No. FAA–2015–7396; Amdt. No. 48–1; 80 tion must not be listed on more than FR 78645, Dec. 16, 2015. Redesignated and one Certificate of Aircraft Registration amended by Doc. No. FAA–2019–1100; Amdt.
at the same time. No. 48–3, 86 FR 4504, Jan. 15, 2021] 14 CFR Ch. I (1–1–25 Edition) § 48.120 § 48.120 Invalid registration. § 48.205 Display and location of unique identifier.
The registration of a small un- (a) The unique identifier must be manned aircraft is invalid if, at the maintained in a condition that is leg- time it is made— ible.
(a) The aircraft is registered in a for- (b) The unique identifier must be af- eign country; fixed to the small unmanned aircraft (b) The applicant is not the owner, by any means necessary to ensure that except when the applicant registers on it will remain affixed for the duration behalf of an owner who is under 13 of each operation.
years of age; (c) The unique identifier must be leg- (c) The applicant is not eligible to ibly displayed on an external surface of submit an application under this part; the small unmanned aircraft.
or [Doc. No. FAA–2015–7396; Amdt. No. 48–1; 80 (d) The interest of the applicant in FR 78645, Dec. 16, 2015, as amended by Doc.
the aircraft was created by a trans- No. FAA–2018–1084, 84 FR 3673, Feb. 13, 2019] action that was not entered into in good faith, but rather was made to PART 49—RECORDING OF AIR- avoid (with or without the owner’s CRAFT TITLES AND SECURITY knowledge) compliance with 49 U.S.C.
DOCUMENTS 44101–44103.
§ 48.125 Foreign civil aircraft. Subpart A—Applicability Except for corporations eligible to Sec.
register under § 48.20(c), the FAA will 49.1 Applicability.
issue a recognition of ownership to per- Subpart B—General sons required to comply with the provi- sions of this part pursuant to an au- 49.11 FAA Aircraft Registry.
thorization to operate issued under 49.13 Signatures and acknowledgements.
part 375 of this title. The recognition of 49.15 Fees for recording.
49.17 Conveyances recorded.
ownership does not have the effect of 49.19 Effective date of filing for recordation.
U.S. aircraft registration.
49.21 Return of original conveyance.
Subpart C—Aircraft Marking Subpart C—Aircraft Ownership and Encumbrances Against Aircraft § 48.200 General.
49.31 Applicability.
(a) No person may operate a small 49.33 Eligibility for recording: general re- unmanned aircraft registered in ac- quirements.
cordance with this part unless the air- 49.35 Eligibility for recording: ownership re- quirements.
craft displays a unique identifier in ac- 49.37 Claims for salvage or extraordinary cordance with the requirements of expenses.
§ 48.205 of this subpart.
(b) A unique identifier is one of the Subpart D—Encumbrances Against Specifi- following: cally Identified Aircraft Engines and (1) The registration number issued to Propellers an individual or the registration num- 49.41 Applicability.
ber issued to the aircraft by the Reg- 49.43 Eligibility for recording: general re- istry upon completion of the registra- quirements.
tion process provided by this part; or 49.45 Recording of releases, cancellations, (2) If authorized by the Adminis- discharges, and satisfactions: special re- trator, the small unmanned aircraft se- quirements.
rial number provided with the applica- Subpart E—Encumbrances Against Air Car- tion for Certificate of Aircraft Reg- rier Aircraft Engines, Propellers, Appli- istration under § 48.110(a).
ances, and Spare Parts [Doc. No. FAA–2015–7396; Amdt. No. 48–1; 80 FR 78645, Dec. 16, 2015. Redesignated and 49.51 Applicability.
amended by Doc. No. FAA–2019–1100; Amdt. 49.53 Eligibility for recording: general re- No. 48–3, 86 FR 4504, Jan. 15, 2021] quirements.