Under the Federal Aviation Act of 1958, any conveyance that affects the title to, or any interest in, any civil aircraft of the United States must be acknowledged and recorded with the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration in the manner prescribed by statute. After such an instrument is recorded, it is valid as to all persons without recording and regardless of notice.
Documents relating to interests in aircraft are filed with the FAA Registry in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Documents must be signed in ink by the appropriate party (e.g. seller, grantor, lien claimant, etc.) or by someone on behalf of the appropriate party with a title acceptable to the FAA (President, Chief Manager etc.). The FAA Registry Examination Guidelines contain a list of titles that are acceptable to the FAA.
To be eligible for recording, an instrument granting a security interest in an aircraft must be signed in ink and describe the aircraft by manufacturer, model, serial number, and registration number. The debtor must be the registered owner of the aircraft; be the owner of record on the date the instrument is executed, as evidenced by documents on file with the FAA Aircraft Registry; or the lien document be accompanied by the debtors evidence of ownership/, application.
