The FAA has released a final rule, effective Jan. 17, 2025, that allows for aircraft registration and dealer certificates to be issued electronically.
The final rule notes that electronic certificates will be the default way of delivering certificates to aircraft owners. The certificates will be emailed directly to aircraft owners, replacing the traditional seven to 10 business days wait for mailed paper versions.
However, the final rule notes that aircraft owners who prefer a physical document can request one, “ensuring flexibility for all users.”
The move is expected to save the FAA approximately $58,575 annually by eliminating printing and mailing costs, while also reducing the environmental footprint of the registration process.
The Civil Aviation Registry Electronic Services (CARES) platform will become the hub for digital submissions, payments, and document access, fully replacing the legacy system by late 2025, according to FAA officials.
As the aviation community adapts to this new system, the FAA will provide resources and support to ensure a smooth transition for all in the aviation community, officials added.
What Stays the Same
Aircraft registration requirements and compliance rules remain unchanged.
Certificates, whether electronic or paper, must still be carried aboard the aircraft to meet regulatory standards.
Procedures for updating ownership or status changes will adapt for electronic certificates, but notifications must still occur within specified timeframes.
To read the final rule, go to Regulations.gov
I have been trying to register my newly purchased aircraft since March 2024, recently tried the CARES site, Emailed with 3 different FAA employees, at the end they said “we can’t help you “. So much for that!!
I’ll continue to hold on to my original Commercial Pilot Certificate (issued in 1998) if for no other reason than to indicate I’m becoming a dinosaur …
When you send in your bill(s) of sale, registration fee and application you have a temporary authority to fly. It makes no difference if the permanent certificate reaches you a few days earlier. The problem is that we use our emails for everything. And our emails get share with everybody to the point we get hundreds of emails, especially spam, marketing, etc. It is easy for important email to get lost. Especially when we aren’t able to get to emails. We are having to spend lots of time hunting. And that puts the burden on us to devote more and more time to email. Important papers like your registration certificate should be delivered by US mail where it is easy to sort and recognize. And it is not dependent upon you having a good quality toner filled printer.
Susan,
Good point, but you don’t have to go the electronic route from the sounds of it. You can keep the traditional USPS delivered document.
You mention all the junk email out there, some email providers do a much better job of deleting spam than others. You may want to switch your email to gmail or something like that as they seldom let spam through.
This new system should speed up transactions significantly. There is still a need for human vetting, as I understand it, so that stays the same. Be ready for a period of adaptation, as the FAA way of filling out forms takes some getting used to.
I’ve been waiting for several months to receive my registration from the FAA maybe now I’ll get it.
Ok so the FAA saves money by emailing the registration to us.
But, we still then have to print a copy and keep it in the aircraft,.!
OK, I can do that.
What’s next ?
Hey, if I’m interpreting this correctly, it seems as if you’re allowed to have an electronic version of the registration as well. For example, if you’re driving a car, you can have your insurance information on your phone/ipad or other electronic device. I’m sure it would apply the same way in this situation as well. But, to be on the safe side, it would be a good idea to also couple this with a physical copy of the registration as well.