In January 2025, the FAA published its final rule allowing online submission of aircraft registration documents. Electronic processing brings welcome efficiency to the process by eliminating the need for manual steps used today when buying or selling an aircraft, such as requiring (i) the buyer to obtain a hard copy, printed certificate of registration from the FAA and (ii) the seller to remove that printed certificate from the aircraft, and sign and physically mail it back to the FAA. 

To learn more about the FAA’s efforts to digitize registration, check out this Thursday’s (March 27) ABA Forum on Air & Space Law panel discussion.