Aircraft Registration

The Cape Town Treaty

Refers to:

The Convention on International Interests in Mobile Equipment, and its Protocol on Matters Specific to Aircraft Equipment - November 16, 2001

As adopted in the United States by The Cape Town Treaty Implementation Act of 2004 - August 9, 2004 which:

  • Recognizes the International Registry as an additional place for the filing of interests, including prospective interests, in certain airframes, helicopters, and aircraft engines.
  • Establishes the right for owners of these aircraft to grant an Irrevocable De-Registration and Export Request Authorization (IDERA) to a secured party.
  • Reduces from 750 to 550 rated take-off shaft horsepower the size threshold for aircraft engines eligible to be recorded as collateral in security instruments.
  • Establishes the Civil Aviation Registry as the Authorizing Entry Point.

The effective date of these changes is March 1, 2006.

Aircraft and Aircraft Engines Eligible for International Registry Recording

  • Airframes that are type certificated to transport:
    • At least eight (8) persons including crew; or
    • Goods in excess of 2750 kilograms (6050 pounds)
  • Helicopters that are type certificated to transport:
    • At least five (5) persons including crew; or
    • Goods in excess of 450 kilograms (990 pounds)
  • Jet propulsion aircraft engines with at least 1750 pounds of thrust or its equivalent.
  • Turbine-powered or Piston-powered aircraft engines with at least 550 rated take-off horsepower or its equivalent.

Cape Town Eligible Aircraft

Questions about the International Registry must be directed to:
The International Registry

The text of the Cape Town Treaty and the Protocol on Matters Specific to Aircraft Equipment is available.

Registration of interests in eligible U.S. Aircraft and Aircraft Engines with the International Registry


Related

Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT) Information

If your ELT information has changed or if you are purchasing, selling, buying or disposing of an aircraft with a 406 MHz ELT, now is the time to ensure your ELT registration information is up to date and correct at: https://beaconregistration.noaa.gov/RGDB/

Keeping your ELT information up to date is not only required, it could save your life and or the lives of your family and friends.  When an ELT is activated, the registration data is automatically forwarded to the Rescue Coordination Centers providing critical data to aid search and rescue efforts, reducing unnecessary risk to the search and rescue response, and helping to reduce false alerts.  Additionally, aircraft owners must update their information upon transfer of an ELT to another aircraft owner, or upon any other change in registration information.

Registering or updating your 406 MHz ELT is free, easy, and required.        
NOTE: The SARSAT system no longer monitors 121.5 Mhz.

For more information refer to:
   ᛫  ELT beacon information https://www.sarsat.noaa.gov/
   ᛫  ELT equipage requirements,14 CFR 91.207 Emergency locator transmitters
   ᛫  ELT registration requirements,47 CFR 87.199(f) Special requirements for
      406.0‑406.1 MHz ELTs


Register or update your 406 MHz ELT information here: https://beaconregistration.noaa.gov/RGDB/

 

Last updated: Tuesday, June 21, 2022