The FAA reregistration program is effective October 1, 2010.
https://www.faa.gov/licenses_certificates/aircraft_certification/aircraft_registry/reregistration/
How does Re-registration and Renewal Work?
* Approximately six months before an aircraft's registration expires, the registry will mail a notice with instructions to the owner using the mailing address of record. The notice will identify the expiration date, and the three month window during which application must be made to ensure receipt of the new certificate before the old certificate expires.
* The third, fourth & fifth months before expiration make up the timely filing window. A code provided in the notice allows on-line re-registration and payment of the
$5 fee when there are no changes in ownership, address, or citizenship to report. If there are changes to report, the form can be completed on-line, printed, signed, and mailed with the $5 fee.
* Two months before expiration, the timely filing window and opportunity for on-line re-registration closes. Remaining applications and fees must be mailed to the Registry.
* Two months before expiration, a second notice will be sent to owners of registered aircraft for which the Registry has not yet received an application for re-registration.
* Upon expiration of registration the owner of an unregistered aircraft will be sent notice of the scheduled cancellation of the N-number and their option to reserve the N-number. Once canceled, the N-number will not be available for assignment or reservation for the next five years.
* Notices will not be sent to addresses from which mail has been returned as undeliverable.
* Renewal follows the same process.
Aircraft Re-Registration Schedule
The first re-registration notices will be sent on or shortly after October 1, 2010, for aircraft that were registered in March of any year. These aircraft are assigned an expiration date of March 31, 2011. The owners of these aircraft must apply for re-registration between November 1, 2010 and January 31, 2011, their assigned timely filing window.
If aircraft registration has expired and a re-registration certificate has not been issued, received, and placed in the aircraft, then the aircraft is without authority to operate.
Aircraft registration certificates issued on or after October 1, 2010, will show an expiration date.
Aircraft registration issued under re-registration expires three years after the last day of the month in which it is issued.
Aircraft registration issued due to renewal expires three years from the expiration date of the previous certificate.
Aircraft registration issued to a new, import, or reinstated aircraft entering or re-entering the U.S. Civil Aircraft Register expires three years after the last day of the month in which it is issued.
When an aircraft is not re-registered or the registration is not renewed, the cancellation of the N-number assigned to that aircraft will take place approximately 90 days after the expiration of an aircraft's registration. Upon cancellation, an N-number will be unavailable for assignment or reservation for a period of five years.
If aircraft registration has expired and the N-number has been canceled, application may be made to register the aircraft under 14 CFR § 47.31, using the standard application for registration and payment of the $5 registration fee. The process to reinstate a previously registered aircraft remains unchanged.
When a post office or drop box is used as a mailing address, the street or physical address of the applicant must be entered on the aircraft registration application.
