Aircraft registration — choosing the register and jurisdiction

A register sets the rules under which the aircraft is maintained, flown and one day sold. Changing it mid-life is expensive, which is why the decision is taken before the deal.

What changed

Before 2022 a significant part of the private fleet connected with Russia was registered in foreign registers — that gave familiar maintenance rules and documents recognised worldwide.

After 2022 this arrangement stopped working for many owners: foreign authorities withdrew certificates, and aircraft were moved to the Russian register. Dual registration is not permitted, so the transfer calls for a careful sequence of steps on both sides.

How the choice of register affects the life of the aircraft

• the rules and intervals of maintenance, and recognition of the work done and of the maintenance stations
• the requirements on the crew, their licences and ratings
• where you can fly and whether receiving states recognise the documents
• insurance and what it costs
• the range of potential buyers at a future sale

How a change of register works

• checking the documents and the aircraft's readiness for the requirements of the new register
• bringing maintenance and records into line — this is the main body of the work
• deregistration in the previous state of registry
• entry in the new register and issue of the certificate of airworthiness
• reissuing the insurance, the call signs and the related documents

The order of steps matters: an aircraft cannot be registered in two states at once, so the “window” between deregistration and re-registration is planned in advance — during that period flying is not possible.

I have been through such a transfer myself: we brought a HondaJet into the Russian register from the Maltese one. The type was new to Russia.

What to check before buying a foreign-registered aircraft

• which register the aircraft is on at present and whether there are any restrictions
• whether the maintenance already carried out is recognised by the target register
• what modifications will be required and what they cost
• whether there are encumbrances and whether any third-party rights have been asserted

Frequently asked questions

What if the previous authority drags out the deregistration?

Get the deregistration date confirmed before you plan the entry in the new register, and keep it with whoever is handling the paperwork on the deal. While the aircraft hangs between registers it sits on the ground, and parking, insurance and the crew keep costing money. Better not to schedule any flights for that period, even when the dates look settled.

Is it cheaper to buy an aircraft already on the register you need?

As far as I know, usually yes: re-registration adds paperwork to the deal, modifications to meet the new register's requirements and downtime for the aircraft. Between two comparable aircraft the difference over the whole deal can be noticeable. It has to be worked out for the particular machine: it depends on the state of the logbooks and on what has to be brought up to standard.

What happens if the maintenance already carried out is not recognised by the new register?

Some of the work has to be repeated or certified again, and it is the owner who pays for that, after the purchase. So recognition of the maintenance history is established before the deal, while the price is still open. Where there is no clear answer, that risk goes into the price.

How long does re-registration take?

From several weeks to several months, depending on the jurisdictions, the completeness of the documents and the state of the logbooks. The spread comes from the documents: with the logbooks in order and the maintenance recognised, the timeline is closer to the lower end.

Alexander Filimonov — business aviation: sourcing, acquisition and entry into service of aircraft.