9 Benefits to Registering an Aircraft in Trust

An Aircraft Trust is a legal method, approved and overseen by the FAA for approximately forty (40) years, which allows interested parties to register aircraft in the United States in the name of a trustee.

The most common reason for setting up an aircraft trust is to provide a solution for entities who do not meet FAA registration requirements in the United States. You can read about the stringent eligibility requirements in our previous blog, What is an Aircraft Trust. In this article, we’ll discuss how trusts help entities who do not meet the requirements.

1. FAA’s Safety and Maintenance Requirements are more favorable for general aviation and business operations.

The FAA’s Part 91 regulations are specifically designed for private operators using aircraft solely for their own pleasure or business.  Part 91 maintenance standards are much less stringent than other registries around the globe, allowing aircraft owners and pilots to govern maintenance of their aircraft themselves, based not on strenuous regulations designed to insure the safety of commercial air traffic, but on owners’ common sense.

2. Non-citizens who reside in the US use trusts to register their private aircraft with the FAA.

The United States has a diverse population.  Many foreign nationals may live in the US, but if they are not a US citizen and have not been lawfully admitted for permanent residence, they cannot register their private aircraft with the FAA. A trust can allow them to own an aircraft and operated it in the United States with an FAA registration.

3. Non-Citizens who are US property owners register in trust to enable frequent trips to their second homes.

Many aircraft owners who have summer homes or second homes in the United States visit their property on a regular basis. As their primary residence is outside of the US, they would not want to apply for US citizenship. An FAA registration will make it easier for them to operate their plane within the US.

4. Non-US citizens may find it difficult to register their private aircraft in their home country.

Aircraft manufacturers are always creating new aircraft, but in order to be flown by the public, the planes have to be approved for use by their local registry. Because the US market is so large, manufacturers often work with the FAA during the design process to get the aircraft approved before sending it to market. This is not the case in all countries. In fact, many jurisdictions do not approve aircraft for use until long after they have been available for sale, leaving some people unable to own and operate certain types of aircraft in certain countries.  For example, in our interview with client Roger Harr, Roger pointed out that he was one of the first Cirrus owners in Europe.  He bought his Cirrus before it was approved for purchase by EASA (the European Aviation Safety Agency), and the only way he could own and operate his new plane was to register it in the United States.  Owners who live in countries with similar limitations on GA aircraft may create a trust as a means to own and operate specific aircraft in their home county.

5. Publicly traded corporations have difficulty meeting FAA requirements.

Corporations or associations organized under US or state law must have at least 75% of the voting interest owned or controlled by US citizens. Publicly-traded corporations – including many (if not most) US commercial airline companies- have very little control over their ownership structure. It’s not possible for them to guarantee who owns 75% of their interests at any given time as ownership changes daily. A trust can allow public corporations -including airlines – to own and operate aircraft in the United States.

6. Trusts provide a solution for foreign businesses that will lease a plane in the US.

The financing, leasing and operating arrangements of aircraft of all sizes have changed considerably over the years.  In today’s global economy, aircraft sales, leases, financings and other transactions involve parties from many locations.  It is not uncommon to have foreign lessors or foreign entities owning aircraft that operate under multinational lease arrangements. We can again point to air carriers from all nations as an example.  Investors from around the globe own interests in airlines that are leased to air carriers who operate and register in the US.  Even in cases where the aircraft is leased to a US citizen or entity, it cannot be registered in the United States because the actual owner lessor might not meet the FAA registration requirements. A trust can allow that plane to be registered and more easily operated in the United States.

7. Short-term trusts help new owners prepare their aircraft for export to their own country.

There are occasions where a foreign entity buys an aircraft, but the plane requires maintenance before it can leave the country. The new owner cannot register the plane in their own name in the US, and they can’t have the plane unregistered. They can register in a short-term trust while the plane is being worked on. Once repairs have been made, it can be exported out of the country.

8. Repossessed or stored aircraft.

Aircraft that are repossessed by lenders who are not US citizens can place the aircraft into trust and register it at the FAA.  This allows the aircraft to be subject to FAA maintenance requirements which help maintain a higher resale value.  It also allows these lenders to more effectively market the aircraft to US buyers.

9. Foreign Manufactures can register new aircraft for sale in the US.

Not all aircraft are manufactured in the US.  New aircraft are owned by the manufacturer before being sold to a new buyer.  Non-US aircraft manufacturers can register aircraft in trust to be demonstrated in the US and marketed to the US buyer market.

In the United States, the FAA is well-known and well respected. This may help owners when they are selling their plane. Trust beneficiaries own the aircraft, and they can operate, sell, or borrow against it as with any regular structure. It’s important to note that trusts do not in any way work to enable owners to avoid paying taxes on the aircraft. They are an efficient and inexpensive way to meet FAA qualifications. Read more about FAA requirements in our blog, What is an Aircraft Trust.