Changes of registration marks

To re-register the aircraft, you will need to complete form CA1 online and provide proof that the aircraft is insured or declaration the aircraft is not insured, just as with initial registration.

For verification the applicant should also attach a copy of their driving licence or passport photo page with the CA1 form.

Returning of documents

If the aircraft is on a permit to fly issued by the Light Aircraft Association please refer to changes in registration marks on LAA aircraft.

Original versions of the following documents must be returned to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) Aircraft Registration Section along with the completed application. They will be re-issued by the Aircraft Certification department under the new registration mark. All other documents can be amended by the CAA local area office.

• Certificate of Registration
• Certificate of Airworthiness or Permit to Fly
• Airworthiness Review Certificate or Certificate of Validity

Complete the declaration form and send with the above to Aircraft Certification, Shared Service Centre, Civil Aviation Authority, Aviation House, Beehive Ring Road, Crawley RH6 0YR.

If your aircraft holds a valid Airworthiness Review Certificate issued by a CAMO (ARC 15b or 15a Extension) you may return the original certificate to either Applications & Approvals, or your local CAA Regional Office for re-validation.

Otherwise, you can contact your CAMO to request a replacement ARC be produced to reflect the new UK registration mark. Upon issue, the existing ARC should be returned to Aircraft Certification for revocation

Noise Certificate

The noise certificate issued to reflect the new UK registration mark will contain the same noise values as the previous certificate. Should you require a new noise certificate due to a change of data you will need to apply for a new noise certificate separately.

The documents should be returned while the aircraft is grounded and being changed to the new registration marks. Once the aircraft’s registration has changed its Certificate of Airworthiness (C of A) is rendered invalid until re-issued under the new marks by the CAA. Also, depending on the C of A category, and type of flight, the documents mentioned above may be required to be on board the aircraft.

A same day service can be requested and an additional fee for the issue of the Certificate of Registration, but please check with CAA Aircraft Certification at apply@caa.co.uk regarding timescales for the return of amended Airworthiness documents.

Insurance

Evidence of insurance, or a declaration that the aircraft will not fly until evidence of insurance has been supplied to the CAA, must also be supplied with your application to register.

Details of insurance requirements are included on the CA1 application form. There is further information available for Mandatory Insurance Requirements.

Radio Licences

Please note that you may require a radio licence to be issued for your aircraft. All issues surrounding Radio Licensing are now dealt with by Ofcom, please contact them for further details.

General

An aircraft can be entered on the UK Register of Civil Aircraft either under the name of the aircraft owner or the charterer by demise. For full details of the legislation around registration of aircraft in the UK, please see Articles 24 to 32 of the Air Navigation Order 2016.

To be eligible to be entered on the UK Register of Civil Aircraft, the aircraft must be owned or chartered by:

• British citizens;
• Nationals of any European Economic Area state;
• Undertakings formed in accordance with the law of an EEA State which have their registered office, central administration or principal place of business within the EEA, including companies or undertakings incorporated in the UK;
• Firms carrying out business in Scotland;
• The Crown in right of Her Majesty's Government in the UK, and the Crown in right of the Scottish Administration;
• British protected persons.

An aircraft can be owned or chartered by:

• Commonwealth citizens,
• Bodies incorporated in and who have their principal place of business in any part of the Commonwealth.

But, only if the aircraft could not be more suitably registered in another part of the Commonwealth. Examples of when an aircraft can be entered on the UK Register include when the aircraft is based and maintained in the United Kingdom or the aircraft is in storage.

An aircraft can also be owned by an 'unqualified' owner:

• Nationals of any state not specified above,
• Companies incorporated in a state not specified above.

But, only if the aircraft is not used for commercial air transport whilst registered in the UK, and if it could not be more suitably registered in another ICAO contracting state. Examples of when an aircraft can be entered on the UK Register include when the aircraft is based and maintained in the United Kingdom or the aircraft is in storage.

If a change of ownership has also occurred the seller should complete the relevant section of the aircraft's Certificate of Registration, sign and date it, and return the Certificate to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) Aircraft Registration section.

If the Certificate of Registration is not available, use a Sale Notification Form.

Alternatively, a short letter or email from the current registered owner(s) confirming the details of the transfer may be sufficient.

The completed certificate should be forwarded to the Aircraft Registration Section office rather than the purchaser in order to avoid delays in re-registration.

If the aircraft is being purchased from someone other than the registered owner please ensure that you can identify a full chain of ownership from the last registered owner to the person purporting to be the owner of the aircraft.

Any person intending to take ownership, or to become the charterer of, a UK-registered is advised to check the registered ownership of the aircraft and to conduct a search of the UK Register of Aircraft Mortgages before completion of the transaction.

• More information is available about Mortgage Searches.

If you become a shareholder in a group-owned aircraft, you must ensure that the trustee of the group advices the CAA that you have joined. You do not need to notify the CAA directly of your shareholding.

A group-owned aircraft is registered in the name of a trustee for a group.

• More information is available about group ownership of aircraft.

It is possible to check the ownership of an aircraft by searching the UK Register database, G-INFO, using the aircraft's registration mark.

The registered owner should clearly state that the aircraft is registered to the trustee, in their capacity as 'Trustee of…'

If the aircraft is the subject of an irrevocable de-registration and export request authorisation ("IDERA") this must be revoked before the aircraft can be re-registered.

Once we are in receipt of all documentation including notification of transfer from the seller (if required), change of Registered Ownership and/or Registration marks take up to three working days.

Amended airworthiness documentation will be returned under separate cover by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) Aircraft Certification department.

Contact apply@caa.co.uk.

Upon receipt of an application we shall either complete UK registration or contact the applicant to advise which other documents are required in line with our service standards.

Once UK registration has been completed a Certificate of Registration will be issued and a certificate of cancellation to the seller if required.

Amended airworthiness documentation will be returned under separate cover by the CAA Aircraft Certification department.

Contact apply@caa.co.uk.

Please contact Aircraft Certification for timescales in processing the return of Airworthiness documents.

Non expiring, although registration marks can be changed by any registered owner subject to certain conditions.