FAA-Licensed Aircraft Trustee · Since 1988 · U.S. Based

N-Registration for International Aircraft Owners.

Q: How long does it take to set up an FAA aircraft owner trust?

The FAA registration process typically takes 3-5 business days to obtain a Temporary Certificate of Registration. The original hardcopy registration certificate is generally issued within 2-3 weeks.

Q: What does an FAA aircraft owner trust cost?

Annual trust fees start from EUR 500 per aircraft. The final fee depends on your aircraft type, ownership structure, and country of residence. We provide a full, itemised quote before any agreement is signed.

Q: What documents do I need to provide to get started?

To initiate the trust setup, we typically require a copy of your passport, the aircraft purchase agreement or bill of sale, the current aircraft registration details, and your contact information. We will guide you through the full document checklist once you submit an inquiry.

You retain full operational control of your aircraft

We help international aircraft owners establish and maintain FAA N-registration through a U.S.-based owner trust, administered by a licensed trust company led by active pilots and aircraft maintenance specialists.

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36+ Years of FAA Trust Experience

31 Countries Served

300+ Aircraft Owners Served

Eligibility and Requirements

Who We Work With

U.S. law requires that only U.S. citizens, resident aliens, or U.S.-registered entities may hold direct title to an FAA-registered aircraft. Non-citizen aircraft registration on the U.S. N-register is achieved through a qualified U.S. trustee — this is how international owners legally hold FAA title. (49 U.S.C. § 44102.) If any of the following describes you, we can help.

Non-U.S. Citizens

Individuals with foreign passports registering a piston, turboprop, or jet aircraft on the U.S. FAA N-register.

Foreign-Based Companies

Corporations incorporated outside the U.S. that own or are purchasing a U.S.-registered aircraft.

Internationally Based Operators

Pilots based outside the U.S. who prefer FAA N-registration for insurance, financing, or resale value.

Buyers in Active Transactions

International purchasers who need to close title and establish a compliant structure at the point of purchase.

Existing FAA Registrants

Owners whose prior trust arrangement is expiring, registration has lapsed, or citizenship status has changed.

Lenders and Financiers

Financial institutions requiring a U.S.-based trust structure as a condition of international aircraft financing.

Understanding the Structure

What an Owner Trust Means for Your Aircraft Rights

An owner trust is a legal instrument, not a partnership, not a time-share. It exists solely to satisfy FAA registration requirements. This structure is FAA-sanctioned and has been used in international aviation for over 40 years.

Legal Title

When your aircraft is placed in an FAA owner trust, legal title is held in the name of the U.S.-based trustee on your behalf. This is a formal FAA requirement; it does not alter who economically owns the aircraft.

You remain the beneficial owner. All economic rights belong to you: the right to use the aircraft, receive proceeds from its sale, and direct how it is managed. The trustee holds title in name only.

Lease and Control

Alongside the trust agreement, you enter into a Lease Agreement that protects your day-to-day control.

Verbatim: Lease Agreement terms Under the Lease Agreement, the beneficiary retains full operational control of the aircraft, including the right to operate, maintain, insure, lease, and sell the aircraft. The trustee may not take any operational action regarding the aircraft without written direction from the beneficiary.

→ The right to possess and operate the aircraft at any time
→ The right to base the aircraft wherever you choose
→ The right to authorize maintenance, upgrades, and modifications
→ The right to insure the aircraft under your own policy
→ The right to give written direction to the trustee on any matter

Dissolution

You may dissolve the trust at any time. There is no minimum holding period.

Verbatim: Dissolution terms The trust may be dissolved at any time at the beneficiary's request, subject to a €250 administrative dissolution fee.

Upon dissolution, title to the aircraft may only be transferred back to the original owner(s) named in the Trust and Lease Agreements. The trustee may not transfer title to unrelated third-party individuals or entities.

Common reasons for dissolution include: change in citizenship or residency, re-registration under another national registry, sale of the aircraft, or restructuring through a U.S. entity.

Selling Your Aircraft

Title can only return to the original named owner, not directly to a buyer. The practical process is straightforward:

If you intend to sell your aircraft, the standard process involves dissolving the owner trust and returning title to you as the named beneficiary, at which point you hold clear title and may complete the sale directly. We coordinate this process in conjunction with your buyer's closing timeline.

You notify us in writing of the intended sale

→

We dissolve the trust and return clear title to you

→

You convey title to the buyer and complete the sale

→

FAA deregistration or re-registration is filed

Services Package

What Is Included in Your Owner Trust

Every owner trust we administer includes the following services. No tiered packages, no hidden fees. A complete, compliant structure managed by licensed principals who are themselves pilots.

Trust Agreement Drafting

FAA-approved agreement naming you as beneficial owner and our licensed firm as U.S.-based trustee.

Lease Agreement

Concurrent lease returning full operational control to you from the moment the trust is established.

FAA Registration Filing

All required documents, including AC Form 8050-1 and title chain, prepared and submitted to the FAA.

7-Year Re-Registration Monitoring

We track your renewal cycle and refile automatically — no reminders or prompting needed from you.

Temporary Certificate of Registration

Issued within 3–5 business days, allowing your aircraft to operate legally during processing.

Direct Access to Operations Manager

A direct line to Josh Turner for any question, from setup through the full life of your trust.

FCC Radio Station License Filing

Preparation and filing of your FCC Aircraft Radio Station License for compliant international operations.

FAA Owner Trustee Affidavit

Required trustee eligibility affidavit confirming U.S. citizenship compliance, prepared and filed by us.

U.S. Agent for FAA Address

Official U.S. registered agent address for all FAA correspondence and mailings. Learn more →

Your Temporary Certificate of Registration is typically issued within 3–5 business days of filing, allowing your aircraft to operate legally while the permanent certificate is processed by the FAA (usually 2–3 weeks).

Experience and Legal Standing

Why Aerospace Trust Management

We are a U.S.-based, licensed trust company, incorporated in Delaware — recognised as the gold standard for U.S. trust law. Here is what that means for you in practice:

→Our Delaware licensing satisfies FAA registration requirements (49 U.S.C. § 44102). Your trust agreement is recognised globally by lenders, aviation attorneys, and insurers. You do not need any connection to Delaware whatsoever — it governs only the trust document.
→Continuously licensed since 1988, with over 300 aircraft owners served across 31 countries. Our track record is one of the longest in this specialist field.
→Personal service, every time. Every client works directly with our licensed principals. No outsourcing, no call centres, no ticket queues — just a direct line to the people who know your file.
→Annual trust fees from €500. Full, itemised quote provided before any agreement is signed. No obligation at the inquiry stage.

Led by Active Pilots and A&P Maintenance Specialists

Unlike institutional trust providers, our principals hold active FAA pilot certificates and Airframe & Powerplant licences. We do not just manage the paperwork — we understand the aircraft you fly, how you operate it, and what matters to you as an owner. That expertise shows in how we handle your trust.

A Simple Way to Think About It

Think of the owner trust as a legal wrapper. Inside is your aircraft, your rights, and your economic interest. The wrapper must be U.S.-based to satisfy FAA rules. The jurisdiction of that wrapper is a legal formality affecting only the trust document. It has no bearing on how you use your aircraft or where you live.

Our principals have been administering these structures since 1988. Josh Turner, our Operations Manager, handles every client relationship personally. No handoffs, no support queues.

Call us directly:

+1 321 522 8708

Common Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know about FAA owner trusts, from setup to dissolution. Can't find your answer? Call us directly at +1 321 522 8708.

Can a non-U.S. citizen legally own an FAA N-registered aircraft? +

Yes. Through an FAA-approved owner trust, non-U.S. citizens and foreign entities can hold N-registration on a U.S.-registered aircraft. The trustee holds legal title for FAA registration purposes; the owner retains full beneficial ownership and all rights over the aircraft through the Lease Agreement. This structure has been recognised and used within the international aviation market for over 40 years.

Do I lose control of my aircraft when it is placed in a trust? +

No. The Lease Agreement returns full operational control to you, the trust beneficiary, from the moment the trust is established. You retain the right to operate, insure, maintain, lease, and sell the aircraft. Aerospace Trust Management cannot take any operational action regarding the aircraft without written direction from the beneficiary.

How long does it take to set up an FAA aircraft owner trust? +

The FAA registration process typically takes 3–5 business days to obtain a Temporary Certificate of Registration, depending on cooperation between all transaction parties and FAA processing conditions. The original hardcopy registration certificate is generally issued within 2–3 weeks. Delays may occur due to FAA holidays, administrative backlog, or document rejections requiring resubmission.

What does an FAA aircraft owner trust cost? +

Annual trust fees start from €500 per aircraft. The final fee depends on your aircraft type, ownership structure, and country of residence. We provide a full, itemised quote before any agreement is signed. There is no obligation at the inquiry stage.

What happens if I sell my aircraft? +

When you sell your aircraft, the standard process is to dissolve the trust, which returns clear title to you as the named beneficiary. You then complete the sale directly with the buyer. The administrative dissolution fee is €250. We coordinate the dissolution timeline with your buyer's closing schedule to ensure a smooth transaction. Note that title can only return to the original named owner — not directly to the buyer.

Can I finance an aircraft that is held in an FAA owner trust? +

Yes. Many lenders, including international aviation finance providers, are familiar with and accept the FAA owner trust structure. In fact, some lenders specifically require a U.S.-based trust as a condition of financing an internationally owned aircraft. Delaware trust law is well-recognised in the aviation lending community. We can work directly with your lender's legal team to ensure the trust documentation meets their requirements.

Can I have multiple aircraft under trust with you? +

Yes. Each aircraft requires its own separate trust agreement and FAA registration filing, as each is registered individually on the N-register.

What documents do I need to provide to get started? +

To initiate a trust setup, we typically require: a copy of your passport, the aircraft purchase agreement or bill of sale, current aircraft registration details (make, model, serial number, current N-number if applicable), and your contact information. If the aircraft is being purchased, we also coordinate with the seller's attorney or escrow company. We will provide a full document checklist once you submit an inquiry — there is nothing to prepare in advance of that initial call.

What happens if I become a U.S. citizen or my circumstances change? +

If you later qualify to hold FAA registration directly — for example by obtaining U.S. citizenship — the trust can be dissolved and title transferred directly to you as the original named beneficiary. We handle this process as part of our ongoing trust administration service. Changes in aircraft ownership, corporate structure, or financing arrangements can also be accommodated within the trust framework.

My country is not on your list of 31 countries — can you still help? +

The 31 countries listed represent where we have existing active clients, not a restriction on who we can serve. If your country is not listed, please contact us directly. We assess each situation individually based on FAA requirements, applicable bilateral aviation agreements, and the ownership structure involved. We have assisted owners from countries beyond our listed markets and are happy to discuss your specific circumstances.