Everything you never wanted to know about aircraft liens, plus Autism Awareness Month

News flash: Airplanes are expensive. Many are purchased with financing, which leads to the question: Is there a register for aircraft mortgages and encumbrances? We are glad you asked.

There is something called the FAA Registry, which provides a central system for the recording of conveyances, bills of sale (related to airframes only), contracts of conditional sale, leases, equipment trusts, notices of tax liens (other than federal), as well as any other lien or mortgage for:

• Any aircraft registered with the FAA
• Any aircraft engine with 550-plus rated take-off power
• Any propeller capable of absorbing 750 or more rated take-off shaft horsepower

Liens and encumbrances also recorded in the FAA register include any aircraft engines, propellers, or appliances maintained by certificated US air carriers for installation or use in an aircraft, engine or propeller, as well as spare parts for the above so long as they are maintained by or for an air carrier at the location designated in the filing.

Other interesting facts about aircraft liens?

There is no requirement for US citizenship for an aircraft mortgagee. To be recorded, all aircraft liens must include the US registration number (in the case of aircraft), as well as the serial number, model, and make (in the case of propellers and engines). More on aircraft liens can be found in this excellent article published by Holland & Knight LLP

AADS Raises Money for Autism Society of America

It’s Autism Awareness Month, and we want to do our part. Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex developmental disability; signs typically appear during early childhood and affect a person’s ability to communicate, and interact with others. It can be debilitating, but (contrary to popular belief) autism can be treated, and early diagnosis and intervention lead to significantly better outcomes.

Another important aspect of raising awareness for autism, unfortunately, is highlighting groups and organizations that are using the autism cause for selfish purposes.

The Autism Society of America (ASA), the nation’s leading grassroots autism organization for over 50 years, recently reported that groups calling themselves the “Autistic Children of America” and “Autism Awareness Foundation” have embarked on aggressive telemarketing campaigns, supposedly to raise money in partnership with the ASA—despite the fact that that organization has no affiliation with either group and does not does not use tele-marketing as a means of requesting support.

To make sure you are supporting a legitimate organization, whether for autism or any other cause, check out www.guidestar.com and www.charitynavigator.com both of which rate charities based on how they use the money they raise.

In honor of Autism Awareness Month, we are donating 5% of profits from all new-client orders in the month of April to the Autism Society of America. If you are a new client, we invite you to Create Your Order Here.

Thank you for reading!