Make sure the FAA can reach you

The FAA published a final rule in October that requires all current holders and applicants for any certificate issued under 14 CFR parts 47 (aircraft registration), 61 (pilots and instructors), 63 (flight crew), 65 (mechanics), 67 (medical certificates), or 107 (remote pilots) who have a foreign address and no U.S. physical address on file with the FAA to designate an agent with a domestic mailing address where official mail may be sent. One of the agency's goals was to reduce the cost of sending official documents, such as notice of enforcement action, to an estimated 115,000 certificate holders living outside of the United States as of July 2022. The FAA estimated the annual cost of mailing notices to foreign addresses was "close to $600,000 including mailing costs, staff time, and translation services when required."

The AOPA Registered Agent Service is lined up and waiting to launch as soon as the FAA begins allowing individuals to designate their U.S. agent for service. It will soon provide a reliable option for foreign-based FAA certificate holders required to provide a U.S. address to the FAA, as well as for pilots who already have a U.S. address on file with the FAA who seek the assurance of knowing that time-critical documents, such as notices of denials, safety-related communications, or enforcement actions with limited appeal periods, will not sit for weeks as deadlines pass.

The FAA in December extended the deadline for new certificate, rating, or authorization applicants to provide a U.S. address until April 2, when the agency also expects to roll out the new website where agents for service may register. Current holders of any certificate, rating, or authorization issued under Part 47, 61, 63, 65, 67, or 107 have until July 7 to provide the FAA with a U.S. address, or designate an agent for service, or their certificates will become invalid.

Pending activation of the online portal, AOPA invited interested applicants and certificate holders to join a waiting list for further advisories. AOPA Registered Agent Service will cost $99 per year, discounted to $79 for AOPA members, as well as for members of International Council of Aircraft Owner and Pilot Associations affiliates.

The service will benefit clients who travel frequently or maintain multiple residences, providing immediate notification via email of any documents received from the FAA, including a scanned copy of those documents that can be viewed via a secure web portal. Certificates and other original documents will also be forwarded.

FAA Advisory Circular 3-1 details the accepted means of designating a U.S. agent to receive correspondence, and how to update the designated agent.

In many proceedings, such as FAA enforcement actions appealed to the NTSB, the date of service for official correspondence sent to a certificate holder via mail is the date on which it was mailed. That means the timeline to appeal a certificate revocation, for example, may begin long before the recipient receives and opens their mail. Designating a trusted agent to receive and promptly relay time-sensitive and confidential communication from the FAA also ensures that safety related communications will be received and acted on as soon as possible.