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United States Pilots Association |
Twice this week I have been made aware of a new regulation enacted in March of 2006. If you own an aircraft that a. is eight seats or more (Cessna 207), b. or 550 HP or more (most medium twins, Cessna 208), or c. carrying capacity of 6050 lbs., or d. helicopters that carry five or more people or a load in excess of 990 lbs., you have a problem.
Our country signed onto the Cape Town Treaty requiring these applicable aircraft be submitted for registration on "The International Registry" domiciled in Dublin, Ireland.
If you sell an aircraft described above and the buyer finances the purchase, you, the seller, must pay the fee ($600-$800), and then the new buyer must pay the identical amount. Who is protected, you say? Ultimately it is the lender who finances the aircraft. It is the banks requiring this; and again, we are the ones going to pay.
Remember that almost 90% of the worldwide light plane fleet is registered with the FAA. Now we must also register with Ireland.
THIS IS A USER FEE WHERE NO SERVICE IS BEING PROVIDED NOR NONE REQUESTED. Wake up and smell the roses. BTW, the horsepower was reduced from 750 to 550 in 2006. The original treaty required 750hp. How soon before it becomes 180hp and four seats? Remember the camel's nose under the tent? Don't look now, but somebody is dropping a safe on our heads.
Go to Cape Town Treaty and follow the prompts to the FAA website applicable. I did, and I still don't believe they snuck this one by us. Where was AOPA and NBAA while this was going on? I also get the distinct odor of Homeland Security having access to this information and using it in the future to their advantage.
Steve Uslan, President
United States Pilots Association