Cape Town International Aircraft Registry

Cape Town International Registry

Refers to:

The Convention on International Interests in Mobile Equipment, and its Protocol on Matters Specific to Aircraft Equipment – November 16, 2001

As adopted in the United States by The Cape Town Treaty Implementation Act of 2004 – August 9, 2004 which:

  • Recognizes the International Registry as an additional place for the filing of interests, including prospective interests, in certain airframes, helicopters, and aircraft engines.
  • Establishes the right for owners of these aircraft to grant an Irrevocable De-Registration and Export Request Authorization (IDERA) to a secured party.
  • Reduces from 750 to 550 rated take-off shaft horsepower the size threshold for aircraft engines eligible to be recorded as collateral in security instruments.
  • Establishes the Civil Aviation Registry as the Authorizing Entry Point.

The effective date of these changes is March 1, 2006.

Aircraft and Aircraft Engines Eligible for International Registry Recording:

  • Airframes that are type certificated to transport:
    • At least eight (8) persons including crew; or
    • Goods in excess of 2750 kilograms (6050 pounds)
  • Helicopters that are type certificated to transport:
    • At least five (5) persons including crew; or
    • Goods in excess of 450 kilograms (990 pounds)
  • Jet propulsion aircraft engines with at least 1750 pounds of thrust or its equivalent.
  • Turbine-powered or Piston-powered aircraft engines with at least 550 rated take-off horsepower or its equivalent.

The text of the Cape Town Treaty and the Protocol on Matters Specific to Aircraft Equipment are available at http://www.unidroit.org/english/conventions/mobile-equipment/main.htm

How do I know if my aircraft is eligible?

Call us with your registration number and ask us.  If you order a search or start an escrow, we will inform you if the IR applies.

Is this the thing people keep calling “Cape Town”?

The IR, as we call it, is referred to as the International Registry, Cape Town, CTIR, IRMA and probably some other phrases we can type.

What is this going to cost me?

Every situation is unique, but here are some rough figures.  To have us register for you with a Power of Attorney it will cost you $600, to do it on your own $200.  Search fees and filing fees are shown on our price list.  If it’s an escrow it will add substantial cost to closing, but these are the most important transaction to close with escrow!

Call us to learn more, we’re happy to talk with you about it and answer any questions you might have.  Being informed is always the way to go, so get that way before you get moving.