[S$ 502-503]

tion over them, in a manner satisfactory to the Administrator. The Administrator may, by regulation, permit the operation and navigation of aircraft without registration by the owner for such reasonable periods after transfer of ownership thereof as the Administrator may prescribe.

Eligibility for Registration

(b) An aircraft shall be eligible for registration if, but only if— (1) It is owned by a citizen of the United States and it is not registered under the laws of any foreign country; or

(2) It is an aircraft of the Federal Government, or of a State, Territory, or possession of the United States, or the District of Columbia, or of a political subdivision thereof.

Issuance of Certificate

(c) Upon request of the owner of any aircraft eligible for registration, such aircraft shall be registered by the Administrator and the Administrator shall issue to the owner thereof a certificate of registration.

Applications

(d) Applications for such certificates shall be in such form, be filed in such manner, and contain such information as the Administrator may require.

Suspension or Revocation

(e) Any such certificate may be suspended or revoked by the Administrator for any cause which renders the aircraft ineligible for registration.

Effect of Registration

(f) Such certificate shall be conclusive evidence of nationality for international purposes, but not in any proceeding under the laws of the United States. Registration shall not be evidence of ownership of aircraft in any proceeding in which such ownership by a particular person is, or may be, in issue.

REGISTRATION OF ENGINES, PROPELLERS, AND APPLIANCES

SEC. 502. [72 Stat. 772, 49 U.S.C. 1402] The Administrator may establish reasonable rules and regulations for registration and identification of aircraft engines, propellers, and appliances, in the interest of safety, and no aircraft engine, propeller, or appliance shall be used in violation of any such rule or regulation.

RECORDATION OF AIRCRAFT OWNERSHIP

Establishment of Recording System

SEC. 503. [72 Stat. 772, as amended by 73 Stat. 180, 49 U.S.C. 1403] (a) The Administrator shall establish and maintain a system for the recording of each and all of the following:

(1) Any conveyance which affects the title to, or any interest in, any civil aircraft of the United States;

(2) Any lease, and any mortgage, equipment trust, contract of conditional sale, or other instrument executed for security purposes, which lease or other instrument affects the title to, or any

[§ 503]

interest in, any specifically identified aircraft engine or engines of seven hundred and fifty or more rated takeoff horsepower for each such engine or the equivalent of such horsepower, or any specifically identified aircraft propeller capable of absorbing seven hundred and fifty or more rated takeoff shaft horsepower, and also any assignment or amendment thereof or supplement thereto; (3) Any lease, and any mortgage, equipment trust, contract of conditional sale, or other instrument executed for security purposes, which lease or other instrument affects the title to, or any interest in, any aircraft engines, propellers, or appliances maintained by or on behalf of an air carrier certificated under section 604 (b) of this Act for installation or use in aircraft, aircraft engines, or propellers, or any spare parts maintained by or on behalf of such an air carrier, which instrument need only describe generally by types the engines, propellers, appliances, and spare parts covered thereby and designate the location or locations thereof; and also any assignment or amendment thereof or supplement thereto.

Recording of Releases

(b) The Administrator shall also record under the system provided for in subsection (a) of this section any release, cancellation, discharge, or satisfaction relating to any conveyance or other instrument recorded under said system.

Conveyances To Be Recorded

(c) No conveyance or instrument the recording of which is provided for by section 503 (a) shall be valid in respect of such aircraft, aircraft engine or engines, propellers, appliances, or spare parts against any person other than the person by whom the conveyance or other instrument is made or given, his heir or devisee, or any person having actual notice thereof, until such conveyance or other instrument is filed for recordation in the office of the Administrator: Provided, That previous recording of any conveyance or instrument with the Administrator of the Civil Aeronautics Administration under the provisions of the Civil Aeronautics Act of 1938 shall have the same force and effect as though recorded as provided herein; and conveyances, the recording of which is provided for by section 503 (a) (1) made on or before August 21, 1938, and instruments, the recording of which is provided for by sections 503 (a) (2) and 503 (a) (3) made on or before June 19, 1948, shall not be subject to the provisions of this subsection.

Effect of Recording

(d) Each conveyance or other instrument recorded by means of or under the system provided for in subsection (a) or (b) of this section shall from the time of its filing for recordation be valid as to all persons without further or other recordation, except that an instrument recorded pursuant to section 503 (a) (3) shall be effective only with respect to those of such items which may from time to time be situated at the designated location or locations and only while so situated: Provided, That an instrument recorded under section 503 (a) (2) shall

[§ 504]

not be affected as to the engine or engines, or propeller or propellers, specifically identified therein, by any instrument theretofore or thereafter recorded pursuant to section 503 (a) (3).

Form of Conveyances

(e) No conveyance or other instrument shall be recorded unless it shall have been acknowledged before a notary public or other officer authorized by the law of the United States, or of a State, Territory, or possession thereof, or the District of Columbia, to take acknowledgment of deeds.

Index of Conveyances

(f) The Administrator shall keep a record of the time and date of the filing of conveyances and other instruments with him and of the time and date of recordation thereof. He shall record conveyances and other instruments filed with him in the order of their reception, in files to be kept for that purpose, and indexed according to

(1) the identifying description of the aircraft, aircraft engine, or propeller, or in the case of an instrument referred to in section 503 (a) (3), the location or locations specified therein; and (2) the names of the parties to the conveyance or other instrument.

Regulations

(g) The Administrator is authorized to provide by regulation for the endorsement upon certificates of registration, or aircraft certificates, of information with respect to the ownership of the aircraft for which each certificate is issued, the recording of discharges and satisfactions of recorded instruments, and other transactions affecting title to or interest in aircraft, aircraft engines, propellers, appliances, or parts, and for such other records, proceedings, and details as may be necessary to facilitate the determination of the rights of parties dealing with civil aircraft of the United States, aircraft engines, propellers, appliances, or parts.

Previously Unrecorded Ownership

(h) The person applying for the issuance or renewal of an airworthiness certificate for an aircraft with respect to which there has been no recordation of ownership as provided in this section shall present with his application such information with respect to the ownership of the aircraft as the Administrator shall deem necessary to show the persons who are holders of property interests in such aircraft and the nature and extent of such interests.

LIMITATION OF SECURITY OWNERS LIABILITY

SEC. 504. [72 Stat. 774, as amended by 73 Stat. 180, 49 U.S.C. 1404] No person having a security interest in, or security title to, any civil aircraft, aircraft engine, or propeller under a contract of conditional sale, equipment trust, chattel or corporate mortgage, or other instrument of similar nature, and no lessor of any such aircraft, aircraft engine, or propeller under a bona fide lease of thirty days or more, shall be liable by reason of such interest or title, or by reason of his

[§§ 505, 601] interest as lessor or owner of the aircraft, aircraft engine, or propeller so leased, for any injury to or death of persons, or damage to or loss of property, on the surface of the earth (whether on land or water) caused by such aircraft, aircraft engine, or propeller, or by the ascent, descent, or flight of such aircraft, aircraft engine, or propeller or by the dropping or falling of an object therefrom, unless such aircraft, aircraft engine, or propeller is in the actual possession or control of such person at the time of such injury, death, damage, or loss.

DEALERS' AIRCRAFT REGISTRATION CERTIFICATES

SEC. 505. [72 Stat. 774, 49 U.S.C. 1405] The Administrator may, by such reasonable regulations as he may find to be in the public interest, provide for the issuance, and for the suspension or revocation, of dealers' aircraft registration certificates, and for their use in connection with aircraft eligible for registration under this Act by persons engaged in the business of manufacturing, distributing, or selling aircraft. Aircraft owned by holders of dealers' aircraft registration certificates shall be deemed registered under this Act to the extent that the Administrator may, by regulation, provide. It shall be unlawful for any person to violate any regulation, or any term, condition, or limitation contained in any certificate, issued under this section.

TITLE VI-SAFETY REGULATION OF CIVIL

AERONAUTICS

GENERAL SAFETY POWERS AND DUTIES

Minimum Standards; Rules and Regulations

SEC. 601. [72 Stat. 775, 49 U.S.C. 1421] (a) The Administrator is empowered and it shall be his duty to promote safety of flight of civil aircraft in air commerce by prescribing and revising from time to time:

(1) Such minimum standards governing the design, materials, workmanship, construction, and performance of aircraft, aircraft engines, and propellers as may be required in the interest of safety; (2) Such minimum standards governing appliances as may be required in the interest of safety;

(3) Reasonable rules and regulations and minimum standards governing, in the interest of safety, (A) the inspection, servicing, and overhaul of aircraft, aircraft engines, propellers, and appliances; (B) the equipment and facilities for such inspection, servicing, and overhaul; and (C) in the discretion of the Administrator, the periods for, and the manner in, which such inspection, servicing, and overhaul shall be made, including provision for examinations and reports by properly qualified private persons whose examinations or reports the Administrator may accept in lieu of those made by its officers and employees;

(4) Reasonable rules and regulations governing the reserve supply of aircraft, aircraft engines, propellers, appliances, and aircraft fuel and oil, required in the interest of safety, including the reserve supply of aircraft fuel and oil which shall be carried in flight;

(5) Reasonable rules and regulations governing, in the interest of safety, the maximum hours or periods of service of airmen, and other employees, of air carriers; and

[§ 602]

(6) Such reasonable rules and regulations, or minimum standards, governing other practices, methods, and procedure, as the Administrator may find necessary to provide adequately for national security and safety in air commerce.

Needs of Service To Be Considered; Classification of Standards, etc.

(b) In prescribing standards, rules, and regulations, and in issuing certificates under this title, the Administrator shall give full consideration to the duty resting upon air carriers to perform their services. with the highest possible degree of safety in the public interest and to any differences between air transportation and other air commerce; and he shall make classifications of such standards, rules, regulations, and certificates appropriate to the differences between air transportation and other air commerce. The Administrator may authorize any aircraft, aircraft engine, propeller, or appliance, for which an aircraft certificate authorizing use thereof in air transportation has been issued, to be used in other air commerce without the issuance of a further certificate. The Administrator shall exercise and perform his powers and duties under this Act in such manner as will best tend to reduce or eliminate the possibility of, or recurrence of, accidents in air transportation, but shall not deem himself required to give preference to either air transportation or other air commerce in the administration and enforcement of this title.

Exemptions

(c) The Administrator from time to time may grant exemptions from the requirements of any rule or regulation prescribed under this title if he finds that such action would be in the public interest.

AIRMAN CERTIFICATES

Power to Issue Certificate

SEC. 602. [72 Stat. 776, 49 U.S.C. 1422] (a) The Administrator is empowered to issue airman certificates specifying the capacity in which the holders thereof are authorized to serve as airmen in connection with aircraft.

Issuance of Certificate

(b) Any person may file with the Administrator an application for an airman certificate. If the Administrator finds, after investigation, that such person possesses proper qualifications for, and is physically able to perform the duties pertaining to, the position for which the airman certificate is sought, he shall issue such certificate, containing such terms, conditions, and limitations as to duration thereof, periodic or special examinations, tests of physical fitness, and other matters as the Administrator may determine to be necessary to assure safety in air commerce. Except in the case of persons whose certificates are, at the time of denial, under order of suspension or whose certificates have been revoked within one year of the date of such denial, any person whose application for the issuance or renewal of an airman certificate is denied may file with the Board a petition for review of the Administrator's action. The Board shall thereupon assign such

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