Every aircraft
shall be registered with the department for each calendar year in
which the aircraft is operated or is based within this state. A
fee of fifteen dollars shall be charged for each such
registration and each annual renewal thereof.
Possession of the appropriate effective federal certificate,
permit, rating, or license relating to ownership and
airworthiness of the aircraft, and payment of the excise tax
imposed by Title 82 RCW for the privilege of using the aircraft
within this state during the year for which the registration is
sought, and payment of the registration fee required by this
section shall be the only requisites for registration of an
aircraft under this section.
The registration fee imposed by this section shall be
payable to and collected by the secretary. The fee for any
calendar year must be paid during the month of January, and shall
be collected by the secretary at the time of the collection by
him or her of the said excise tax. If the secretary is satisfied
that the requirements for registration of the aircraft have been
met, he or she shall thereupon issue to the owner of the aircraft
a certificate of registration therefor. The secretary shall pay
to the state treasurer the registration fees collected under this
section, which registration fees shall be credited to the
aeronautics account in the transportation fund.
It shall not be necessary for the registrant to provide the
secretary with originals or copies of federal certificates,
permits, ratings, or licenses. The secretary shall issue
certificates of registration, or such other evidences of
registration or payment of fees as he or she may deem proper; and
in connection therewith may prescribe requirements for the
possession and exhibition of such certificates or other
evidences.
The provisions of this section shall not apply to:
(1) An aircraft owned by and used exclusively in the service
of any government or any political subdivision thereof, including
the government of the United States, any state, territory, or
possession of the United States, or the District of Columbia,
which is not engaged in carrying persons or property for
commercial purposes;
(2) An aircraft registered under the laws of a foreign
country;
(3) An aircraft which is owned by a nonresident and
registered in another state: PROVIDED, That if said aircraft
shall remain in and/or be based in this state for a period of
ninety days or longer it shall not be exempt under this section;
(4) An aircraft engaged principally in commercial flying
constituting an act of interstate or foreign commerce;
(5) An aircraft owned by the commercial manufacturer thereof
while being operated for test or experimental purposes, or for
the purpose of training crews for purchasers of the aircraft;
(6) An aircraft being held for sale, exchange, delivery,
test, or demonstration purposes solely as stock in trade of an
aircraft dealer licensed under Title 14 RCW;
(7) An aircraft based within the state that is in an
unairworthy condition, is not operated within the registration
period, and has obtained a written exemption issued by the
secretary.
The secretary shall be notified within thirty days of any
change in ownership of a registered aircraft. The notification
shall contain the N, NC, NR, NL, or NX number of the aircraft,
the full name and address of the former owner, and the full name
and address of the new owner. For failure to so notify the
secretary, the registration of that aircraft may be canceled by
the secretary, subject to reinstatement upon application and
payment of a reinstatement fee of ten dollars by the new owner.
A municipality or port district that owns, operates, or
leases an airport, as defined in RCW 47.68.020, with the intent
to operate, shall require from an aircraft owner proof of
aircraft registration as a condition of leasing or selling
tiedown or hanger space for an aircraft. It is the
responsibility of the lessee or purchaser to register the
aircraft. The airport shall work with the aviation division to
assist in its efforts to register aircraft by providing
information about based aircraft on an annual basis as requested
by the division.
[2003 c 375 § 4; 1999 c 302 § 2; 1998 c 188 § 1; 1995 c 170 § 3; 1993 c 208 § 7; 1987 c 220 § 3; 1979 c 158 § 206; 1967 ex.s. c 9 § 8; 1955 c 150 § 11; 1949 c 49 § 12; 1947 c 165 § 25; Rem. Supp. 1949 § 10964-105. Formerly RCW 14.04.250.]
NOTES:
Effective date -- 2003 c 375: See note following RCW 47.68.240.
Severability -- 1987 c 220: See note following RCW 47.68.230.
Aircraft dealers: Chapter 14.20 RCW.