11/16/14 FAA Aircraft Registration Database README Record Count (main table): 316,681 The Aircraft Registration Database, which is maintained by the Federal Aviation Administration Civil Aviation Registry, includes information on all aircraft owned by individuals, businesses and government (except military) in the United States. Resident aliens may also register planes in the U.S., as long as it is not registered in another country at the same time. (more information below regarding registration requirements). This dataset from NICAR also includes two additional, but separate, databases: A listing of all individuals/businesses registered as aircraft dealers; and another listing of all individuals/entities that requested to "reserve" a particular N-number. The registration table in this dataset can be used to identify the registered owner of an aircraft by searching on the registration number (commonly called the "N-number"). This is a valuable tool in the event of a plane crash -- particularly if someone at the scene can identify the N number (located on the plane�s tail) or if a crash investigator releases that information. This data will also provide the plane�s serial number, which is additionally useful when searching the FAA Service Difficulty Reports database for the plane�s reported mechanical problems (NICAR also has this database. More information is available at http://ire.org/nicar/database-library/databases/faa-service-difficulty-reports/ Beware that it�s possible that the registration information could change between the date that NICAR received this data and when you use it. Most typically, the registration changes when the plane is sold. Be sure to check the expiration date field, in particular. It is also possible to find out how many and what type of planes a certain company or individual owns. You can identify planes that are classified as experimental or look at types of planes (glider, balloon, blimp, fixed wing, rotorcraft, etc.). By linking to the aircraft and engine lookup tables, it�s possible to glean further details about each specific plane -- including the number of seats, the number of engines and their horsepower, the manufacturer of both the plane and the engine and its average cruising speed. This dataset includes five data tables: FAAREG, DEALERS, RESERVE, DOCINDEX and DEREG. In addition to this readme file and record layouts (ARDATA.pdf, created by FAA; table-specific text files created by NICAR), this file also includes 2 lookup tables: AIRCRAFT, ENGINE. The tables and lookups are all in CSV format, which can be imported into any database manager, including Microsoft Access. If using Access, you first need to copy the tables from the CD to your hard drive. Then open a blank database in Access, name it and save it. Then inside the new database, go to the File menu and select "Get external data", then select "Text File." An import wizard will ask you to locate the file(s) and will walk you through the necessary steps to import the file. Consult the layout files when choosing data types. Each table will need to be imported separately. DATA TABLES: FAAREG: This is the main table of all registered aircraft. It includes the N-number, serial number, and model code of aircraft; name of person/company/entity the plane is registered to, their address, city, county, country and FAA region; the last action date and certificate issued date; airworthiness classification code; type of aircraft and engine; status of the registration; aircraft transponder code; and fractional ownership. Airworthiness and partnership names are new fields. RESERVE: This is a separate database of individuals/companies/entities that have requested to "reserve" a particular N-number. It includes the party�s name, address, date it was reserved, type of reservation and expiration notice date. DEALERS: This is a separate database of individuals/businesses that are registered as aircraft "dealers." It includes the company�s name(s), certification issued date, expiration date, address and ownership type. DEREG: This is an entirely new table containing all records of aircraft deregistered by the FAA, Civil Aviation Registry, Aircraft Registration Branch, AFS-750. DOCINDEX: Contains data on each document for recordation with the FAA Aircraft Registry and it is indexed by collateral identification (usually aircraft registration "N" number). LOOKUPS: AIRCRAFT: This is a lookup table for the FAAREG. By linking on the fields named "mfr_mdl" in both tables, you can glean further details about each plane. ENGINE: This is a lookup table for the FAAREG. By linking on the fields named "eng_mdl" in both tables, you can glean further details about the engine(s) on each plane. ELIGIBILITY FOR REGISTRATION: An aircraft is eligible for registration in the United States only if it is owned by: 1. A U.S. citizen. A U.S. citizen by definition of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) section 47.2 can be an individual, or partnership where each individual is a U.S. citizen, or a corporation organized under the laws of the United States, state, territory, or possession of the United States of which the president and at least two-thirds of the board of directors are U.S. citizens and 75 percent of the voting interest is owned or controlled by U.S. citizens. 2. A resident alien; 3. A corporation other than classified as a U.S. citizen, lawfully organized and doing business under the laws of the United States or of any state thereof, if the aircraft is based and used primarily in the United States; or 4. A government entity (federal, state, or local). The aircraft may not be registered in a foreign country during the period its is registered in the United States. It is illegal to operate a plane that is eligible for registration (under section 501 of the Federal Aviation Act of 1958) unless the aircraft has been registered by its owner; is carrying temporary authorization; is an aircraft of the Armed Forces. INFO ON THE CIVIL AVIATION REGISTRY: The Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA's) Civil Aviation Registry (AFS-700) is responsible for developing, maintaining, and operating national programs for the registration of United States civil aircraft and certification of airmen. The Registry's Aircraft Registration Branch (AFS-750) issues approximately 70,000 aircraft registration certificates and processes over 200,000 documents affecting title to or interest in aircraft, engines, propellers, and air carrier spare part locations annually. The Registry reserves and assigns all U.S. identification marks (N-Numbers) to U.S. civil aircraft. The Registry maintains the permanent records of over 320,000 active civil aircraft and provides approximately 700 copies of aircraft records daily for review to users of the Public Documents Room located in the Registry Building at the Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The Registry is responsible for the review, evaluation, and development of any new or amended regulations pertaining to aircraft registration and the recordation of documents contained in the FAR, Parts 47 and 49, and petitions for exemptions thereof. For more information on the Civil Aviation Registry: http://registry.faa.gov/ **************************************** * STORIES/TIPSHEETS FROM THE IRE RESOURCE CENTER * **************************************** Several stories available through the IRE Resource Center reference aircraft service data FILE NUMBER: 22591 Seven years after a seemingly accidental private airplane crash, the Asbury Park Press found evidence that forced the reopening of the federal investigation. The original NTSB investigation of a fatal 1998 plane crash in Marlboro Township, New Jersey, determined that the accident was caused by a bird strike, but the Asbury Park Press consulted experts who determined that sabotage was the most likely cause. FILE NUMBER: 22149 This Associated Press investigation discovered two Gulfstream jets purposely sending suspected terrorists to countries practicing techniques of tortune. This report was the first to document evidence linking these secret planes to the U.S. government and "revealed the true function of an agency buried deep in the Pentagon bureaucracy. FILE NUMBER: 17519 WSMT-TV's "investigation found the governor of Tennessee and his family had taken more than 50 free flights on corporately owned jets over a three-year period. These flights include a trip to a Puerto Rico resort, a trip to a golf resort in California, vacation travel to Wyoming and frequent transportation to the governor's vacation home in Florida. Companies with large state contracts donated many of the trips." FILE NUMBER: 21459 This same-day story from the Cleveland Plain Dealer notes the record of equipment defects for a DC-9 cargo plane that crashed during takeoff. A review of 32 FAA Service Difficulty Reports on the plane filed by its operator noted landing gear malfunctions, cracks and corrosion in the plane structure, and loose, cracked, stripped or frozen parts in the landing gear door, cabin and cargo doors. FILE NUMBER: 21449 This Seattle Times investigation revealed gaps in federal records meant to track mechanical problems on U.S. jetliners. In examining FAA Service Difficulty Reports from January 1987 to January 1989, the newspaper uncovered how airlines failed to provide key information in the reports. Of the more than 2,400 reports filed, 1,700 failed to include the name of the airline submitting the report. FILE NUMBER: 21392 This USA Today analysis of 22 years of crash data and several dozen interviews shows that the number of commercial airplane crashes caused by pilot error has decreased substantially. However, plenty of crashes are still occurring, they are just caused by poor maintenance. FILE NUMBER: 12729 The fall 1994 crash of USAir 427 prompted the Seattle Times to launch an investigation into Boeing 737 jetliners. The rudder system on the 737's can sometimes malfunction and make the airplane dangerously difficult to control. A USAir 737 crashed near Pittsburgh last September, killing all 132 passengers. United has accelerated replacement of a 737 rudder- system part in which investigators have found defects. The IRE Resource Center also offers tipsheets, many downloadable from the Web site (http://www.ire.org/resourcecenter/tipsheets.php), designed to assist reporters in using FAA data in their stories. TIPSHEET: 2930 The New York Times' Margot Williams provides this list of resources for tracking airplanes and flights in the USA. TIPSHEET NUMBER: 1821 This tipsheet by the Charlotte Observer's David Milliron provides a primer on the transportation beat. Milliron gives some general tips and then delves into specific web links and other info on planes, trains and automobiles. TIPSHEET NUMBER: 1681 Great source of information when trying to cover a plane crash. Includes what to do when it's a small crash compared to a major crash. Also included is a list of sources around the country and on the internet. A story which is not available for download concerning the crash investigation of flight 427 is also provided. TIPSHEET NUMBER: 1582 Elizabeth Marchak of the Plain Dealer offers her experience in how to work off deadline on the aviation beat. The handout offers tips how to put in use GAO reports and other audits, and how the Federal Aviation Administration works. TIPSHEET NUMBER: 1286 This 11-point tipsheet, by Elizabeth Marchak of The Plain Dealer, offers helpful advice on how and when to use data in the event of an airline crash, how to prepare the newsroom, which agencies are helpful sources of information and other nuggets. To order copies of one or more of following stories call the IRE RESOURCE CENTER at 573-882-3364 and give them the FILE NUMBER or TIP SHEET NUMBER. Photocopying and mailing charges apply. These are just a few of the tipsheets and stories available. Search the full databases at www.ire.org/resourcecenter. The Extra-Extra section of the IRE Website lists breaking stories, the most recent of which have yet to be logged into the Resource Center archives.