§ 47.3 Registration required.

(a) An aircraft may be registered under 49 U.S.C. 44103 only when the aircraft is not registered under the laws of a foreign country and is— (1) Owned by a citizen of the United States; (2) Owned by an individual citizen of a foreign country lawfully admitted for permanent residence in the United States; (3) Owned by a corporation not a citizen of the United States when the corporation is organized and doing business under the laws of the United States or a State within the United States, and the aircraft is based and primarily used in the United States; or (4) An aircraft of— (i) The United States Government; or (ii) A State, the District of Columbia, a territory or possession of the United States, or a political subdivision of a State, territory, or possession. (b) No person may operate an aircraft that is eligible for registration under 49 U.S.C. 44101-44104, unless the aircraft— (1) Has been registered by its owner; (2) Is carrying aboard the temporary authorization required by § 47.31(c); or (3) Is an aircraft of the Armed Forces of the United States. (c) Governmental units are those named in paragraph (a) of this section and Puerto Rico.