The FAA is on the verge of completing the launch of a major modernization initiative that could affect the flow of business aviation transactions through the rollout of the Civil Aviation Registry Electronic System (CARES).
This anticipated overhaul of the FAA Registry in Oklahoma City aims to further digitize, streamline and automate the vital records system that has traditionally relied heavily on paper-based document processes, but has gradually shifted toward digitization since 2020 and the lasting adaptive measures arising out of a COVID-19 economy.
While the benefits of CARES are clear—faster access to aircraft records, digital filing and improved transparency—its implementation may introduce a new layer of uncertainty into an already timing-sensitive market. For brokers, attorneys, financiers, lessors and title companies, understanding what CARES is, why it matters, and how it might affect transaction timelines and effective allocation of certain condition precedent responsibilities necessary for aircraft closings is crucial and worth the prudent pause for careful consideration when structuring a potential aircraft deal.
What Is CARES?
CARES is the FAA’s initiative to digitize its aircraft registration and recordation system, further modernizing a traditionally paper-centric framework that has long been the living library and index of U.S. civil aircraft title and lien filings.
CARES was mandated under Section 546 of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018, which directed the FAA to establish an electronic system for the registration of civil aircraft and the recording of related documents.
Key goals of CARES include:
• Electronic submission of registration and recordation documents
• Faster processing times
• Improved accuracy and transparency
• Enhanced data security and searchability
The FAA has indicated phased rollouts of the CARES online portal but industry stakeholders monitoring and operating the latest versions of CARES have experienced inconsistent functionality, features, document access, and pathways for continual user credentials and site registration, instead of consistent and intuitive ease of use.
This article was originally published by GlobalAir.com on October 1, 2025.