FAA Public Documents Room

NAFA member, Debbie Mercer-Erwin, President of Wright Brothers Aircraft Title, Inc., shares additional updates on the FAA Civil Aviation Registry and Public Documents Room.

The FAA's Civil Aviation Registry has made another important change to their Public Documents Room (PDR) procedures in light of the continued spread of COVID-19, or Coronavirus. 

After multiple changes made last week in order to protect their employees, permit-holders who regularly access the PDR, their families and the public at large, they have taken a significant new measure.

As of Tuesday, March 24, 2020, the Civil Aviation Registry will quarantine "all incoming physical documents, including priorities, for 72 hours." 

The Coronavirus is able to survive on surfaces for up to several days, which heavily increases employee exposure to the virus. 

There will be no change in processing timelines of priorities submitted via the email portal, which was made available in the initial procedure changes. 

However, the "20 page email maximum" referenced in those initial changes is now lifted for priority cases - multiple submissions can be made if the file is too large to be accepted at once.

The FAA continues to try to mitigate transmission of Coronavirus while providing essential services and minimizing negative impacts. 

For more information and assistance please contact your local agent.

NAFA member, Debbie Mercer-Erwin, President of Wright Brothers Aircraft Title, Inc., shares the latest update on the FAA Civil Aviation Registry and Public Documents Room.

In light of the continued spread and impact of COVID-19, or Coronavirus, the FAA Civil Aviation Registry has issued new procedures affecting the Public Documents Room (PDR) in the Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center.

The change in processes comes in an attempt to minimize exposure to employees, permit-holders who regularly access the PDR, their families and the public at large.

The FAA intends to keep the PDR open and “provide essential services while maintaining social distancing and restricting physical public access.” 

There are now temporary measures in place, effective as of 8:00 am, Thursday, March 19, 2020, to help slow the spread of Coronavirus and maintain efficiency at the Registry. 

While the PDR remains open for their usual hours, 7:30 to 4:00 CDT, the “filing” window has been closed, which removes the ability to immediately file documents. 

For now, document submissions will be collected from drop boxes located directly outside the PDR – hourly for those qualifying as “priority” and twice a day for those that do not. 

During this time the Registry will not provide “minute-by-minute” filing stamps. Digital submissions are allowed if all closing documents are digitally signed and less than 20 pages.

Documents can still be mailed via the usual means, but there is now a temporary email option as well. 

Documents can be emailed following certain requirements: all digitally signed, attachments 20 pages or less per document, one aircraft per email, and priority indicator.

Another notable change is that the FAA cannot guarantee “in by 11 out by COB” expedited processing of documents for imports. 

There are also changes to payment services, which should now be completed online at pay.gov. A receipt can be generated to be submitted to the Registry if filing documents via email. 

It may be a while before we fully see the effect these changes have on document filing and transactions, but there will certainly be some delay while we become accustomed to the new procedures.

While disruptions inevitably continue for industries worldwide, we are encouraged by the actions our leaders and communities are taking to protect our health and help businesses continue to run. 

This is a summary of details regarding the FAA’s PDR changes. For more information and assistance please contact your local agent.

This release was originally published by Wright Brothers Aircraft Title, Inc. on March 20, 2020.