Definition
AC Form 8050-1, the FAA form an owner submits to register an aircraft in the United States. It is filed with the FAA Civil Aviation Registry and, once accepted, results in the issuance of a permanent Certificate of Aircraft Registration (AC Form 8050-3). The pink copy of the application serves as temporary authority to operate the aircraft while the permanent certificate is being processed.
Plain English
The official paperwork an owner sends to the FAA to register an aircraft in their name. Until the permanent registration certificate arrives, a copy of this application acts as the temporary proof that the aircraft is registered.
Context Anchor
Seen in the aircraft documents section, especially when checking whether an aircraft has the required registration paperwork on board.
Why Pilots Care
An aircraft cannot be legally operated in the United States until the FAA approves this application and issues the certificate.
Intuition Check
Do not assume the application is the same thing as the Certificate of Aircraft Registration. The application is the request for registration; the certificate is the official document the FAA issues after processing it.
Example Sentence 1
After purchasing the Cessna, the new owner submitted the Aircraft Registration Application to the FAA and kept the pink copy in the aircraft until the permanent certificate arrived.
Example Sentence 2
Until the Aircraft Registration Application is approved, the aircraft may only be flown under a temporary ferry permit.