Definition
An FAA-issued document (AC Form 8050-3) that identifies the legal owner of an aircraft and shows that the registration is presently valid and has not expired. It is one of the documents that must be on board the aircraft during flight under 14 CFR 91.203.
Plain English
The official paper from the FAA that says who owns the aircraft and shows the ownership record is up to date. It must be in the aircraft when you fly it.
Context Anchor
Seen during the preflight check of required aircraft documents, often remembered as part of the documents that must be in the aircraft before flight.
Derivation
"Current" here means "in effect right now, not expired." Aircraft registrations have an expiration date, so a registration certificate that has lapsed is no longer current even though the paper still exists.
Why Pilots Care
Federal regulations require the certificate to be on board; flying without a current one can result in a violation or the aircraft being grounded.
Intuition Check
“Current” does not just mean the newest-looking paper in the airplane. Here it means legally valid right now: not expired, not replaced, and belonging to that aircraft.
Example Sentence 1
During preflight, the pilot confirmed the current registration certificate was in the document pouch along with the airworthiness certificate.
Example Sentence 2
The FAA inspector requested to see the current registration certificate during the ramp check.