Definition
Section 47.31 of Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR Part 47), which sets out the requirements for applying to register an aircraft with the FAA, including the application form (AC Form 8050-1), the required evidence of ownership, and the registration fee.
Plain English
The specific FAA rule that tells an aircraft owner what to submit to register their aircraft — which form to fill out, what proof of ownership to include, and what fee to pay.
Context Anchor
Seen when reading about the Certificate of Aircraft Registration and the FAA rules that support aircraft registration.
Derivation
Section comes from a Latin word meaning “to cut.” In regulations, a section is one numbered piece cut out of a larger set of rules. Here, 47.31 points to section 31 inside Part 47 of Title 14 of the federal aviation rules.
Why Pilots Care
Compliance with this section is required before an aircraft can be legally operated in the United States.
Intuition Check
Do not read section 47.31 as a page number or a part of the airplane. Here it means a specific numbered FAA rule.
Example Sentence 1
After buying the airplane, the new owner followed section 47.31 to submit the registration application, bill of sale, and fee to the FAA.
Example Sentence 2
The flight instructor pointed to section 47.31 to explain why the registration form needed proof of ownership.