A UK Registered aircraft should be removed from the Register if the aircraft has been exported to another Country, withdrawn from use or destroyed.
How do I apply?
On the reverse of a Certificate of Registration is a section which can be used to instruct the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to remove the aircraft from the UK register. This must be completed, signed and dated then returned to the CAA. Both sides of this document should be scanned and emailed to the CAA Aircraft Registration Section at aircraft.reg@caa.co.uk
If the Certificate of Registration is not available please use a Sale Notification Form.
How much does it cost?
There is no fee for the de-registration of an aircraft unless the Same Day service is requested.
If you need to de-register an aircraft urgently or outside normal office hours, we offer a Same Day service. You must arrange to use this service in advance using the request form and pay the Same Day service fee.
| Same day processing service (in addition to the above fees) - Aircraft weighing 15,000kg or more | £330.00 |
| Same day processing service – (in addition to the above fees) Aircraft weighing less than 15,000kg | £205.00 |
What do I need to send with my application?
Export Certificate of Airworthiness
Please note that the registration process is separate from the requirements to gain an Export Certificate of Airworthiness (C of A).
There is further information available if you need an Export C of A. If an Export C of A is required you must obtain this before de-registering the aircraft.
For further information on C of A's or Permits to Fly please contact the Aircraft Certification Department of the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) on telephone 0330 022 1908 or email apply@caa.co.uk.
What else do I need to know?
Once an aircraft has been sold to a customer outside the UK, a request for de-registration should be made immediately.
If an aircraft has been permanently withdrawn from use or destroyed, the registered owner must confirm this using either the aircraft’s Certificate of Registration or a Sale Notification Form, as detailed on this page.
Mortgaged aircraft
In order to be removed from the UK Register:
- An aircraft must be clear of registered mortgages.
or
- The mortgage lenders must give their consent to the aircraft being de-registered.
There is further information available on aircraft mortgages.
Aircraft subject to an IDERA
If the aircraft is the subject of an Irrevocable De-Registration and Export Request Authorisation (“IDERA”) this must be revoked before the aircraft can be de-registered.
How long will it take for my application to be processed?
Aircraft de-registered to other countries can take up to three working days to be processed.
Aircraft de-registered as destroyed or permanently withdrawn from use can take up to seven working days to be processed.
What happens next?
We will send written confirmation that de-registration has taken place to the registered owner, in accordance with our service standards.
In the case of aircraft which are to be re-registered abroad, we will also send email confirmation to the new state of registry.
As a consequence of de-registration, any certificate of airworthiness or permit to fly in force over the aircraft will be automatically suspended and revoked.
How long is it valid for?
A certificate of de-registration is valid indefinitely unless the aircraft is restored to the UK Register.
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