Collapse to view only § 45301. General provisions
- § 45301. General provisions
- § 45302. Fees involving aircraft not providing air transportation
- § 45303. Administrative provisions
- § 45304. Maximum fees for private person services
- § 45305. Registration, certification, and related fees
- § 45306. Manual surcharge
§ 45301. General provisions
(a)Schedule of Fees.—The Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration shall establish a schedule of new fees, and a collection process for such fees, for the following services provided by the Administration:
(1) Air traffic control and related services provided to aircraft other than military and civilian aircraft of the United States Government or of a foreign government that neither take off from, nor land in, the United States.
(2) Services (other than air traffic control services) provided to a foreign government or services provided to any entity obtaining services outside the United States, except that the Administrator shall not impose fees in any manner for production-certification related service performed outside the United States pertaining to aeronautical products manufactured outside the United States.
(b)Establishment and Adjustment of Fees.—
(1)In general.—In establishing and adjusting fees under this section, the Administrator shall ensure that the fees are reasonably related to the Administration’s costs, as determined by the Administrator, of providing the services rendered.
(2)Services for which costs may be recovered.—Services for which costs may be recovered under this section include the costs of air traffic control, navigation, weather services, training, and emergency services that are available to facilitate safe transportation over the United States and the costs of other services provided by the Administrator, or by programs financed by the Administrator, to flights that neither take off nor land in the United States.
(3)Limitations on judicial review.—Notwithstanding section 702 of title 5 or any other provision of law, the following actions and other matters shall not be subject to judicial review:
(A) The establishment or adjustment of a fee by the Administrator under this section.
(B) The validity of a determination of costs by the Administrator under paragraph (1), and the processes and procedures applied by the Administrator when reaching such determination.
(C) An allocation of costs by the Administrator under paragraph (1) to services provided, and the processes and procedures applied by the Administrator when establishing such allocation.
(4)Aircraft altitude.—Nothing in this section shall require the Administrator to take into account aircraft altitude in establishing any fee for aircraft operations in en route or oceanic airspace.
(5)Costs defined.—In this subsection, the term “costs” includes operation and maintenance costs, leasing costs, and overhead expenses associated with the services provided and the facilities and equipment used in providing such services.
(c)Use of Experts and Consultants.—In developing the system, the Administrator may consult with such nongovernmental experts as the Administrator may employ and the Administrator may utilize the services of experts and consultants under section 3109 of title 5 without regard to the limitation imposed by the last sentence of section 3109(b) of such title, and may contract on a sole source basis, notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, the Administrator may retain such experts under a contract awarded on a basis other than a competitive basis and without regard to any such provisions requiring competitive bidding or precluding sole source contract authority.
(d)Production-Certification Related Service Defined.—In this section, the term “production-certification related service” has the meaning given that term in appendix C of part 187 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations.
(e)Adjustment of Fees.—In addition to adjustments under subsection (b), the Administrator may periodically adjust the fees established under this section.
(Added Pub. L. 104–264, title II, § 273(a), Oct. 9, 1996, 110 Stat. 3239; amended Pub. L. 106–181, title VII, § 719, Apr. 5, 2000, 114 Stat. 163; Pub. L. 107–71, title I, § 119(d), Nov. 19, 2001, 115 Stat. 629; Pub. L. 112–95, title I, § 121, Feb. 14, 2012, 126 Stat. 19; Pub. L. 115–254, div. B, title V, § 539(k), Oct. 5, 2018, 132 Stat. 3371; Pub. L. 118–63, title XI, § 1101(r), May 16, 2024, 138 Stat. 1414.)
§ 45302. Fees involving aircraft not providing air transportation
(a)Application.—This section applies only to aircraft not used to provide air transportation.
(b)General Authority and Maximum Fees.—The Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration may impose fees to pay for the costs of issuing airman certificates to pilots and certificates of registration of aircraft and processing forms for major repairs and alterations of fuel tanks and fuel systems of aircraft. The following fees may not be more than the amounts specified:
(1) $12 for issuing an airman’s certificate to a pilot.
(2) $25 for registering an aircraft after the transfer of ownership.
(3) $15 for renewing an aircraft registration.
(4) $7.50 for processing a form for a major repair or alteration of a fuel tank or fuel system of an aircraft.
(c)Adjustments.—The Administrator shall adjust the maximum fees established by subsection (b) of this section for changes in the Consumer Price Index of All Urban Consumers published by the Secretary of Labor.
(d)Credit to Account and Availability.—Money collected from fees imposed under this section shall be credited to the account in the Treasury from which the Administrator incurs expenses in carrying out chapter 441 and sections 44701–44716 of this title (except sections 44701(c), 44703(g)(2), and 44713(d)(2)). The money is available to the Administrator to pay expenses for which the fees are collected.
(e)Effective Date.—
(1)In general.—A fee may not be imposed under this section before the date on which the regulations prescribed under sections 44111(d), 44703(g)(2), and 44713(d)(2) of this title take effect.
(2)A fee may not be imposed for a service or activity under this section during any period in which a fee for the same service or activity is imposed under section 45305.
(Pub. L. 103–272, § 1(e), July 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 1225; Pub. L. 103–429, § 6(59), Oct. 31, 1994, 108 Stat. 4385; Pub. L. 112–95, title I, § 122(c), Feb. 14, 2012, 126 Stat. 20; Pub. L. 115–254, div. B, title V, § 539(j), Oct. 5, 2018, 132 Stat. 3371.)
§ 45303. Administrative provisions
(a)Fees Payable to Administrator.—All fees imposed and amounts collected under this chapter for services performed, or materials furnished, by the Federal Aviation Administration are payable to the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration.
(b)Refunds.—The Administrator may refund any fee paid by mistake or any amount paid in excess of that required.
(c)Receipts Credited to Account.—Notwithstanding section 3302 of title 31, all fees and amounts collected by the Administration, except insurance premiums and other fees charged for the provision of insurance and deposited in the Aviation Insurance Revolving Fund and interest earned on investments of such Fund, and except amounts which on September 30, 1996, are required to be credited to the general fund of the Treasury (whether imposed under this section or not)—
(1) shall be credited to a separate account established in the Treasury and made available for Administration activities;
(2) shall be available immediately for expenditure but only for congressionally authorized and intended purposes; and
(3) shall remain available until expended.
(d)Annual Budget Report by Administrator.—The Administrator shall, on the same day each year as the President submits the annual budget to Congress, provide to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives—
(1) a list of fee collections by the Administration during the preceding fiscal year;
(2) a list of activities by the Administration during the preceding fiscal year that were supported by fee expenditures and appropriations;
(3) budget plans for significant programs, projects, and activities of the Administration, including out-year funding estimates;
(4) any proposed disposition of surplus fees by the Administration; and
(5) such other information as those committees consider necessary.
(e)Development of Cost Accounting System.—The Administration shall develop a cost accounting system that adequately and accurately reflects the investments, operating and overhead costs, revenues, and other financial measurement and reporting aspects of its operations.
(f)Compensation to Carriers for Acting as Collection Agents.—The Administration shall prescribe regulations to ensure that any air carrier required, pursuant to the Air Traffic Management System Performance Improvement Act of 1996 or any amendments made by that Act, to collect a fee imposed on another party by the Administrator may collect from such other party an additional uniform amount that the Administrator determines reflects the necessary and reasonable expenses (net of interest accruing to the carrier after collection and before remittance) incurred in collecting and handling the fee.
(g)Data Transparency.—
(1)Air traffic services initial data report.—
(A)Initial report.—Not later than 6 months after the date of enactment of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018, the Administrator and the Chief Operating Officer of the Air Traffic Organization shall, based upon the most recently available full fiscal year data, complete the following calculations for each segment of air traffic services users:
(i) The total costs allocable to the use of air traffic services for that segment during such fiscal year.
(ii) The total revenues received from that segment during such fiscal year.
(B)Validation of model.—
(i)Review and determination.—Not later than 3 months after completion of the initial report required under subparagraph (A), the inspector general of the Department of Transportation shall review and determine the validity of the model used by the Administrator and the Chief Operating Officer to complete the calculations required under subparagraph (A).
(ii)Validation process.—In the event that the inspector general determines that the model used by the Administrator and the Chief Operating Officer to complete the calculations required by subparagraph (A) is not valid—(I) the inspector general shall provide the Administrator and Chief Operating Officer recommendations on how to revise the model;(II) the Administrator and the Chief Operating Officer shall complete the calculations required by subparagraph (A) utilizing the revised model and resubmit the revised initial report required under subparagraph (A) to the inspector general; and(III) not later than 3 months after completion of the revised initial report required under subparagraph (A), the inspector general shall review and determine the validity of the revised model used by the Administrator and the Chief Operating Officer to complete the calculations required by subparagraph (A).
(iii)Access to data.—The Administrator and the Chief Operating Officer shall provide the inspector general of the Department of Transportation with unfettered access to all data produced by the cost accounting system operated and maintained pursuant to subsection (e).
(C)Report to congress.—Not later than 60 days after completion of the review and receiving a determination that the model used is valid under subparagraph (B), the Administrator and the Chief Operating Officer shall submit to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, the Committee on Appropriations, and the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives, and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, the Committee on Appropriations, and the Committee on Finance of the Senate a report describing the results of the calculations completed under subparagraph (A).
(D)Publication.—Not later than 60 days after submission of the report required under subparagraph (C), the Administrator and Chief Operating Officer shall publish the initial report, including any revision thereto if required as a result of the validation process for the model.
(2)Air traffic services biennial data reporting.—
(A)Biennial data reporting.—Not later than March 31, 2019, and biennially thereafter for 14 years, the Administrator and the Chief Operating Officer shall, using the validated model, complete the following calculations for each segment of air traffic services users for the most recent full fiscal year:
(i) The total costs allocable to the use of the air traffic services for that segment.
(ii) The total revenues received from that segment.
(B)Report to congress.—Not later than 15 days after completing the calculations under subparagraph (A), the Administrator and the Chief Operating Officer shall complete and submit to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, the Committee on Appropriations, and the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives, and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, the Committee on Appropriations, and the Committee on Finance of the Senate a report containing the results of such calculations.
(C)Publication.—Not later than 60 days after completing the calculations pursuant to subparagraph (A), the Administrator and the Chief Operating Officer shall publish the results of such calculations.
(3)Segments of air traffic services users.—
(A)In general.—For purposes of this subsection, each of the following shall constitute a separate segment of air traffic services users:
(i) Passenger air carriers conducting operations under part 121 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations.
(ii) All-cargo air carriers conducting operations under part 121 of such title.
(iii) Operators covered by part 125 of such title.
(iv) Air carriers and operators of piston-engine aircraft operating under part 135 of such title.
(v) Air carriers and operators of turbine-engine aircraft operating under part 135 of such title.
(vi) Foreign air carriers providing passenger air transportation.
(vii) Foreign air carriers providing all-cargo air transportation.
(viii) Operators of turbine-engine aircraft operating under part 91 of such title, excluding those operating under subpart (K) of such part.
(ix) Operators of piston-engine aircraft operating under part 91 of such title, excluding those operating under subpart (K) of such part.
(x) Operators covered by subpart (K) of part 91 of such title.
(xi) Operators covered by part 133 of such title.
(xii) Operators covered by part 136 of such title.
(xiii) Operators covered by part 137 of such title.
(xiv) Operators of public aircraft that qualify under section 40125.
(xv) Operators of aircraft that neither take off from, nor land in, the United States.
(B)Additional segments.—The Secretary may identify and include additional segments of air traffic users under subparagraph (A) as revenue and air traffic services cost data become available for that additional segment of air traffic services users.
(4)Definitions.—For purposes of this subsection:
(A)Air traffic services.—The term “air traffic services” means services—
(i) used for the monitoring, directing, control, and guidance of aircraft or flows of aircraft and for the safe conduct of flight, including communications, navigation, and surveillance services and provision of aeronautical information; and
(ii) provided directly, or contracted for, by the Federal Aviation Administration.
(B)Air traffic services user.—The term “air traffic services user” means any individual or entity using air traffic services provided directly, or contracted for, by the Federal Aviation Administration within United States airspace or international airspace delegated to the United States.
(Added Pub. L. 104–264, title II, § 276(a)(2), Oct. 9, 1996, 110 Stat. 3247; amended Pub. L. 115–254, div. B, title V, § 519, Oct. 5, 2018, 132 Stat. 3359; Pub. L. 118–63, title VI, § 607, May 16, 2024, 138 Stat. 1225.)
§ 45304. Maximum fees for private person services
The Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration may establish maximum fees that private persons may charge for services performed under a delegation to the person under section 44702(d) of this title.
(Pub. L. 103–272, § 1(e), July 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 1225, § 45303; renumbered § 45304, Pub. L. 104–264, title II, § 276(a)(1), Oct. 9, 1996, 110 Stat. 3247.)
§ 45305. Registration, certification, and related fees
(a)General Authority and Fees.—Subject to subsection (c), the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration shall establish and collect a fee for each of the following services and activities of the Administration that does not exceed the estimated costs of the service or activity:
(1) Registering an aircraft.
(2) Reregistering, replacing, or renewing an aircraft registration certificate.
(3) Issuing an original dealer’s aircraft registration certificate.
(4) Issuing an additional dealer’s aircraft registration certificate (other than the original).
(5) Issuing a special registration number.
(6) Issuing a renewal of a special registration number reservation.
(7) Recording a security interest in an aircraft or aircraft part.
(8) Issuing an airman certificate.
(9) Issuing a replacement airman certificate.
(10) Issuing an airman medical certificate.
(11) Providing a legal opinion pertaining to aircraft registration or recordation.
(b)Certification Services.—Subject to subsection (c), and notwithstanding section 45301(a), the Administrator may establish and collect a fee from a foreign government or entity for services related to certification, regardless of where the services are provided, if the fee—
(1) is established and collected in a manner consistent with aviation safety agreements; and
(2) does not exceed the estimated costs of the services.
(c)Limitation on Collection.—No fee may be collected under this section unless the expenditure of the fee to pay the costs of activities and services for which the fee is imposed is provided for in advance in an appropriations Act.
(d)Fees Credited as Offsetting Collections.—
(1)In general.—Notwithstanding section 3302 of title 31, any fee authorized to be collected under this section shall—
(A) be credited as offsetting collections to the account that finances the activities and services for which the fee is imposed;
(B) be available for expenditure only to pay the costs of activities and services for which the fee is imposed, including all costs associated with collecting the fee; and
(C) remain available until expended.
(2)Continuing appropriations.—The Administrator may continue to assess, collect, and spend fees established under this section during any period in which the funding for the Federal Aviation Administration is provided under an Act providing continuing appropriations in lieu of the Administration’s regular appropriations.
(3)Adjustments.—The Administrator shall adjust a fee established under subsection (a) for a service or activity if the Administrator determines that the actual cost of the service or activity is higher or lower than was indicated by the cost data used to establish such fee.
(Added Pub. L. 112–95, title I, § 122(a), Feb. 14, 2012, 126 Stat. 19; amended Pub. L. 115–254, div. B, title II, § 244, Oct. 5, 2018, 132 Stat. 3260.)
§ 45306. Manual surcharge
(a)In General.—Not later 3 years after the date of enactment of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018, the Administrator shall impose and collect a surcharge on a Civil Aviation Registry transaction that—
(1) is conducted in person at the Civil Aviation Registry;
(2) could be conducted, as determined by the Administrator, with the same or greater level of efficiency by electronic or other remote means; and
(3) is not related to research or other non-commercial activities.
(b)Maximum Surcharge.—A surcharge imposed and collected under subsection (a) shall not exceed twice the maximum fee the Administrator is authorized to charge for the registration of an aircraft, not used to provide air transportation, after the transfer of ownership under section 45302(b)(2).
(c)Credit to Account and Availability.—Monies collected from a surcharge imposed under subsection (a) shall be treated as monies collected under section 45302 and subject to the terms and conditions set forth in section 45302(d).
(Added Pub. L. 115–254, div. B, title V, § 546(d), Oct. 5, 2018, 132 Stat. 3376.)