Truth-in-Leasing

FAR 91.23 Truth-in-Leasing

FAR 91.23 explains truth-in-leasing clause rules for large U.S. civil aircraft leases: written clauses, FAA notification, and onboard documents.

In Plain English

FAR 91.23 requires that any lease or conditional sale contract for a U.S.-registered large civil aircraft (entered into after January 2, 1973) include a written truth-in-leasing clause as a concluding paragraph in large print, just above the signatures. That clause must include:

  • The FAR maintenance/inspection rules the aircraft has been maintained under for the prior 12 months, and a certification of compliance.
  • The name, address, and signature of the person responsible for operational control, plus a certification that each party understands their FAR responsibilities.
  • A statement that information about operational control and applicable FARs is available from the responsible Flight Standards office.

Before the first flight under the lease, the lessee (or registered owner if the lessee isn't a U.S. citizen) must:

  • Mail a copy of the lease to the FAA Aircraft Registration Branch in Oklahoma City within 24 hours of execution.
  • Carry a copy in the aircraft for FAA review.
  • Notify the responsible Flight Standards office by phone or in person at least 48 hours before takeoff, providing departure airport, departure time, and aircraft N-number.

This matters operationally because it makes clear who has operational control, preventing illegal charter ("flight for hire") arrangements disguised as dry leases. Exceptions apply when the parties are foreign air carriers or certain Part 121/125/135/141 operators.

Regulation Text
14 CFR § 91.23
§ 91.23 Truth-in-leasing clause requirement in leases and conditional sales contracts. (a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section, the parties to a lease or contract of conditional sale involving a U.S.-registered large civil aircraft and entered into after January 2, 1973, shall execute a written lease or contract and include therein a written truth-in-leasing clause as a concluding paragraph in large print, immediately preceding the space for the signature of the parties, which contains the following with respect to each such aircraft: (1) Identification of the Federal Aviation Regulations under which the aircraft has been maintained and inspected during the 12 months preceding the execution of the lease or contract of conditional sale, and certification by the parties thereto regarding the aircraft's status of compliance with applicable maintenance and inspection requirements in this part for the operation to be conducted under the lease or contract of conditional sale. (2) The name and address (printed or typed) and the signature of the person responsible for operational control of the aircraft under the lease or contract of conditional sale, and certification that each person understands that person's responsibilities for compliance with applicable Federal Aviation Regulations. (3) A statement that an explanation of factors bearing on operational control and pertinent Federal Aviation Regulations can be obtained from the responsible Flight Standards office. (b) The requirements of paragraph (a) of this section do not apply— (1) To a lease or contract of conditional sale when— (i) The party to whom the aircraft is furnished is a foreign air carrier or certificate holder under part 121, 125, 135, or 141 of this chapter, or (ii) The party furnishing the aircraft is a foreign air carrier or a person operating under part 121, 125, and 141 of this chapter, or a person operating under part 135 of this chapter having authority to engage in on-demand operations with large aircraft. (2) To a contract of conditional sale, when the aircraft involved has not been registered anywhere prior to the execution of the contract, except as a new aircraft under a dealer's aircraft registration certificate issued in accordance with § 47.61 of this chapter. (c) No person may operate a large civil aircraft of U.S. registry that is subject to a lease or contract of conditional sale to which paragraph (a) of this section applies, unless— (1) The lessee or conditional buyer, or the registered owner if the lessee is not a citizen of the United States, has mailed a copy of the lease or contract that complies with the requirements of paragraph (a) of this section, within 24 hours of its execution, to the Aircraft Registration Branch, Attn: Technical Section, P.O. Box 25724, Oklahoma City, OK 73125; (2) A copy of the lease or contract that complies with the requirements of paragraph (a) of this section is carried in the aircraft. The copy of the lease or contract shall be made available for review upon request by the Administrator, and (3) The lessee or conditional buyer, or the registered owner if the lessee is not a citizen of the United States, has notified by telephone or in person the responsible Flight Standards office. Unless otherwise authorized by that office, the notification shall be given at least 48 hours before takeoff in the case of the first flight of that aircraft under that lease or contract and inform the FAA of— (i) The location of the airport of departure; (ii) The departure time; and (iii) The registration number of the aircraft involved. (d) The copy of the lease or contract furnished to the FAA under paragraph (c) of this section is commercial or financial information obtained from a person. It is, therefore, privileged and confidential and will not be made available by the FAA for public inspection or copying under 5 U.S.C. 552(b)(4) unless recorded with the FAA under part 49 of this chapter. (e) For the purpose of this section, a lease means any agreement by a person to furnish an aircraft to another person for compensation or hire, whether with or without flight crewmembers, other than an agreement for the sale of an aircraft and a contract of conditional sale under section 101 of the Federal Aviation Act of 1958. The person furnishing the aircraft is referred to as the lessor, and the person to whom it is furnished the lessee. [Docket 18334, 54 FR 34292, Aug. 18, 1989, as amended by Amdt. 91-212, 54 FR 39293, Sept. 25, 1989; Amdt. 91-253, 62 FR 13253, Mar. 19, 1997; Amdt. 91-267, 66 FR 21066, Apr. 27, 2001; Docket FAA-2018-0119, Amdt. 91-350, 83 FR 9171, Mar. 5, 2018] (Approved by the Office of Management and Budget under control number 2120-0005)
Oral Exam Questions a DPE Might Ask
Q1What is the purpose of the truth-in-leasing clause and what aircraft does it apply to?
Per FAR 91.23, the truth-in-leasing clause applies to leases and conditional sale contracts of U.S.-registered large civil aircraft entered into after January 2, 1973, and identifies the maintenance rules followed and the party with operational control.
Q2What must the lessee do before the first flight under a lease covered by FAR 91.23?
FAR 91.23(c) requires the lessee to mail a copy of the lease to the FAA Aircraft Registration Branch within 24 hours, carry a copy in the aircraft, and notify the responsible Flight Standards office at least 48 hours before takeoff with the departure airport, time, and aircraft registration number.
Q3Who must be identified in the truth-in-leasing clause, and why?
FAR 91.23(a)(2) requires identification and signature of the person responsible for operational control of the aircraft, ensuring each party understands their compliance responsibilities under the FARs.
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FAR 91.23 — Truth-in-Leasing Clause Requirements