Who to Choose as Your Designated Agent
FAR Part 3 Subpart C offers certificate holders several ways to comply with the new regulation. Here’s a breakdown of the benefits each option provides.
Who to Choose as Your Designated Agent
The passing of FAA Part 3 Subpart C has left many aviation professionals wondering what to do next. This rule requires that all international FAA certificate holders must designate a United States-based agent to handle official communications with the FAA. The FAA explains who is eligible to serve as an agent, which leaves individuals with a few options to comply with this requirement.
Any individual over the age of 18:
This option is good for those who have family members or connections that are residents of the United States and are willing to serve as an agent. The FAA has very few physical requirements of agents, which includes having a U.S. residential address and being above the age of 18. The regulations make no reference to citizenship status for the individual.
The FAA is more specific on fulfilling the duties as an agent. Advisory Circular 3-1 specifically states the duties of the designated agent, which includes the immediate transmission of all FAA documents. AC 3-1 continues to explain how some documents and appeals require a two-day turnaround time, which further emphasizes the timely point. This creates a point of conflict when using individuals, as they may not always be able to provide immediate transmission of documents with work schedules, vacations, and the like.
U.S. Registered Agent Service Company:
This option may be more popular for those who do not have established connections to U.S. residents or for those who want to ensure that timely service will always be available. The FAA also allows for designation of entities with U.S. office addresses to serve as an agent, which opens the door to these Registered Agent services. These companies are better suited for timely transmission of documents and mailings by being steadily staffed throughout the weekday.
AC 3-1 states that the FAA considers service on an individual’s U.S. agent as the equivalent of service directly on the individual. This means that in the FAA’s eyes, communicating and working with the agent holds the same legal weight as working with the individual directly. Registered Agent services represent thousands of companies across nearly every industry and may not have the time to learn about the FAA regulations and the intricacies of FAA documentation. With their broad scope of coverage, Registered Agent services will not be able to provide the nuanced understanding and familiarity with the FAA and its guidelines that you deserve.
FAA Designated Agencies:
FAA Designated Agencies are similar in structure to Registered Agent services, except they are solely for providing FAA support services. Rather than being spread out across many different industries, FAA Designated Agencies are the go-to experts for the aviation industry. They provide full staffing support to meet the needs of timely service and have the experience of working with FAA documentation to effectively represent their customers.
There are a few options when it comes to FAA Designated Agencies, but Jet Verge is one that stands out. Founded by leaders from across the industry, this agency has a team of professionals that are eager to support international certificate holders. Offering a variety of package options to suit different needs, Jet Verge has choices to ensure that everyone gets the representation they deserve and are served beyond the basic stipulations of FAR 3.3.
International holders of FAA certificates have a few selections to choose from to satisfy these new requirements. No matter which option they choose, compliance must be met to keep certificates valid. New applicants must designate an agent by April 2nd of 2025, while current holders of certificates have a later deadline of July 7th of 2025. All agent designations will be made on the new USAS.faa.gov website and will be validated through the FAA MedXpress system.
While this regulation adds some extra steps to maintaining the FAA certificates, these options (anyone U.S. resident over 18, Registered Agent Service Companies, FAA Designated Agencies) allow for more accessible and smooth compliance methods to best suit everyone’s needs. No matter what type of aviation professional needs this service, there is an option for them.
