Aircraft: Artisan lien recordation; State Court decision,

[Federal Register: September 9, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 174)]

[Notices]

[Page 53707]

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

[DOCID:fr09se05-130]

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

State Court Decision Affecting Recordation of Artisan Liens

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice.

SUMMARY: Consistent with Agency policy, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) gives notice of the holding in Creation Aviation, Inc., vs. Textron Financial Corporation, Florida District Court of Appeal, Fourth District, No. 4D04-2178, decided on April 27, 2005. The Court in Creston held that Federal law pertaining to recording with the FAA Aircraft Registry did not preempt a Florida statute requiring that an artisan lien for work on an aircraft first be filed in the county where the work was performed in order to enforce the lien under Florida law. Accordingly, the FAA is advising the public that recording an artisan lien with the FAA Aircraft Registry only, may be insufficient to enforce an artisan lien under Florida law.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joseph R. Standell, Aeronautical Center Counsel, Monroney Aeronautical Center (AMC-7), Federal Aviation Administration, 6500 S. MacArthur, Oklahoma City, OK 73169; Telephone (405) 954-3296.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

Under 49 U.S.C. 44107, the FAA maintains an aircraft registry that records ``conveyances that affect an interest in civil aircraft of the United States.''

The FAA published notice in the Federal Register that the FAA Aircraft Registry would record artisan liens on aircraft that met the minimum requirements of state statute. The notice stated that, for aircraft, ``there is Federal preemption of place of filing: The FAA Aircraft Registry at Oklahoma City.'' 46 FR 61528, December 17, 1981. The sole purpose of that notice was to set out the criteria for recording artisan liens with the FAA Aircraft Registry.

Florida Statues, F.S.A. 329.01, requires all liens of affecting civil aircraft to be filed with the Federal Aviation Administration. F.S.A. 329.51 provides that aircraft liens are enforceable provided the lienor records a verified lien notice with the clerk of the circuit court in the county where the aircraft was located when services were furnished.

In Creston, a fixed base operator attempted to foreclose a mechanic's lien that had been filed and recorded with the FAA consistent with 49 U.S.C. 44107 and F.S.A. 329.01. However, the Florida Court of Appeal held that the fixed base operator's failure to file a notice of lien in the county where the work was performed rendered the lien unenforceable under state law.

The Florida Court of Appeal did not accept the fixed base operator's argument that state or local filing requirements contained in F.S.A. 329.51 were preempted by Federal law. The Court in Creston cited Holiday Airlines Corporation v. Pacific Propeller, Inc., 620 F.2d 731 (1980), which had similar facts. The Court in Holiday held that a lien filed with the FAA was enforceable, notwithstanding a lienor's failure to file in the State of Washington. The Court held that the ``federal recording statute, and rules implementing it, clearly preempt the filing requirements of Washington law.'' On the other hand, the Court in Holiday held that ``matters touching on the validity of liens are determined by underlying State law.''

The Florida Court of Appeal accepted the argument that until a lien on a civil aircraft is recorded with the FAA Aircraft Registry, it is valid only against those persons with actual notice and their heirs and devises and that after the lien is filed with the FAA, it is valid against all persons. However, the Court determined that the State of Florida is not precluded from imposing requirements, including local filing requirements that affect the enforceability of aircraft liens in Florida.

Interested parties may wish to research state lien statutes to determine if local requirements affect enforceability of artisan liens recorded with the FAA.

Issued in Oklahoma City on September 1, 2005. Joseph R. Standell, Aeronautical Center Counsel.

[FR Doc. 05-17835 Filed 9-8-05; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910-13-M