§ 44102. Registration requirements
(a)
Eligibility.—
An aircraft may be registered under section
44103 of this title only when the aircraft is—
(1)
not registered under the laws of a foreign country and is owned by—
(A)
a citizen of the United States;
(B)
an individual citizen of a foreign country lawfully admitted for permanent residence in the United States; or
(C)
a corporation not a citizen of the United States when the corporation is organized and doing business under the laws of the United States or a State, and the aircraft is based and primarily used in the United States; or
(2)
an aircraft of—
(A)
the United States Government; or
(B)
a State, the District of Columbia, a territory or possession of the United States, or a political subdivision of a State, territory, or possession.
(b)
Duty To Define Certain Term.—
In carrying out subsection (a)(1)(C) of this section, the Secretary of Transportation shall define “based and primarily used in the United States”.