§ 44102. Registration requirements

• (a) 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) In carrying out subsection (a)(1)(C) of this section, the Secretary of Transportation shall define “based and primarily used in the United States”.