Donald Trump's Campaign Jet Grounded by FAA

April 20, 2016
Since Feb. 1, Donald Trump's 1997 Cessna jet, which he uses regularly on the campaign trail, has been flying with an expired registration.

Since Feb. 1, Donald Trump's 1997 Cessna jet, which he uses regularly on the campaign trail, has been flying with an expired registration. 

The registration, which costs $5 to renew and is valid for three years, expired on January 31, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Registry.  

Flying without registration can result in a civil penalty of up to $27,500, or a criminal fine of up to $250,000 and imprisonment of up to three years. Although, it is unlikely the agency will seek the maximum penalty.  

“FAA inspectors have contacted the chief pilot of N725DT about the aircraft’s expired registration,” Laura J. Brown, a spokeswoman for the FAA, said in a statement, referring to the plane’s tail number. “The aircraft owner is currently working with the FAA’s Aircraft Registry and will reregister the aircraft before further flight.” 

Trump  has four other aircraft currently registered including a Boeing 757 and three Sikorsky helicopters.  

Out of his aircraft, the Cessna is the most practical and most often used on the campaign trail. It flew as recently as April 18 when it was used to take Team Trump between La Guardia Airport and Buffalo for a campaign event.  

“The standard renewal process is just about complete,” a spokesperson for Trump, Hope Hicks, told the New York Times on April 19 and 20.