Understanding Aircraft Ownership, Registration, and the FAA

Jack Gilchrist is the founding director and shareholder of Gilchrist Aviation Law. He serves as special counsel representing clients involved in all areas of the aviation industry. Since 1989, Mr. Gilchrist has specifically focused his career on aviation transactions involving every current structure of aircraft including engines, propellers and spare parts.

Mr. Gilchrist has counseled clients around the world in aircraft transactions, including many of the major air carriers, aircraft and engine leasing companies, fractional ownership programs, air cargo companies, corporations, banks and other lending institutions. He also works closely with aircraft brokers, dealers and manufacturers. 

Connor Harris focuses on post-closing work and title examination for transactions involving single aircraft, equipment, and fleets of aircraft. He also prepares requests for legal opinions from the Aeronautical Center Counsel.

Mr. Harris earned an undergraduate degree from the University of Central Oklahoma. He attended law school at Oklahoma City University where he earned a Juris Doctorate in 2018 and completed several valuable internships including with the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit at the Oklahoma Attorney General’s office and the Oklahoma Department of Corrections.

Since 2011, Chad Gilson has served as aviation legal counsel at Gilchrist Aviation Law. Mr. Gilson specializes in aircraft title, registration, finance and leasing law, and he is an expert in lender securitization, large fleet transactions and complex registration issues. 

Mr. Gilson leads the Commercial Aviation practice group at Gilchrist Aviation Law overseeing transaction structure in the aviation industry. This includes commercial, business and personal aircraft and helicopter transactions ranging from small aircraft owners to international air carriers and global financial institutions. Mr. Gilson’s experience, his team’s support and expertise, and knowledgeable communication with the FAA Registry helps ensure each client’s individual needs are met.

Kayla Grayson manages business aviation closings for Gilchrist Aviation Law and has been with the Firm since 2015. Clients rely on her to coordinate the many elements of corporate aircraft transactions, and her high attention to detail and accuracy ensures clients return to Gilchrist Aviation Law for assistance making future purchases.

Mrs. Grayson oversees the Firm’s daily procedures for fractional ownership programs, coordinating with clients and the FAA to seamlessly close each transaction. She has valuable experience in accurately tracking, coordinating and filing aircraft documentation as well as maintaining federal aircraft records through ownership.