Aviation & Transport Compliance
Verify aircraft registrations via the FAA registry, check motor carrier safety ratings through FMCSA SAFER, and screen operators against federal watchlists — all through the ComplianceGrid API.
Use Cases
Aircraft Leasing & Finance
Verify ownership, registration status, and airworthiness before financing or leasing aircraft.
Freight Broker Due Diligence
Screen motor carriers for safety ratings, insurance, and sanctions before booking loads.
Charter & MRO Compliance
Validate aircraft registration and operator sanctions status for charter and maintenance contracts.
Supply Chain Risk
Screen transportation partners against federal watchlists to prevent sanctions violations.
Workflow Steps
Step 1: FAA Aircraft Registry Search
Look up aircraft by N-number, serial number, or registrant name. Verify ownership, airworthiness certificate status, and registration details.
Step 2: FMCSA Carrier Safety Lookup
Search FMCSA SAFER for motor carriers by DOT number or name. Check safety rating, insurance status, hazmat authorization, and out-of-service rates.
Step 3: Sanctions & Watchlist Screening
Screen aircraft owners, operators, and carriers against OFAC SDN, BIS Entity List, and other federal watchlists.
Step 4: Compliance Decision
Combine FAA/FMCSA data with screening results to make a risk-based compliance decision on the carrier or aircraft.
Step 1: FAA Aircraft Registry
The FAA Aircraft Registry contains registration data for all U.S. civil aircraft. Search by N-number (tail number), serial number, or registrant name.
import ComplianceGrid from "@compliancegrid/sdk";
const cg = new ComplianceGrid({
apiKey: process.env.COMPLIANCEGRID_API_KEY,
});
// Look up aircraft by N-number (tail number)
const aircraft = await cg.aviation.faaAircraftSearch({
nNumber: "N12345",
});
const reg = aircraft.data.results[0];
console.log("N-Number:", reg.nNumber);
console.log("Serial:", reg.serialNumber);
console.log("Manufacturer:", reg.manufacturer);
console.log("Model:", reg.model);
console.log("Year:", reg.yearManufactured);
console.log("Registrant:", reg.registrantName);
console.log("Type:", reg.registrantType); // "Corporation", "Individual", etc.
console.log("Airworthiness:", reg.airworthinessCertificate);
console.log("Status:", reg.status); // "Valid", "Expired", "Revoked"
console.log("Expiration:", reg.expirationDate);
// Search by registrant name
const fleet = await cg.aviation.faaAircraftSearch({
registrantName: "Delta Air Lines",
});
console.log(`Found ${fleet.data.totalResults} registered aircraft`);Step 2: FMCSA Carrier Safety
The FMCSA SAFER system provides safety data for interstate motor carriers. Check safety ratings, insurance status, and out-of-service rates.
// Look up motor carrier by USDOT number
const carrier = await cg.aviation.fmcsaCarrierSearch({
dotNumber: "1234567",
});
const c = carrier.data;
console.log("Carrier:", c.legalName);
console.log("DOT#:", c.dotNumber);
console.log("MC#:", c.mcNumber);
console.log("Safety Rating:", c.safetyRating); // "Satisfactory", "Conditional", "Unsatisfactory"
console.log("Operating Status:", c.operatingStatus); // "AUTHORIZED"
console.log("Insurance Status:", c.insuranceStatus);
console.log("Hazmat:", c.hmFlag ? "Authorized" : "Not authorized");
console.log("Vehicles:", c.totalVehicles);
console.log("Drivers:", c.totalDrivers);
// Check out-of-service rates
console.log("Vehicle OOS Rate:", c.vehicleOosRate, "%");
console.log("Driver OOS Rate:", c.driverOosRate, "%");
// Flag carriers with poor safety records
if (c.safetyRating === "Unsatisfactory" || c.vehicleOosRate > 30) {
console.warn("HIGH RISK — carrier has poor safety record");
}
// Search by name
const carriers = await cg.aviation.fmcsaCarrierSearch({
companyName: "XPO Logistics",
});Step 3: Watchlist Screening
// Screen the aircraft owner / carrier against federal watchlists
const screening = await cg.compliance.screenParties([
{
name: reg.registrantName, // From FAA lookup
country: "US",
type: "COUNTERPARTY",
},
]);
if (screening.data.overallResult === "HIT") {
console.error("SANCTIONS HIT on aircraft registrant");
console.error("Do NOT proceed with transaction");
} else {
console.log("Registrant is CLEAR on all federal watchlists");
}Complete Verification Function
interface CarrierVerification {
carrier: string;
dotNumber: string;
safetyRating: string;
operatingStatus: string;
sanctionsClear: boolean;
riskLevel: "LOW" | "MEDIUM" | "HIGH" | "BLOCKED";
issues: string[];
}
async function verifyCarrier(dotNumber: string): Promise<CarrierVerification> {
const result: CarrierVerification = {
carrier: "",
dotNumber,
safetyRating: "UNKNOWN",
operatingStatus: "UNKNOWN",
sanctionsClear: true,
riskLevel: "LOW",
issues: [],
};
// Step 1: FMCSA lookup
const carrier = await cg.aviation.fmcsaCarrierSearch({ dotNumber });
const c = carrier.data;
result.carrier = c.legalName;
result.safetyRating = c.safetyRating;
result.operatingStatus = c.operatingStatus;
// Check safety flags
if (c.safetyRating === "Unsatisfactory") {
result.riskLevel = "HIGH";
result.issues.push("Unsatisfactory safety rating");
} else if (c.safetyRating === "Conditional") {
result.riskLevel = "MEDIUM";
result.issues.push("Conditional safety rating");
}
if (c.operatingStatus !== "AUTHORIZED") {
result.riskLevel = "HIGH";
result.issues.push(`Operating status: ${c.operatingStatus}`);
}
if (c.vehicleOosRate > 30) {
result.issues.push(`High vehicle OOS rate: ${c.vehicleOosRate}%`);
if (result.riskLevel === "LOW") result.riskLevel = "MEDIUM";
}
// Step 2: Sanctions screening
const screening = await cg.compliance.screenParties([
{ name: c.legalName, country: "US", type: "COUNTERPARTY" },
]);
if (screening.data.overallResult === "HIT") {
result.sanctionsClear = false;
result.riskLevel = "BLOCKED";
result.issues.push("Federal watchlist match found");
}
return result;
}
// Usage
const verification = await verifyCarrier("1234567");
console.log(`Carrier: ${verification.carrier}`);
console.log(`Risk: ${verification.riskLevel}`);
if (verification.issues.length > 0) {
console.log("Issues:", verification.issues.join(", "));
}Regulatory Context
- • FAA aircraft registration data is sourced from the FAA Civil Aviation Registry, updated weekly.
- • FMCSA SAFER data includes safety ratings, insurance, and inspection results for interstate carriers.
- • OFAC requires screening of aircraft owners and operators — sanctioned aircraft are listed by tail number on the SDN list.
- • BIS maintains export controls on aircraft parts and technology under EAR Category 9.
- • Always verify current status directly with FAA/FMCSA for time-critical decisions.
Vessel search, C-TPAT, FCC licensing
Full endpoint documentation