Aviation

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  • Team

Located just miles from the Federal Aviation Administration Aeronautical Center in Oklahoma City, the law firm of McAfee & Taft has distinguished itself in the field of aviation law as having one of the largest and most experienced FAA aviation groups in the United States.

Recognized as experts in the field, many of the aviation lawyers are featured speakers at regional, national and international aviation conferences on a variety of topics related to aircraft title, finance and regulatory law and related matters, including the Cape Town Convention, the new international treaty that has a significant impact on the perfection and enforcement of rights in aircraft and engines.

McAfee & Taft’s Aviation Group actively represents local, national and international clients – from individuals to leaders in industry – on a wide spectrum of aviation matters, including the documentation of aircraft transactions, aircraft title and registration matters, escrow closings, closing and post-recordation opinions, and aircraft title insurance.

The firm also has significant experience in assisting a wide variety of clients in the fastest growing area of practice in the industry – fractional ownership of aircraft.  McAfee & Taft attorneys are skilled at balancing tax, securities and FAA regulatory considerations in dealing with fractional programs, time-sharing arrangements, joint ownerships, interchange agreements and operational issues as a way to help clients better utilize their aircraft.

For more information regarding our specific areas of expertise, please select from the links on the right.

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J.D. Brown
Shareholder
(405) 270-6028
Joel A. Bulleigh
Shareholder
(405) 552-2248
Brian A. Burget
Shareholder
(405) 552-2205
Hannah N. Coker
Associate
(405) 552-2313
Maria E. Gonzalez
Shareholder
(405) 552-2358
Amanda R. Landherr
Associate
(405) 552-2320
Scott D. McCreary
Shareholder, Practice Group Leader
(405) 552-2367
Michael J. Power Jr.
Associate
(405) 552-2336
Erin M. Van Laanen
Shareholder
(405) 552-2208
Emma L. Wilson
Associate
(405) 270-6083

Paralegals

Judy Ames
Paralegal
(405) 552-2329
Janet Bennett
FAA Paralegal
(405) 681-9393
Rhonda Bennett
FAA Paralegal
(405) 684-9442
Qaitelynn Cummings
Paralegal
(405) 270-6013
Reese Deaton
Paralegal
(405) 228-7647
Jeri Fatheree
Paralegal
(405) 228-7657
Michelle Gerwitz
Paralegal
(405) 228-7648
Kambree Godwin
Paralegal
(405) 270-6078
Brandee Hudson
Paralegal
(405) 228-7619
Sunni Jackson
FAA Paralegal
(405) 435-8455
Debby Jones
Paralegal
(405) 228-7623
Dianna McCaulla
Paralegal
(405) 552-2319
Beth McHale
Paralegal
(405) 228-7669
Monica Minjarez
Paralegal
(405) 228-7662
Linda Steinke
Paralegal
(405) 552-2357
Cassandra Sturgess
Paralegal
(405) 228-7645
Melissa Trent
Paralegal
(405) 228-7646
Katie Whitaker
Paralegal
(405) 228-7664
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Articles

Woman looking at access denied screen on computer monitor
Businessman walking toward private airplane
Private jet flying past sun in blue sky

An introduction to aircraft registration in the US

Corporate Jet Investor |
Computer drawing with a fishing line and hook

Beware of phishing schemes relating to aviation escrow matters

McAfee & Taft Aviation Alert |
Person putting envelope in mailbox

FAA grants National Business Aviation Association extension of Small Aircraft Exemption

COVID-19 FAA Aircraft Registry Update

GAO Report: FAA Needs to Better Prevent, Detect, and Respond to Fraud and Abuse Risks in Aircraft Registration

COVID-19 FAA Aircraft Registry Update

Aircraft registration in the US

Official Guide to Aircraft Registration 2020 |

FAA Aircraft Registry Reaffirms its Position on Digital v. Electronic Signatures

Registering aircraft in the United States

Corporate Jet Investor’s Official Guide to Aircraft Registration |

An introduction to aircraft registration in the US

Corporate Jet Investor’s Official Guide to Aircraft Registration |

Digital Signatures, Subordinations and Drones

International Comparative Legal Guide to Aviation Law |

The Applicability of the Cape Town Convention to Changes to an Existing Transaction

International Comparative Legal Guide to Aviation Law |

The Cape Town Convention: An Evolving Process (with Side Notes on Selected Issues)

International Comparative Legal Guide to Aviation Law |

The Cape Town Convention: An Evolving Process (with a Side Note on Non-Citizen Trusts)

International Comparative Legal Guide to Aviation Law |

The Cape Town Convention: Key Issues for the Practitioner

International Comparative Legal Guide to Aviation Law |

Registration rule impacts all U.S. aircraft

The Journal Record |

Summary of the FAA’s Final Rule regarding Re‑Registration and Renewal of Aircraft Registration

McAfee & Taft Aviation Law Alert |

International registry goes live with registrations of fractional shares in aircraft

Business Leasing and Finance News |

Cape Town and Aircraft Transactions in the United States

The Air & Space Lawyer |

Memorandum regarding The Cape Town Convention

Aviation Law Update |

Legal Opinions and Title Insurance Mitigate Risk Under Cape Town Convention

LJN's Equipment Leasing Newsletter |

Cape Town Convention: Complex Questions and Significant Opportunities

LJN's Equipment Leasing Newsletter |

FAA Registry Document Checklist

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At The Podium

Top Ten Things Owners Should Know When Registering Aircraft With the FAA

2023 NBAA-BACE
Las Vegas, NV | October 17, 2023

Ownership & Operations Planning for Your Aircraft: An Introduction to FAA, Privacy & Tax Considerations

2023 NBAA Tax, Regulatory & Risk Management Conference
Las Vegas, NV | October 15, 2023

FAA Registry Update

ABA Aircraft Financing Subcommittee's 2023 Spring Meeting
Seattle, WA | April 28, 2023

Aircraft Financing and Investment Opportunities Roundtable

Miami, FL | November 4, 2022

Corporate Jet Investor Miami 2022

Miami, FL | October 31 – November 2, 2022

Aircraft Registration Issues

Lawyer-Pilots Bar Association CLE Program
Traverse City, MI | July 9, 2022

Business Jet Finance 2022

Corporate Jet Investor Asia 2022
Singapore | June 30, 2022

FAA Registry Updates

National Aircraft Finance Association's 50th Annual Conference
Napa, CA | April 20, 2022

Changes to U.S. Transactions

Corporate Jet Investor London 2022
London, England | March 9, 2022

FAA Update 2020 – Social Distancing Issues

SGR Handling the Turbulence from COVID-19 Webinar
Online | March 24, 2020

GATS and FAA Registry Updates

Business Aircraft Finance, Registration & Legal Conference
Amelia Island, FL | March 23, 2020

Introduction to the Global Aircraft Trading System (GATS) from a Business Aviation Perspective

Oklahoma City GATS Conference
Oklahoma City, OK | January 8, 2020

FAA Update

2019 ABA Aircraft Financing Subcommittee Annual Meeting
Washington, DC | September 12, 2019

Leading Today and in the Future

IAWA 2019 General Aviation Women’s Leadership Forum
Napa, CA | May 6, 2019

Capital City Connect: Aviation & Government Contracts CLE

Oklahoma City, OK | February 6, 2019

Fraud and Cybercrime in Legal Transactions

Wichita Association of Legal Administrators
Wichita, KS | March 22, 2016

Fraud and Cybercrime in Aircraft Closings

Corporate Jet Investor
Miami, FL | October 22, 2015

Update on the International Registry’s Generation II Website and U.S. Non-Citizen Trusts

ALTA Aviation Law Americas Aviation Industry Legal and Finance Conference
Cancun, Mexico | September 4, 2015

The Cape Town Convention After Seven Years: A Practitioner’s Guide

2013 Business Aircraft Finance, Registration and Legal Conference
Bonita Springs, Florida | February 8, 2013

Recent Litigation in Aviation Sales, Lease, Financing; Owner Liability

2013 Business Aircraft Finance, Registration and Legal Conference
Bonita Springs, Florida | February 7, 2013
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Practice Group Leader

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In The News

Aviation attorney Scott McCreary elected to board of directors for the National Aircraft Finance Association

May 11, 2023

Michael Power Jr. joins McAfee & Taft’s Aviation Group

February 21, 2023

Understanding changes to duration for aircraft registries

NBAA | January 30, 2023

FAA chaos and foreboding on Friday the 13th

Corporate Jet Investor | January 13, 2023

Slow times at the aircraft registry

Business Jet Traveler | January 2023

Time running out to process new aircraft registrations in 2022

NBAA Insider | December 1, 2022

FAA Registry Update

November 21, 2022

Firm welcomes aviation attorney Amanda Landherr

September 21, 2022

Best Lawyers names 14 McAfee & Taft attorneys 2023 ‘Lawyers of the Year’ in 16 practice areas

August 25, 2022

Fraud mitigation now an essential tool in every aircraft transaction

NBAA Insider | July/August 2022

McAfee & Taft adds aviation paralegal Zarah Barnes

August 9, 2021

McAfee & Taft adds aviation paralegal Addison Baker

May 24, 2021

McAfee & Taft adds aviation paralegal Qaitelynn Cummings

March 1, 2021

(re)Born in the FAA

Corporate Jet Investor One Minute Week | March 27, 2020

McAfee & Taft names three new practice leaders for 2020

February 10, 2020

Bill Hall, Erin Van Laanen honored with Lexology 2018 Client Choice Award

February 8, 2018

EBACE2017 Inspires the Next Generation of Industry Leaders

EBACE TV | May 24, 2017

Into the Breach: Voluntary Compliance on Money Laundering Gets a Boost from the ABA and Treasury

ABA Journal | October 1, 2011

McAfee & Taft Aviation Group to participate in FAA public meeting on Non-Citizen Owner Trusts

May 10, 2011

Brian Beatty joins McAfee & Taft Aviation Law Group

March 17, 2011

Joel Bulleigh and Maria Gonzalez Named New Aviation Associates

November 14, 2006

Erin Van Laanen Named to International Who’s Who of Aviation Lawyers 2006

July 21, 2006

Aviation Attorneys to Speak at 13th Annual FAA Registry Forum

February 2, 2006

Frank Polk to Speak at 10th Annual Corporate Aircraft Transactions Conference

May 31, 2005

Erin Van Laanen Named to List of World’s Leading Aviation Lawyers

May 2, 2005

Aviation Attorneys to Speak at 12th Annual FAA Registry Forum

February 4, 2005
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