14 USC § 3909 - Aircraft deemed public aircraft

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t14/s3909"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_legal_evidence"
title: "14 USC § 3909 - Aircraft deemed public aircraft"
title_number: 14
title_name: "COAST GUARD"
section_number: "3909"
section_name: "Aircraft deemed public aircraft"
chapter_number: 39
chapter_name: "COAST GUARD AUXILIARY"
positive_law: true
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-03-26"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393, 63 Stat. 556, § 828; Pub. L. 104–324, title IV, § 407, Oct. 19, 1996, 110 Stat. 3925; renumbered § 3909 and amended Pub. L. 115–282, title I, §§ 119(b), 123(b)(2), Dec. 4, 2018, 132 Stat. 4236, 4240.)"
---


# § 3909. Aircraft deemed public aircraft

While assigned to authorized Coast Guard duty, any aircraft shall be deemed to be a Coast Guard aircraft, a public vessel of the United States, and a vessel of the Coast Guard within the meaning of sections 937 and 938 of this title and other applicable provisions of law. Subject to the provisions of sections 3904 and 3912 of this title, while assigned to duty, qualified Auxiliary pilots shall be deemed to be Coast Guard pilots.

---

**Source Credit**: (Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393, 63 Stat. 556, § 828; Pub. L. 104–324, title IV, § 407, Oct. 19, 1996, 110 Stat. 3925; renumbered § 3909 and amended Pub. L. 115–282, title I, §§ 119(b), 123(b)(2), Dec. 4, 2018, 132 Stat. 4236, 4240.)

### Historical and Revision Notes

Based on title 14, U.S.C., 1946 ed., § 266a (, title I, § 7A, as added , ).

The last clause of said section is eliminated because it might be construed to exempt planes of members from being licensed according to law.

Changes were made in phraseology. 81st Congress, House Report No. 557.

## Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2018—, substituted “sections 937 and 938” for “sections 646 and 647” and “sections 3904 and 3912” for “sections 823a and 831”.

, renumbered  as this section.

1996— reenacted section catchline without change and amended text generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “Any aircraft, while assigned to authorized Coast Guard duty shall be deemed to be a vessel of the Coast Guard within the meaning of .”