Interesting article - FAA wants to improve accuracy of their database !
http://avstop.com/news_sept_2010/aircraft_owners_need_to_re-register_their_aircraft_tail_number.htm
And raise a substantial sum of money, all coming from people wealthy enough to own aircraft and from corporations. I smell a rat - or a tax, anyway.
I am surprised there is no annual fee already. It is fairly normal world wide for aircraft as for motor vehicles. While I am sure there will be a fee, it will have the effect of idntifying aircraft that have been written off, changed hands, et