republic-os/legal/us/code/title-49/chapter-461/section-46103.md

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LegalText	49 U.S.C. § 46103	Service of notice, process, and actions	us	united_states_code	code_section	49	TRANSPORTATION	461	INVESTIGATIONS AND PROCEEDINGS	46103	49 U.S.C. § 46103	current	119-100	2026-06-26	official	https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc49@119-100.zip	/us/usc/t49/s46103	data/legal/raw/us/code/title-49/usc49.xml	7a0a99a047ff7cc5a74b3f7c37fc75e73c4ab5f3d3e7ea4970dcaf4e33822549	0786acdd244d8f42c5a8e8ed1ec2a8dcb47dd0e02a286752710a20745702a4fb	eae77b5434b799a8d7e3e912abd5409b39003e37e35b4b205e09e12e702026cb	2026-07-04	official	legal us-code

49 U.S.C. § 46103 - Service of notice, process, and actions

Text

(a) Designating Agents.— (1) Each air carrier and foreign air carrier shall designate an agent on whom service of notice and process in a proceeding before, and an action of, the Secretary of Transportation (or the Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration with respect to security duties and powers designated to be carried out by the Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration or the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration with respect to aviation safety duties and powers designated to be carried out by the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration) may be made.

(2) The designation—

(A) shall be in writing and filed with the Secretary, Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration, or Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration; and

(B) may be changed in the same way as originally made.

(b) Service.— (1) Service may be made—

(A) by personal service;

(B) on a designated agent;

(C) by certified or registered mail to the person to be served or the designated agent of the person;

(D) by electronic or facsimile transmission to the person to be served or the designated agent of the person; or

(E) as designated by regulation or guidance published in the Federal Register.

(2) The date of service made by certified or registered mail is the date of mailing.

(3) The date of service made by an electronic or facsimile method is—

(A) the date an electronic or facsimile transmission is sent; or

(B) the date a notification is sent by an electronic or facsimile method that a notice, process, or action is immediately available and accessible in an electronic database.

(c) Serving Agents.— Service on an agent designated under this section shall be made at the office or usual place of residence of the agent or at the electronic or facsimile address designated by the agent. If an air carrier or foreign air carrier does not have a designated agent, service may be made by posting the notice, process, or action in the office of the Secretary, Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration, or Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration.

(Pub. L. 103–272, § 1(e), July 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 1227; Pub. L. 107–71, title I, § 140(b)(1), (2), Nov. 19, 2001, 115 Stat. 641; Pub. L. 115–254, div. K, title I, § 1991(f)(1)–(4), Oct. 5, 2018, 132 Stat. 3642; Pub. L. 118–63, title II, § 219, May 16, 2024, 138 Stat. 1057.)

Notes

Historical and Revision Notes RevisedSectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 46103(a)49 App.:1485(b) (1st sentence).Aug. 23, 1958, Pub. L. 85–726, § 1005(b), 72 Stat. 794..  49 App.:1551(b)(1)(E).Aug. 23, 1958, Pub. L. 85–726, 72 Stat. 731, § 1601(b)(1)(E); added Oct. 4, 1984, Pub. L. 98–443, § 3(e), 98 Stat. 1704.  49 App.:1655(c)(1).Oct. 15, 1966, Pub. L. 89–670, § 6(c)(1), 80 Stat. 938; Jan. 12, 1983, Pub. L. 97–449, § 7(b), 96 Stat. 2444. 46103(b)49 App.:1485(c).Aug. 23, 1958, Pub. L. 85–726, § 1005(c), 72 Stat. 794; restated Aug. 25, 1959, Pub. L. 86–199, 73 Stat. 427. 46103(c)49 App.:1485(b) (last sentence).  49 App.:1551(b)(1)(E).  49 App.:1655(c)(1). In subsection (a)(1), the words “in a proceeding before” are added for clarity. The word “action” is substituted for “orders, decisions, and requirements” to eliminate unnecessary words. The words “for and on behalf of said carrier” are omitted as surplus. In subsection (a)(2)(B), the words “from time to time” are omitted as surplus. In subsection (b)(1)(B), the words “in writing for the purpose” are omitted as surplus. In subsection (b)(1)(C), the word “addressed” is omitted as surplus. In subsection (b)(2), the word “date” is substituted for “time” for clarity and consistency. In subsection (c), the words “with like effect as if made personally upon such carrier” are omitted as surplus.

Editorial Notes

Amendments2024—Subsec. (b)(1)(D), (E). Pub. L. 118–63, § 219(1)(A), added subpars. (D) and (E). Subsec. (b)(3). Pub. L. 118–63, § 219(1)(B), added par. (3). Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 118–63, § 219(2), substituted “Service on an agent designated under this section shall be made at the office or usual place of residence of the agent or at the electronic or facsimile address designated by the agent.” for “Service on an agent designated under this section shall be made at the office or usual place of residence of the agent.” 2018—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 115–254, § 1991(f)(3), substituted “by the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration)” for “by the Administrator)”. Pub. L. 115–254, § 1991(f)(1), substituted “Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration with respect to security duties and powers designated to be carried out by the Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration” for “Under Secretary of Transportation for Security with respect to security duties and powers designated to be carried out by the Under Secretary”. Subsec. (a)(2)(A). Pub. L. 115–254, § 1991(f)(2), (4), substituted “Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration,” for “Under Secretary,” and “or Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration” for “or Administrator”. Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 115–254, § 1991(f)(2), (4), substituted “Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration,” for “Under Secretary,” and “or Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration” for “or Administrator”. 2001—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 107–71, § 140(b)(1), inserted “the Under Secretary of Transportation for Security with respect to security duties and powers designated to be carried out by the Under Secretary or” after “(or”. Subsec. (a)(2)(A). Pub. L. 107–71, § 140(b)(2), substituted “, Under Secretary, or Administrator” for “or Administrator”. Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 107–71, § 140(b)(2), substituted “, Under Secretary, or Administrator” for “or Administrator”.