I understand that you can no longer fly an airplane across the border on a pink-slip registration.
And an original in your name must be included.
Therefore if I buy an airplane in lower 48 states, how long do I realistically have to wait before I can fly it back home to Alaska?

Well you can fly it out just not back in to the US on the pink slip.

If you expidite you can get it done in about two weeks. I had same issue but was able to have my permanent done before I returned to the states.

I don't know if this would be representative of your situation but I just did my online "renewal" for an aircraft and got my registration in about 4-5 working days. Call Oky city

AKclimber wrote:I understand that you can no longer fly an airplane across the border on a pink-slip registration.
And an original in your name must be included.
Therefore if I buy an airplane in lower 48 states, how long do I realistically have to wait before I can fly it back home to Alaska?

Oklahoma City can fax a valid registration to you in the case of a newly purchased airplane and you need to cross international boundaries. Call the registration branch. Or, contact AOPA Member Services (you ARE a member, right?) and I believe they can handle it for you, or at least tell you specifically how to do it.

My understanding is you can get a valid permanent registration in a day or so that way. At least it will be legal for crossing.

MTV

Thanks MTV!
That's perfect. And yes I am AOPA member and Alaska Airmen's.

Oak City can speed up the process if you let them know you're going to be crossing the border. Just a couple days as I recall.

Gump

You can not fly to Mexico on a pink slip, not sure about Canada.

Good day

For what it is worth I have never been asked for aircraft registration entering Canada. For that matter, I have not been asked for any plane or insurance paperwork. Entering either the US or Mexico I have to produce paperwork, and in Mexico, insurance as well.