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90 votes
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Why does JetBlue have aircraft registered in Germany?

I am the pilot who delivered this aircraft on Friday. The German registration remains on the aircraft up until the time we (JetBlue) purchase the aircraft. Prior to transfer of title, we perform a ...
Mark Libretto's user avatar
49 votes

Why does JetBlue have aircraft registered in Germany?

That is a very very new aircraft. The notes on the jetphotos.com posting (photo taken 2/21/2021, uploaded 2/27/2021) say: the first A321neo for jetBlue with the Mint suites on board for North ...
randomhead's user avatar
23 votes
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What is the registration number of the 10,000th Airbus?

The answer you are looking for is: 9V-SMF. Current registration number: 9V-SMF (source) Let's try to add some related details. Aircraft can have multiple ID during their life, at least a ...
mins's user avatar
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19 votes
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Why does this Curtiss Kittyhawk have a Question Mark in its squadron code?

It was fairly common to use “?” if there were more than 26 aircraft in the squadron. (only 26 letters in the alphabet) Camouflage and markings of No.112 Squadron RAF, “The second thing is the use of ...
Mike Sowsun's user avatar
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18 votes
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Can you disassemble a plane, then rebuild it, and register it as experimental amateur-built?

The criteria to receive an experimental amateur-built airworthiness certificate are in §21.191(g): aircraft the major portion of which has been fabricated and assembled by persons who undertook the ...
Chris's user avatar
  • 18.2k
16 votes
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Are the size and location of the registration number regulated?

Under FAA jurisdiction, these items are regulated under 14 CFR 45. The size of the registration markings must generally be at least 12 inches high: §45.29 (a) Except as provided in paragraph (...
J W's user avatar
  • 16.6k
14 votes
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Different planes with same registration? How is it possible?

The registrations are "recyclable", so when a certain registration is released form a plane that is either removed from service or re-registered to a different country, the previous ...
Jpe61's user avatar
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14 votes
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Why do Airbus A220s manufactured in Mobile, AL have Canadian test registrations?

The airplanes are built/owned by an Airbus subsidiary incorporated in Canada, and the Mirabel facility is still the primary production facility and location for the engineering organization, etc. ...
John K's user avatar
  • 136k
10 votes
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Should an aircraft registration match the flag next to it?

That's because the aircraft (some of them at least) are leased from Aerotron Ireland Ltd., an aircraft leasing company in Drogheda Ireland. I only looked up one. It was EI-FVA. Here it shows it ...
TomMcW's user avatar
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9 votes
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Where can I find registration information of a private aircraft registered in Germany?

I don't think the information is accessible on a public website. According to the German wikipedia the Luftfahrtbundesamt (LBA, the German Civil Aviation Authorities) cannot publish the information ...
DeltaLima's user avatar
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9 votes

What’s the difference between a tail number and a Manufacturer's Serial Number?

The tail number is the civil registration, and the manufacturer serial number (MSN) is a build number used by the manufacturer. It is similar to the licence plate on your car, and the vehicle ...
Mike Sowsun's user avatar
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8 votes
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How can an helicopter end up with the same tail number than an airplane?

N133AA appeared on an American Airlines DC10, but American Airlines retired, sold or scrapped all their DC10 and MD11 aircraft by 2002, releasing the registrations for other uses. Wind the clock ...
CatchAsCatchCan's user avatar
8 votes

Can you disassemble a plane, then rebuild it, and register it as experimental amateur-built?

In North America, you have to complete more than 50% of the construction yourself. In the case of a project like that, you'd have to negotiate with your local authority to agree on activities that ...
John K's user avatar
  • 136k
7 votes
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How are registration numbers assigned?

In the US, aircraft numbers are requested or reserved from an available list by the aircraft owner: N-Number Availability Query. Then the owner, the manufacturer in the case of new aircraft, submits ...
STWilson's user avatar
  • 1,756
6 votes
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What is a registration mark or number?

Yes, every aircraft has a registration number--or "tail number" since it is commonly painted on/near the tail. This links each make/model/serial combination to a specific owner, similar to a car's ...
StephenS's user avatar
  • 27.9k
6 votes
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When are you allowed to use a call sign that is not the aircraft registration?

For the US, this is covered in AC120-26L, or in a more human-interpretable way from an NBAA article. When are you required to use your aircraft registration By default unless you have a callsign ...
Jeff Ferland's user avatar
6 votes
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How come some aircraft have really cool registration numbers?

Aircraft registration numbers are assigned by the country where the aircraft is registered. Each country has a prefix (see the full list on Wikipedia), like e.g. D- ...
Bianfable's user avatar
  • 58.3k
6 votes
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Does North Korea's aircraft registration prefix allow for only 500 aircraft?

Civil aircraft tail numbers almost always follow ITU radio prefixes. North Korea has been allocated six ITU prefixes: HM and P5-P9. Many countries with consecutive 2-letter prefixes will move the dash ...
StephenS's user avatar
  • 27.9k
5 votes

Where did the US 'N' registration letter come from?

I'm building this post expanding on Danny Beckett's information, give him credit :-) Short answer: Since 1919, aircraft registration is based on international prefixes allocated by ITU to ...
mins's user avatar
  • 80.9k
5 votes

What are the repercussions of flying an aircraft with an invalid N number on the side?

As a controller, if it's a correctly constructed N-number, I'd know nothing. and wouldn't do anything. If you file a flight plan, however, the N-number you use will go into the FAA's database. Keep in ...
atc_ceedee's user avatar
  • 1,832
5 votes
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N-Number to ADS-B mode s code relationship

In the United States, the ICAO hex code and the tail number are related algorithmically. The code A00001 (in hex, 50000001 in octal) is given to tail number N1, A00002 to N1A, and so on in ...
Chris's user avatar
  • 18.2k
4 votes
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In the US, do ultralight aircraft have tail numbers?

Assuming that you mean an ultralight as defined in part 103, there is no requirement to be registered or have a tail number. 14 CFR 103.7(c) says: Notwithstanding any other section pertaining to ...
Pondlife's user avatar
  • 72k
4 votes
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Why is the N-number on the tail of aircraft sometimes shown in both large and small font?

The N-Number marking regulations are outlined in this AC for fixed wing aircraft: ... minimum height of 12 inches (1) On both surfaces of a single vertical tail or on the outer surfaces of a ...
Dave's user avatar
  • 102k
4 votes
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Why do countries place limits on what foreign-registered aircraft can do?

Perhaps the biggest reason for this is that countries have different standards of safety. One example, is a few years ago, Cessna recommended that basically all their piston aircraft have a thorough ...
Ben's user avatar
  • 14.6k
4 votes

Who owns B- registration? China or Taiwan?

From your second link: Aircraft registered in the People’s Republic of China traditionally have had "B-" followed by four digits. B-0000 to B-9999 Since ...
Federico's user avatar
  • 32.7k
3 votes

For how long are state and federal aircraft registrations valid?

Federal registration is for three years, according to the FAA (the actual regulations are in 14 CFR 47.40): Aircraft registration issued due to renewal expires three years from the expiration ...
Pondlife's user avatar
  • 72k
3 votes

Should an aircraft registration match the flag next to it?

If you look at the Irish flag you may notice, that it is very similar to the Italian flag. This would be where your confusion comes from. Flag of Italy Flag of Ireland
RadarUnicorn's user avatar
3 votes
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How do we renew an aircraft's expired FAA registration?

The FAA's registration site says (emphasis in the original): If aircraft registration has expired and a renewal certificate has not been issued, received, and placed in the aircraft, then the ...
Pondlife's user avatar
  • 72k

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