91 votes
Accepted

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
  • 13.4k
23 votes
Accepted

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
  • 70.9k
18 votes
Accepted

How do you report reckless pilots?

The FAA provides an online reporting tool here under "FAA Hotline Web Form" (direct link here) I would say it falls under "aviation concern". In your description if you include ...
Dave's user avatar
  • 100k
18 votes
Accepted

Can you disassemble a plane, then rebuild it, and call it 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
  • 12k
18 votes
Accepted

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
  • 37.5k
16 votes
Accepted

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
  • 16.5k
16 votes

Why are aircraft registration details made public?

Aircraft registration are no more or less public than car registrations (although they are a bit easier to get access to). Generally speaking you can go down to the DMV and request data on a plate ...
Dave's user avatar
  • 100k
14 votes
Accepted

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
  • 27.2k
14 votes
Accepted

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
  • 126k
13 votes

How to locate the owner of a 5' styrofoam wing found in a field?

If it has a US registration number on it (N followed by 1-5 numbers or letters) you can search the FAA registration database to find out what aircraft has that particular registration number, and who ...
voretaq7's user avatar
  • 68.3k
10 votes
Accepted

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
  • 28.4k
9 votes
Accepted

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
  • 82.8k
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
  • 37.5k
7 votes
Accepted

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
  • 1,746
7 votes

How are aircraft identified as unregistered?

Aircraft don't have to be actually flying for people to notice something fishy going on. In particular, there are always people hanging about at airports keeping an eye on everything going on. ...
Greg Hewgill's user avatar
  • 9,152
7 votes
Accepted

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
7 votes

Can you disassemble a plane, then rebuild it, and call it 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
  • 126k
6 votes
Accepted

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
  • 27.6k
6 votes
Accepted

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
Accepted

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
  • 54.3k
6 votes
Accepted

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
  • 27.6k
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
  • 70.9k
5 votes
Accepted

How might one obtain aircraft registration numbers for past flights (months ago)?

If you come up blank on the various open sources that have been suggested, which wouldn't surprise me, your best bet may be a personal letter to Air Canada and another as well to whatever headquarters ...
Ralph J's user avatar
  • 49.8k
5 votes

How are aircraft identified as unregistered?

So how does ATC check aircraft registration? They don't, that isn't their job. The only time that anyone will ask to see your registration in normal circumstances is during a ramp check, and those ...
Pondlife's user avatar
  • 71.6k
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
  • 1,514
4 votes

What are the FAA requirements for when to use an airline call sign & flight number versus the aircraft registration number?

I found something relevant buried in the depths of JO 7340.2 on contractions (i.e. abbreviations) for airlines, aircraft types etc. Section 1-4-2 says: The company designator, together with a ...
Pondlife's user avatar
  • 71.6k
4 votes
Accepted

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
  • 71.6k
4 votes
Accepted

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
  • 100k

Only top scored, non community-wiki answers of a minimum length are eligible