NAFA member Amanda Applegate, Partner at Aerlex Law Group, discusses aircraft registration numbers.
First-time aircraft buyers looking at a potential acquisition may not realize that the registration number painted on the fuselage or vertical stabilizer of the aircraft can be changed and personalized by the new owner. “Tail numbers” – the name often used when referring to aircraft registration numbers – can be chosen by an owner in much the same way as a “vanity” license plate for an automobile. When selecting a registration number for a U S. registered aircraft, the following rules apply:
AN N-NUMBER CAN BE IN ANY OF THESE FORMATS:
· One to five numbers (N12345)
· One to four numbers followed by one letter (N1234Z)
· One to three numbers followed by two letters (N123AZ) N-Numbers do not have:
· A zero as the first number
· The letters “I” or “0”
This article was originally published by Aerlex Law Group on June 14, 2021.
