AIRCRAFT NATIONALITY AND REGISTRATION MARKS

The Paris Convention of 1919 requires all aircraft to be registered and to

carry a nationality mark and a registration mark. Annex 7 of the Chicago Convention covers
Aircraft Nationality and Registration Marks. The Annex contains only Standards without any
recommendations. An Authority may temporarily exempt an aircraft from registration (test
flying of a prototype) or the carriage of markings (an historic aircraft or ex-military
aeroplane).
NATIONALITY AND REGISTRATION MARKS
4.2
Markings. The nationality and registration mark is to consist of a group of characters.
G-ABCD
In this case G is the nationality mark and is always to precede the registration mark, in this
case
ABCD. When the first character of the registration mark is the same type of character as the
last character of the nationality mark, it is be preceded by a hyphen (-). The nationality mark
is selected from the series of nationality symbols included in the radio call signs allocated to
the State of Registry by the International Telecommunications Union (an agency of the United
Nations). The nationality mark is to be notified by the State of Registry, to ICAO and may
consist of single letters; multiple letters or a combination of letters and numbers. It may also
include a symbol of the State (e.g. the Red Cross in the case of Switzerland). The registration
mark may consist of letters, numbers or a combination of both and is assigned by the State of
Registry, or the common mark registering authority, from a list of available (not previously
issued) marks applicable to the State of Registry.
4.3
Common Mark. A common mark replaces a nationality mark where the aircraft is
owned (operated) by an operator registered in more than one country. In this case, a
‘common
mark’ is allocated by the ITU, and ICAO specifies a state to exercise the responsibilities of
the State of Registry (known as the common mark registering authority). The common mark
registering authority also performs the function of the State of Registry with regard to the
continuing airworthiness of the aircraft. Presently, the common mark 4YB is issued by ICAO
to
Arab Air Cargo Incorporated (based in Jordan and Iraq) for registering aircraft operated by
that
organisation. ICAO has specified that Jordan performs the other functions of the common
mark
registering authority.
Figure 4.1:56
Chapter 4
Aircraft Nationality and Registration Marks
4.4
Exclusions. Certain combinations of letters are not permitted to be used as registration
letters or parts of a registration mark. These are those combinations of letters used for
specific distress traffic indicators or internationally accepted communication abbreviations.
Specifically:

SOS (Distress - morse)

PAN (Urgency)

XXX (Urgency - morse)

TTT (Safety /Securité - morse)

‘Q’ codes (i.e. QNH; QRT; QUG etc….

5 letter combinations of the international Code of Signals
CERTIFICATION OF REGISTRATION
4.5
Status and Content. The certificate of registration is an official document certifying
that the State of Registry has registered an aircraft. The certificate is to be carried in the
aircraft
at all times. The certificate contains:

Nationality or Common mark,

Registration mark,

Manufacturer’s designation of the aircraft,

Serial number of the aircraft,

Name and address of the owner,

A certificate that it has been entered on the register of the State,

Dated signature of the registering officer.
AIRCRAFT MARKINGS
4.6
Location of Nationality and Registration Marks. The nationality or common mark
and registration mark are to be painted on the aircraft or shall be affixed by any other means
ensuring a similar degree of permanence. The marks shall be kept clean and visible at all
times.
4.7
Heavier than Air Aircraft. The required markings are to appear on the lower surface
(underside) of the wing, the fuselage between the wings and the tail, or on the upper half of
the
vertical tail surface.
4.8
Size of Markings. The markings on the wings are to be at least 50cm high, and on the
fuselage and vertical surfaces, 30cm high.