Aircraft Nationality and Registration Marks

Who decides an aircraft's identity?

The big picture

ICAO sets the world rules, then India registers and marks its own aircraft.

• Aircraft identity nationality and registration How an aircraft is identified: a nationality (or common) mark plus a registration mark, set by ICAO Annex 7 and, in India, by the Aircraft Rules 1937 and CAR.
  • ICAO Annex 7 world rules Sets how States select nationality marks from their ITU radio call signs, the rules for letters and numbers in marks, where marks go, and the certificate of registration.
    • Nationality mark from the State's ITU call signs The mark showing the State of Registry, chosen from the nationality symbols in the radio call signs the ITU allocates to that State.
    • Common mark ITU series 4YA to 4YZ Used by joint operating agencies. The common mark authority is assigned by ICAO.
    • Registration mark 1 to 5 characters Letters, numbers or both, given out by the country of registry (or by the body that runs a common mark).
    • No signal look-alikes signals, Q-codes, SOS Marks must not resemble the Code of Signals, Q-codes, SOS or urgency signals.
    • Identification plate fireproof, near the main entrance Balloons: on the payload exterior. Remotely piloted aircraft: on the exterior or in a compartment.
  • Registering in India Aircraft Rules 1937, CAR F-I The national rules: the Central Government registers aircraft and grants the certificate of registration, and DGCA keeps the register and can cancel a registration.
    • Central Government registers and grants the C of R In India the Central Government is the authority that registers aircraft and grants the certificate of registration.
    • Register of Aircraft kept by DGCA Open to public inspection and available on the DGCA website.
    • C of R shows aircraft, owner, marks, lease Aircraft type, constructor's number, year of manufacture, marks, the owner's name, nationality and address, usual station, date and validity. For a leased aircraft, also the lease and both parties.
    • Valid until cancelled no fixed term A certificate of registration has no fixed expiry: it stays valid from the date of registration until DGCA cancels it.
    • Carried on board at all times The registration certificate stays on board every time the aircraft flies.
  • Indian marks inside India's ITU series AT to AW India has been allotted AT to AW by the ITU but keeps its pre-Independence marks: VT for civil, VU for Air Force, and U for unmanned aircraft.
    • VT- and 3 letters civil The nationality mark for Indian civil aircraft is VT, followed by a hyphen and a 3-letter registration mark in plain Roman letters, for example VT-EPC.
    • VU- and 3 letters Air Force The nationality mark for Indian Air Force aircraft is VU, followed by a hyphen and 3 letters, for example VU-AWB.
    • U and 6 characters unmanned, no hyphen Unmanned aircraft registered in India carry U followed by 6 alphanumeric characters (0 to 9 or A to Z), for example UB67DFC.
    • Display rules ads, emblems, State marks What else may appear on an Indian aircraft: no advertising unless permitted, owner names and emblems only if not confusing, and no State aircraft marks on other aircraft.
      • No commercial advertising unless permitted No advertisement, sign or lettering on the exterior except what the rules require or the Director-General permits.
      • Owner emblems allowed if they cause no confusion The aircraft's name and the owner's name and emblems may be shown if they do not hinder recognition of, or cause confusion with, the marks.
      • State marks only on State aircraft An aircraft that is not a State aircraft must not carry any mark or sign prescribed for State aircraft.
      • Marks painted or fixed durably and kept clean Marks are painted on, or fixed with similar permanence as the Director-General specifies, and must always be kept clean and visible.

Takeaway: Annex 7 sets how marks look; in India the Central Government registers, DGCA keeps the register, and civil aircraft carry VT-.

Where do the marks go, and how big?

Where marks go

VT-EPC appears on the wings and on the fuselage or tail, at different minimum heights.

Memory hook: Wings are wide, so the letters are big: 50 on the wings, 30 on the body.

Takeaway: Wings at least 50 cm; fuselage and vertical tail at least 30 cm; Roman characters, no ornamentation.

Can these letters be a registration?

Banned letters

Test a letter group against each signal it could be mistaken for.

• Is it a 5-letter Code of Signals group?
• Is it 3 letters starting with Q?
• Does it read SOS?
• Does it read XXX, PAN or TTT?
• Is it 111?
• No: coded message
• No: Q-code
• No: distress
• No: urgency
• No: telegraph
• Passes the signal test

Memory hook: If you could hear it as a call for help, you cannot paint it on an aircraft.

Takeaway: No 5-letter Code of Signals groups, no 3-letter Q groups, no SOS, no XXX, PAN or TTT, and no 111.

Which mark does this aircraft carry?

Which mark?

Read each case and press the stamp that applies.

• Which mark goes on this aircraft? Press a stamp.
• U + 6
• unmanned
• VU-
• Air Force
• VT-
• Indian civil
• Common mark
• 4YA to 4YZ
• Own State's mark
• ITU series
• A new airliner is registered in India for a domestic airline.
• Indian civil aircraft carry VT, a hyphen and three letters, for example VT-EPC.
• A transport aircraft joins the Indian Air Force.
• Indian Air Force aircraft carry VU, a hyphen and three letters, for example VU-AWB.
• A survey drone is registered in India.
• Indian unmanned aircraft carry U followed by 6 letters or digits, with no hyphen, for example UB67DFC.
• Two States run an aircraft together through a joint operating agency.
• Joint operating agencies use a common mark from the ITU series 4YA to 4YZ.
• A civil aircraft is registered in France.
• Every State takes its nationality mark from its own ITU call-sign series; India's VT does not apply.
• A small remotely piloted aircraft is registered with DGCA for crop spraying.
• Unmanned aircraft in India carry U plus 6 characters, never VT.

Takeaway: Indian civil VT- plus 3 letters, Air Force VU- plus 3 letters, unmanned U plus 6 characters with no hyphen.

What does each part of VT-EPC mean?

Read VT-EPC

An Indian civil registration. Tap each part.

• Nationality mark VT Pre-Independence mark kept by India. ITU allotted AT to AW. VU is the Air Force; unmanned aircraft use U plus 6 characters, e.g. UB67DFC.
• Hyphen - Between nationality and registration marks. Unmanned marks have none.
• Registration mark EPC In India: three plain capital letters. ICAO allows anything from 1 to 5 letters or numbers, given out by the country of registry or the common mark body.

Memory hook: VT flies civil, VU flies Air Force.

Takeaway: Nationality mark, hyphen, registration mark. India keeps VT (civil) and VU (Air Force), though ITU allotted AT to AW.

What may and may not appear on the aircraft?

On the outside

Marks, plates, names and flags. Tap each number.

• Marks Roman, no ornament Painted, or fixed as permanently, as DGCA specifies; always clean and visible. Each group's letters and numbers are of equal height.
• Identification plate fireproof, near the entrance At minimum the nationality (or common) mark and the registration mark. Balloons carry it on the payload; remotely piloted aircraft near the door, or on the outside if there is no door.
• Owner's name plate marks plus owner The marks, with the registered owner's full name and address, as DGCA specifies.
• Name and emblems if not confusable The aircraft's name and the owner's name and emblems may be shown if they don't hinder recognition of, or look like, the marks.
• National flag distinct from military National flags or colours may be shown if distinct and unlikely to be confused with military markings.
• No adverts unless DGCA allows No advertisement, sign or lettering except as the rules require or DGCA permits. Civil aircraft may not carry State-aircraft marks.

Memory hook: Marks clear, plate fireproof, flags not military.

Takeaway: Marks painted or as permanent, kept clean. Fireproof ID plate near the main entrance. Names, emblems and flags only if they can't be confused.

What goes on a Certificate of Registration?

On the C of R

Tap an item, then whether every C of R has it or only a leased one.

• Type of aircraft
• Constructor's number
• Year of manufacture
• Nationality and registration marks
• Owner's name, nationality, address
• Usual station
• Date and period of registration
• Validity of the lease
• Lessor's and lessee's details

Memory hook: What, which, whose, where, when.

Takeaway: Aircraft, marks, owner, usual station, date and validity. A leased aircraft's C of R adds the lease validity and both parties.

How is an aircraft marked, and when is its registration cancelled?

Identity

Three views: the letters, how big they are, and how a registration ends.

Every aircraft carries a nationality mark and a registration mark. In India the Central Government registers aircraft and DGCA keeps the register.

• Every aircraft carries a nationality mark and a registration mark. In India the Central Government registers aircraft and DGCA keeps the register.
• Marks
• Which letters mean what
• The marks and letter series in this chapter. Tap a row.
• VT: Indian civil
• Indian civil aircraft
• Indian civil aircraft carry VT, a hyphen and a 3-letter registration mark, for example VT-EPC.
• VT-EPC
• VU: Indian Air Force
• Indian Air Force
• Indian Air Force aircraft carry VU, a hyphen and 3 letters, for example VU-AWB.
• VU-AWB
• U: unmanned
• Indian unmanned aircraft, no hyphen
• Indian unmanned aircraft carry U followed by 6 alphanumeric characters with no hyphen, for example UB67DFC.
• UB67DFC
• Common marks
• Common marks for joint operations
• The ITU set aside 4YA to 4YZ for common marks, used where two or more States carry out joint operations.
• 4YA-4YZ
• India's ITU series
• India's ITU series, not used
• The ITU allotted India the nationality symbols AT to AW, but India continues to use its pre-Independence marks.
• AT-AW
• Sizes
• How tall must a mark be?
• Drag the needle to a mark height. The band shows where a mark that tall may go.
• shorter
• taller
• Too short
• below every minimum
• Under 30 centimetres is below the minimum for every place a mark goes on a heavier-than-air aircraft.
• Fuselage and tail
• at least 30 cm
• On heavier-than-air aircraft, marks on the fuselage and vertical tail must be at least 30 centimetres high, with letters and numbers in each group of equal height.
• Wings too
• at least 50 cm
• On heavier-than-air aircraft, marks on the wings must be at least 50 centimetres high. Lighter-than-air aircraft also need 50 cm.
• Cancel
• When DGCA can cancel
• DGCA may cancel a registration at any time on any one of seven grounds. Spin to find them all.
• Breaks the rules
• 1
• wrong from the start
• The registration does not conform to the provisions of the rules.
• False information
• 2
• The registration was obtained by giving false information.
• Destroyed or withdrawn
• 3
• circumstances changed
• The aircraft is destroyed, or taken out of use for good.
• C of A lapsed 5+ years
• 4
• The aircraft's Certificate of Airworthiness has been expired for five years or more.
• Lease ended
• 5
• For a leased aircraft: the lease has expired, been ended by mutual agreement, or been terminated under the lease's own terms.
• Better registered abroad
• 6
• better elsewhere
• It would make more sense for the aircraft to be on another country's register.
• Public interest
• 7
• Keeping the aircraft on the Indian register is not in the public's interest.

Takeaway: VT civil, VU Air Force, U unmanned. Marks at least 50 cm on wings, 30 cm on fuselage and tail. Seven grounds for DGCA to cancel.

Who is in charge of a leased aircraft?

Leasing

Follow a lease from approval to the C of R.

1. IFSCA approval leasing entity in GIFT City GIFT City in Gandhinagar is a special economic zone and the first International Financial Services Centre in India (set up under the SEZ Act 2005). A single regulator, IFSCA, oversees it.
2. Lease agreement lessor furnishes the aircraft The lessor furnishes the aircraft to the lessee.
3. Lessee takes authority economic and operating Economic and operating authority sit with the lessee.
4. Lessee provides crew, dispatchers, facilities Flight and cabin crew, ground staff, dispatchers and facilities.
5. Operational control lessee, on all flights This is the exam answer: control sits with the lessee.
6. C of R endorsed lease particulars Lease validity and lessor and lessee details go on the certificate.

Memory hook: Lessor lends, lessee leads.

Takeaway: The lessor only furnishes the aircraft; the lessee provides the crew and facilities and holds operational control of every flight.

Who's who in an Indian aircraft lease?

Leasing words

Definitions, control and GIFT City. Tap + to open each.

• Leasing who does what
  • Lease aircraft for hire For compensation or hire, for a set period or number of flights.
  • Lessor furnishes the aircraft The side that hands over the aircraft for money, for a fixed time or a fixed number of flights.
  • Lessee operational control
    • Authority economic and operating The airline taking the aircraft must hold the right business and operating approvals for it, and must be the one in charge of how it is flown.
    • Supplies crews, staff, facilities Flight and cabin crew, ground personnel, dispatchers and ground facilities needed to operate the aircraft all come from the lessee.
  • GIFT City India's first IFSC
    • IFSC serves clients outside India A financial centre that serves customers from outside India's own economy, under its own special rules.
    • IFSCA approves leasing companies The unified authority regulating financial products, services and institutions in India's IFSC. Leasing companies registered there need its approval to lease aircraft.
    • Where Gandhinagar, Gujarat; SEZ Act 2005 Gujarat International Finance Tec-city (GIFT) SEZ, India's first IFSC under the Special Economic Zone Act, 2005, headquartered at GIFT City, Gandhinagar.
  • Register of aircraft kept by DGCA, public Same particulars as the C of R; open to the public and on the DGCA website.

Memory hook: Lessor lends, lessee leads.

Takeaway: The lessor furnishes the aircraft; the lessee holds operational control and supplies crews and facilities. Leasing firms need IFSCA approval.

Numbers to know

Numbers

The figures and codes examiners like, in one list.

Pairs that catch students out

Don't mix up

Each pair looks alike. The line underneath tells them apart.

• State mark: From the State's ITU call signs. Common mark: From the series 4YA to 4YZ. State marks come from the State's own call signs; common marks come from the series allocated to ICAO.
• Lighter-than-air: At least 50 cm. Free balloon: The State decides. Free balloons are the exception to the 50 cm rule.
• ITU allocation: AT to AW. Mark India applies: VT civil, VU Air Force, U unmanned. ITU allocates the series; India applies its marks within it.
• IFSC: The financial centre. IFSCA: The regulator. IFSC is the place; IFSCA is the authority that approves leasing entities.
• Identification plate: Marks, near the entrance. Nameplate: Marks plus owner details. The nameplate adds the owner's name and address.

Test yourself

Ten questions from this chapter.

1. You are painting VT-EPC under the wings of an aeroplane. What is the smallest height the letters may be?

   • 30 cm high
   • 40 cm high
   • 50 cm high
   • 75 cm high

   Answer: 50 cm high. Under the wings the marks must be at least 50 cm high; on the fuselage and fin at least 30 cm.

2. A painter asks how small the registration letters on the fin may be. What do you tell them?

   • At least 15 cm
   • At least 30 cm
   • At least 50 cm
   • Any size that is legible

   Answer: At least 30 cm. Fuselage and vertical tail marks are at least 30 cm high; wing marks at least 50 cm.

3. Which mark does an Indian Air Force aircraft carry?

   • U
   • VT-
   • AT-
   • VU-

   Answer: VU-. VU- is the Air Force mark; VT- is civil and U is unmanned.

4. An Indian operator leases an aircraft from an overseas company. Who decides how and when each flight operates?

   • The overseas lessor
   • The Indian operator (the lessee)
   • DGCA
   • The aircraft manufacturer

   Answer: The Indian operator (the lessee). The lessor only provides the aircraft; operational control stays with the lessee.

5. How long is an Indian Certificate of Registration valid?

   • 1 year
   • 5 years
   • Until DGCA cancels it

   Answer: Until DGCA cancels it. A C of R has no fixed term; it stays valid until cancelled.

6. The ITU has given India a block of nationality marks that Indian aircraft do not actually carry. Which block?

   • VT to VW
   • AT to AW
   • VT and VU
   • IA to IZ

   Answer: AT to AW. ITU allotted AT to AW, but India kept its pre-Independence VT (civil) and VU (Air Force).

7. Who must approve a company leasing aircraft in India?

   • DGCA
   • MoCA
   • IFSCA

   Answer: IFSCA. Leasing entities registered in IFSC, approved by IFSCA.

8. The identification plate must be made of:

   • Fireproof material
   • Aluminium only
   • Plastic

   Answer: Fireproof material. Fireproof metal or similar, near the main entrance.

9. A leased aircraft's C of R also shows:

   • The crew list
   • Lease validity and both parties
   • The insurer
   • The engine hours

   Answer: Lease validity and both parties. Names, nationalities and addresses of lessor and lessee.

10. National flags may be shown on an aircraft if:

    • DGCA paints them
    • They're distinct from military markings
    • They're under 30 cm

    Answer: They're distinct from military markings. They must not be confusable with military markings.