Aircraft registration

Encyclopedia : A : AI : AIR : Aircraft registration

This Cessna 150 displays the registration G-AVIT. The "G-" prefix denotes that it is registered in the United Kingdom.

An aircraft registration is a unique alphanumeric string that identifies a civilian aircraft. All ICAO countries require aircraft over a certain weight to be registered with a national aviation authority. Upon registration, the aircraft receives its unique "registration" which must be displayed prominently on the aircraft. Since for airplanes, this is usually the aft fuselage, the registration is often referred to as the tail number.

The aircraft registration is made up of a prefix selected from the countries callsign prefix allocated by the ITU (making the registration a quick way of determining the country of origin) and the registration suffix. Depending on the country of registration, this suffix is a numeric or alphanumeric code and consists of one to five digits or characters respectively.

When painted on the fuselage, the prefix and suffix are separated by a dash (for example YR-BMA), however when entered in the flight plan, the dash is omitted (for example YRBMA). Private aircraft usually use their registration as callsign, but most commercial aircraft use a company callsign. In some instances, it may be sufficient to simply display the suffix letters, with the country prefix omitted. For example, gliders registered in Australia would omit the VH prefix and simply display the suffix. Obviously this is only suitable where the aircraft does not fly in the airspace of another country.

Even if the suffix consists of characters in a certain country, gliders and ultralights may sometimes use digits instead. For example, D-ABCD can be an aircraft, while D-1234 is a glider registered in Germany. In Australia, early glider registration suffixes began with the letter "G", and it is not uncommon to find such gliders only displaying the last two letters of the suffix. For example, VH-GIQ would simply be displayed as IQ.

List of countries / regions and their current registration prefixes and patterns

A map with the registration prefixes of European countries.

Country / Region Registration Prefix Suffix Pattern
Afghanistan YA abc
Albania ZA abc
Algeria 7T abc
Andorra C3 abc (not used)
Angola D2 abc
Antigua and Barbuda V2 abc
Argentina LQ abc
Argentina LV abc
Armenia EK 12345
Aruba P4 abc
Australia VH abc
Austria OE abc
Azerbaijan 4K ab1 or ab12 or 12345
Bahamas C6 abc
Bahrain A9C ab
Bangladesh S2 abc
Barbados 8P abc
Belarus EW 123ab or 12345
Belgium OO abc
Belize V3 abc
Benin TY abc
Bermuda Isles VPB ab
Bhutan A5 abc
Bolivia CP 1234
Bosnia and Herzegovina T9 abc
Botswana A2 abc
Brazil PP abc
Brazil PR abc
Brazil PT abc
British Virgin Islands VPL ab
Brunei V8 abc or ab1 or 123
Bulgaria LZ abc
Burkina Faso XT abc
Burundi 9U abc
Cambodia XU 123
Cameroon TJ abc
Canada C-F abc
Canada C-G abc
Canada C-I abc
Canary Islands EC abc
Cape Verde D4 abc
Cayman Islands VPC ab
Central African Republic TL abc
Chad TT abc
Chile CC abc
China, People's Republic B 1234
China, Republic (Taiwan) B 12345
Colombia HK 1234a
Comoros D6 abc
Congo, Republic of 9Q abc
Congo, Democratic Republic of TN abc
Costa Rica TI abc
Croatia 9A abc
Cuba CUT 1234
Cyprus, Republic of 5B abc
Cyprus, Northern Turkish Rep. unknown unknown
Czech Republic OK abc or abc12 or 1234 or A123 [link]
Denmark OY abc
Djibouti J2 abc
Dominica J7 abc
Dominican Republic HI 123ab
Ecuador HC abc
Egypt SU abc
El Salvador YS abc
Equatorial Guinea 3C abc
Eritrea E3 abc
Estonia ES abc
Ethiopia ET abc
Falkland Islands VPF ab
Fiji Islands DQ abc
Finland OH abc
France F abcd
French West Indies FOG ab
French Guyana FO abc
Gabon TR abc
Gambia C5 abc
Georgia 4L 12345 or abc
Germany D abcd
Ghana 9G abc
Gibraltar VPG ab
Greece SX abc
Grenada J3 abc
Guatemala TG abc
Guinea 3X abc
Guinea Bissau J5 abc
Guyana 8R abc
Haiti HH abc
Honduras HR abc
Hong Kong, China SAR B-H; B-K; B-L (B means China) ab
Hungary HA abc
Iceland TF abc
India VT abc
Indonesia PK abc
Iran EP abc
Iraq YI abc
Ireland EI abc
Israel 4X abc
Italy I abcd
Ivory Coast TU abc
Jamaica 6Y abc
Japan JA 1234 or 123a or 12ab or a123
Jordan JY abc
Kazakhstan UN 12345
Kenya 5Y abc
Kiribati T3 abc
Korea, People's Democratic Rep. P 123
Korea, Republic of HL 1234
Kuwait 9K abc
Kyrgyzstan EX 12345 or 123
Laos RDPL 12345
Latvia YL abc
Lebanon OD abc
Lesotho 7P abc
Liberia A8 abc
Libya 5A abc
Lithuania LY abc
Luxembourg LX abc
Macau, China SAR B-M ab
Macedonia Z3 abc
Madagascar 5R abc
Malawi 7Q abc
Malaysia 9M abc
Maldives 8Q abc
Mali TZ abc
Malta 9H abc
Marshall Islands V7 1234
Mauritania 5T abc
Mauritius 3B abc
Mexico XA abc
Mexico XB abc
Mexico XC abc
Micronesia V6 abc
Moldova ER abc or 12345
Monaco 3A abc
Mongolia JU 1234
Montserrat VPL ab
Morocco CN abc
Mozambique C9 abc
Myanmar XY abc
Myanmar XZ abc
Namibia V5 abc
Nauru C2 abc
Nepal 9N abc
Netherlands PH abc
Netherlands Antilles PJ abc
New Zealand ZK abc
New Zealand ZL abc
Nicaragua YN abc
Niger 5U abc
Nigeria 5N abc
Norway LN abc
Oman A4O ab
Pakistan AP abc
Palestine SU-Y ab
Panama HP 1234abc
Papua New Guinea P2 abc
Paraguay ZP abc
Peru OB 1234
Philippines RPC 1234
Poland SP abc
Portugal CS abc
Qatar A7 abc
Réunion Island FOD ab
Romania YR abc
Russian Federation RA 12345 or 1234K
Rwanda 9XR ab
Saint Helena VQH ab
Saint Kitts and Nevis V4 abc
Saint Lucia J6 abc
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines J8 abc
Samoa 5W abc
San Marino T7 abc
São Tomé and Príncipe S9 abc
Saudi Arabia HZ abc or ab1 or ab12 or abc1
Senegal 6V abc
Senegal 6W abc
Seychelles S7 abc
Sierra Leone 9L abc
Singapore 9V abc
Slovakia OM abc
Slovenia S5 abc
Solomon H4 abc
Somalia 6O abc
South Africa ZS abc
South Africa ZT abc
South Africa ZU abc
Spain EC abc
Sri Lanka 4R abc
Sudan ST abc
Surinam PZ abc
Swaziland 3D abc
Sweden SE abc
Switzerland HB abc
Syria YK abc
Tahiti FOH ab
Tajikistan EY 12345
Tanzania 5H abc
Thailand HS abc
Togo 5V abc
Tonga A3 abc
Trinidad and Tobago 9Y abc
Tunisia TS abc
Turkey TC abc
Turkmenistan EZ a123
Turks and Caicos VQT ab
Tuvalu T2 abc
Uganda 5X abc
Ukraine UR 12345 or abc
United Arab Emirates A6 abc
United Kingdom G abcd
United Nations 4U abc
United States of America¹ N 1 to 5 digits no letters, 1 to 4 digits one letter, 1 to 3 digits two letters
United States of America NC No longer assigned
United States of America NL No longer assigned
United States of America NR No longer assigned
United States of America NX No longer assigned
Uruguay CX abc
Uzbekistan UK 12345
Vanuatu YJ ab1 or ab12
Venezuela YV 123
Vietnam VN 1234
Yemen 7O abc
Yugoslavia YU abc
Zambia 9J abc
Zimbabwe Z abc

Country / Region	Registration Prefix	Suffix Pattern
Afghanistan	YA	abc
Albania	ZA	abc
Algeria	7T	abc
Andorra	C3	abc (not used)
Angola	D2	abc
Antigua and Barbuda	V2	abc
Argentina	LQ	abc
Argentina	LV	abc
Armenia	EK	12345
Aruba	P4	abc
Australia	VH	abc
Austria	OE	abc
Azerbaijan	4K	ab1 or ab12 or 12345
Bahamas	C6	abc
Bahrain	A9C	ab
Bangladesh	S2	abc
Barbados	8P	abc
Belarus	EW	123ab or 12345
Belgium	OO	abc
Belize	V3	abc
Benin	TY	abc
Bermuda Isles	VPB	ab
Bhutan	A5	abc
Bolivia	CP	1234
Bosnia and Herzegovina	T9	abc
Botswana	A2	abc
Brazil	PP	abc
Brazil	PR	abc
Brazil	PT	abc
British Virgin Islands	VPL	ab
Brunei	V8	abc or ab1 or 123
Bulgaria	LZ	abc
Burkina Faso	XT	abc
Burundi	9U	abc
Cambodia	XU	123
Cameroon	TJ	abc
Canada	C-F	abc
Canada	C-G	abc
Canada	C-I	abc
Canary Islands	EC	abc
Cape Verde	D4	abc
Cayman Islands	VPC	ab
Central African Republic	TL	abc
Chad	TT	abc
Chile	CC	abc
China, People's Republic	B	1234
China, Republic (Taiwan)	B	12345
Colombia	HK	1234a
Comoros	D6	abc
Congo, Republic of	9Q	abc
Congo, Democratic Republic of	TN	abc
Costa Rica	TI	abc
Croatia	9A	abc
Cuba	CUT	1234
Cyprus, Republic of	5B	abc
Cyprus, Northern Turkish Rep.	unknown	unknown
Czech Republic	OK	abc or abc12 or 1234 or A123 [link]
Denmark	OY	abc
Djibouti	J2	abc
Dominica	J7	abc
Dominican Republic	HI	123ab
Ecuador	HC	abc
Egypt	SU	abc
El Salvador	YS	abc
Equatorial Guinea	3C	abc
Eritrea	E3	abc
Estonia	ES	abc
Ethiopia	ET	abc
Falkland Islands	VPF	ab
Fiji Islands	DQ	abc
Finland	OH	abc
France	F	abcd
French West Indies	FOG	ab
French Guyana	FO	abc
Gabon	TR	abc
Gambia	C5	abc
Georgia	4L	12345 or abc
Germany	D	abcd
Ghana	9G	abc
Gibraltar	VPG	ab
Greece	SX	abc
Grenada	J3	abc
Guatemala	TG	abc
Guinea	3X	abc
Guinea Bissau	J5	abc
Guyana	8R	abc
Haiti	HH	abc
Honduras	HR	abc
Hong Kong, China SAR	B-H; B-K; B-L (B means China)	ab
Hungary	HA	abc
Iceland	TF	abc
India	VT	abc
Indonesia	PK	abc
Iran	EP	abc
Iraq	YI	abc
Ireland	EI	abc
Israel	4X	abc
Italy	I	abcd
Ivory Coast	TU	abc
Jamaica	6Y	abc
Japan	JA	1234 or 123a or 12ab or a123
Jordan	JY	abc
Kazakhstan	UN	12345
Kenya	5Y	abc
Kiribati	T3	abc
Korea, People's Democratic Rep.	P	123
Korea, Republic of	HL	1234
Kuwait	9K	abc
Kyrgyzstan	EX	12345 or 123
Laos	RDPL	12345
Latvia	YL	abc
Lebanon	OD	abc
Lesotho	7P	abc
Liberia	A8	abc
Libya	5A	abc
Lithuania	LY	abc
Luxembourg	LX	abc
Macau, China SAR	B-M	ab
Macedonia	Z3	abc
Madagascar	5R	abc
Malawi	7Q	abc
Malaysia	9M	abc
Maldives	8Q	abc
Mali	TZ	abc
Malta	9H	abc
Marshall Islands	V7	1234
Mauritania	5T	abc
Mauritius	3B	abc
Mexico	XA	abc
Mexico	XB	abc
Mexico	XC	abc
Micronesia	V6	abc
Moldova	ER	abc or 12345
Monaco	3A	abc
Mongolia	JU	1234
Montserrat	VPL	ab
Morocco	CN	abc
Mozambique	C9	abc
Myanmar	XY	abc
Myanmar	XZ	abc
Namibia	V5	abc
Nauru	C2	abc
Nepal	9N	abc
Netherlands	PH	abc
Netherlands Antilles	PJ	abc
New Zealand	ZK	abc
New Zealand	ZL	abc
Nicaragua	YN	abc
Niger	5U	abc
Nigeria	5N	abc
Norway	LN	abc
Oman	A4O	ab
Pakistan	AP	abc
Palestine	SU-Y	ab
Panama	HP	1234abc
Papua New Guinea	P2	abc
Paraguay	ZP	abc
Peru	OB	1234
Philippines	RPC	1234
Poland	SP	abc
Portugal	CS	abc
Qatar	A7	abc
Réunion Island	FOD	ab
Romania	YR	abc
Russian Federation	RA	12345 or 1234K
Rwanda	9XR	ab
Saint Helena	VQH	ab
Saint Kitts and Nevis	V4	abc
Saint Lucia	J6	abc
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines	J8	abc
Samoa	5W	abc
San Marino	T7	abc
São Tomé and Príncipe	S9	abc
Saudi Arabia	HZ	abc or ab1 or ab12 or abc1
Senegal	6V	abc
Senegal	6W	abc
Seychelles	S7	abc
Sierra Leone	9L	abc
Singapore	9V	abc
Slovakia	OM	abc
Slovenia	S5	abc
Solomon	H4	abc
Somalia	6O	abc
South Africa	ZS	abc
South Africa	ZT	abc
South Africa	ZU	abc
Spain	EC	abc
Sri Lanka	4R	abc
Sudan	ST	abc
Surinam	PZ	abc
Swaziland	3D	abc
Sweden	SE	abc
Switzerland	HB	abc
Syria	YK	abc
Tahiti	FOH	ab
Tajikistan	EY	12345
Tanzania	5H	abc
Thailand	HS	abc
Togo	5V	abc
Tonga	A3	abc
Trinidad and Tobago	9Y	abc
Tunisia	TS	abc
Turkey	TC	abc
Turkmenistan	EZ	a123
Turks and Caicos	VQT	ab
Tuvalu	T2	abc
Uganda	5X	abc
Ukraine	UR	12345 or abc
United Arab Emirates	A6	abc
United Kingdom	G	abcd
United Nations	4U	abc
United States of America¹	N	1 to 5 digits no letters,	1 to 4 digits one letter,	1 to 3 digits two letters
United States of America	NC	No longer assigned
United States of America	NL	No longer assigned
United States of America	NR	No longer assigned
United States of America	NX	No longer assigned
Uruguay	CX	abc
Uzbekistan	UK	12345
Vanuatu	YJ	ab1 or ab12
Venezuela	YV	123
Vietnam	VN	1234
Yemen	7O	abc
Yugoslavia	YU	abc
Zambia	9J	abc
Zimbabwe	Z	abc

¹ In the United States of America the characters I and O are not used to prevent confusion with the numbers 1 and 0.

Optional category of aircraft, which is no longer in use on aircraft registered since about 1950 in the United States, but still common on antique aircraft for authenticity purposes. Categories include: C = standard L = limited R = restricted X = experimental.

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