Nationality and registration marks
Learning objectives
- State the Annex 7 definitions of aircraft, aeroplane and heavier-than-air aircraft, and place the aeroplane in the classification of aircraft.
- Identify the parts of an aircraft's marks (nationality or common mark, hyphen, registration mark) and say where each part comes from.
- State where the marks go on a heavier-than-air aircraft and the minimum character heights, and calculate character width, line thickness and spacing from the height.
- Explain what the certificate of registration and the identification plate are for and what each shows.
The idea
Every aircraft needs a name that anyone can read from the ground: who it belongs to, and which one it is. Think of a car number plate, but painted large on the aircraft and built from two parts. The first part says which country's register the aircraft is on. The second part says which individual aircraft it is. Because aircraft cross borders, the rules about how big, where, and in what style the characters are drawn are the same everywhere. A separate document and a small metal plate back up the paint, so the identity survives even if the paint does not.
Who sets the rules
ICAO Annex 7 is the rule in force for marking aircraft; no EU act replaces it. The EU does not set the format, location or size of the marks, because registration is a national matter and the marks follow the international standard.
Annex 7 gives the worldwide minimum standards for how an aircraft shows its nationality and registration. It is the technical follow-up to the Chicago Convention requirement that aircraft in international air navigation carry their marks. The first standards took effect on 1 July 1949. The current text is the 6th edition (2012), and its latest amendment deals with registration, deregistration and transfer of registration.
Annex 7 contains Standards only; it has no Recommended Practices. A Standard is a specification whose uniform application is necessary for safety or regularity, and a State that cannot comply must notify ICAO of the difference. A State also publishes significant differences in its AIP.
Whose aircraft is it? Nationality follows registration: an aircraft has the nationality of the State where it is registered. It can be validly registered in only one State at a time, although the registration can be transferred. You meet this in more depth on page 010-01-01 (Chicago Convention). The State on whose register the aircraft is entered is the State of Registry.
What counts as an aeroplane
The marking rules differ a little by type of aircraft, so you need the family tree.
An aircraft is any machine that can get support in the atmosphere from reactions of the air, other than reactions of the air against the earth's surface. That wording excludes hovercraft. An aircraft is either heavier-than-air, getting its lift in flight chiefly from aerodynamic forces, or lighter-than-air, supported chiefly by buoyancy.
An aeroplane is a power-driven heavier-than-air aircraft that gets its lift mainly from aerodynamic reactions on surfaces that stay fixed under given flight conditions. SERA uses the same definitions for aircraft and aeroplane.
Describe this figure
Aircraft divide into lighter-than-air, supported by buoyancy, and heavier-than-air, with lift from aerodynamic forces. Each divides into non-power-driven and power-driven. Lighter-than-air gives free and captive balloons, and airships (rigid, semi-rigid, non-rigid). Heavier-than-air non-power-driven gives glider (land or sea) and kite. Heavier-than-air power-driven gives the aeroplane (landplane, seaplane, amphibian), the rotorcraft (gyroplane, helicopter) and the ornithopter. The aeroplane branch is emphasised; it is the PPL(A) scope.
The figure shows the classification as a tree. At the top is "aircraft". It splits into lighter-than-air and heavier-than-air, and each of those splits again into non-power-driven and power-driven. The heavier-than-air, power-driven branch is highlighted: it holds the aeroplane (landplane, seaplane, amphibian), the rotorcraft (gyroplane, helicopter) and the ornithopter. The heavier-than-air, non-power-driven branch holds the glider and the kite. The lighter-than-air branches hold the balloons (free and captive) and the airships (rigid, semi-rigid, non-rigid).
A few short definitions help you read the tree. A glider is like an aeroplane, with fixed lifting surfaces, but not power-driven. A rotorcraft is power-driven and supported by one or more rotors; in a helicopter the rotors are power-driven, and in a gyroplane they rotate freely. An airship is power-driven and lighter-than-air; a balloon is non-power-driven and lighter-than-air. One more class: an aircraft intended to fly with no pilot on board is further classified as unmanned. Unmanned aircraft include unmanned free balloons and remotely piloted aircraft, which are piloted from a remote pilot station.
"A glider is just an aeroplane without an engine." In the ICAO classification an aeroplane is power-driven by definition, so a glider is its own class.
How a mark is built
Start from the purpose. A reader on the ground needs two answers: which country, and which aircraft. So the group of characters has two parts. The nationality mark, or a common mark, always comes first, followed by the registration mark.
Describe this figure
The first example reads CS-ABC. CS is the nationality mark, taken from the call-sign series that the ITU allocated to the State of Registry. The hyphen is present because the registration mark starts with a letter. ABC is the registration mark, assigned by the State of Registry. The second, hypothetical example CS123AB has a registration mark that starts with a number, so no hyphen is required.
The figure takes the example CS-ABC apart. "CS" is the nationality mark, "-" is the hyphen, and "ABC" is the registration mark. A second row shows a registration mark that begins with a number; there the hyphen is not needed.
The hyphen rule is short. If the registration mark starts with a letter, a hyphen separates it from the nationality or common mark. If it starts with a number, this rule does not require a hyphen.
Where do the parts come from?
- The nationality mark comes from the series of radio call-sign symbols that the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) has allocated to the State of Registry. The State notifies the mark to ICAO. ICAO publishes the notified nationality marks, national emblems and allocated common marks in a list on its public website.
- The registration mark can be letters, numbers or a mix. It is assigned by the State of Registry, or by the common mark registering authority when the aircraft carries a common mark.
The marks are one group: nationality or common mark first, then the registration mark, with a hyphen when the registration mark starts with a letter.
Common marks
Some airlines and operators are set up jointly by two or more States. That is an international operating agency, which is an agency of the kind the Chicago Convention allows States to create. Its aircraft are not tied to a single State, so they use a common mark instead of a nationality mark.
A common mark is a mark that ICAO assigns to a common mark registering authority. That authority registers the agency's aircraft on a non-national basis, and all the aircraft of one agency carry the same common mark. The common mark registering authority is the authority keeping the non-national register, or the relevant part of it. The common mark is chosen from the radio call-sign symbols the ITU has allocated to ICAO itself, not to a State.
For the exam, remember the split: States take nationality marks from their own ITU series, and only ICAO assigns common marks, from its own series.
Combinations to avoid
Registration letters should never look like a call for help or a routine signal code. A State avoids combinations that could be confused with the five-letter groups of the International Code of Signals, the three-letter groups starting with Q (the Q code), the distress signal SOS, or other similar urgent signals. The examples given are XXX, PAN and TTT.
Describe this figure
Six tiles show marks that must be avoided, each crossed out and labelled not allowed. SOS is the distress signal. PAN, XXX and TTT are examples of urgent signals. A three-letter group beginning with Q could be confused with the Q code. A five-letter group could be confused with the groups of the International Code of Signals. Avoid anything easily confused with these signals.
The pictogram shows these combinations crossed out as registration marks. Distress and urgency signals themselves are taught on page 010-05-04.
Combinations that could be confused with Code of Signals groups, Q-code groups, SOS or similar urgent signals are to be avoided in registration marks.
Where the marks go
Think of who reads them. Someone beneath the aircraft needs to read the wing. Someone beside it needs to read the side. So a heavier-than-air aircraft carries marks in two places.
Describe this figure
Panel A shows a light aeroplane from below, nose up. The mark CS-ABC sits once on the lower surface of the left wing, about midway between leading and trailing edge, with the tops of the characters toward the leading edge. Panel B shows the side view, where the mark goes on both fuselage sides between wing and tail, or on the upper half of the vertical tail, on both sides of a single fin. Panel C shows an aircraft with several fins from behind, where the marks go on the outboard sides of the outer fins. Minimum heights are 50 cm on the wing and 30 cm on fuselage and tail. If the named parts are missing, the marks are placed so the aircraft can be readily identified.
The figure shows a light aeroplane from below and from the side. Below, the marks sit on the left half of the lower wing surface, with the tops of the characters toward the leading edge. From the side, they sit on the fuselage between wings and tail, or on the upper part of the fin.
Wing. The marks appear once, on the lower surface of the wing structure. They go on the left half, unless they run across the whole lower surface. As far as possible they sit midway between the leading and trailing edges, and the tops of the characters point toward the leading edge.
Fuselage or tail. The marks go either on each side of the fuselage (or equivalent structure) between the wings and the tail surfaces, or on the upper halves of the vertical tail surfaces. On a single fin, put them on both sides. On several fins, put them on the outboard sides of the outer fins.
If the aircraft does not have the parts named, the marks are placed so that the aircraft can be readily identified.
Marks must be painted on, or attached by another method giving similar permanence. They must be kept clean and visible at all times.
Wing: once, lower surface, left half, tops toward the leading edge. Fuselage or tail: both sides of the fuselage between wings and tail, or the upper halves of the vertical tail surfaces.
A sensible walk-round habit is to look at whether the marks are intact, clean and legible, and whether the certificate of registration on board matches the marks on the aircraft.
How big and how drawn
The wing gets the bigger characters. The minimum character height on a heavier-than-air aircraft is 50 cm on the wings and 30 cm on the fuselage (or equivalent structure) and on the vertical tail surfaces. All letters and numbers within each separate group of marks must be the same height.
If the aircraft lacks the named parts, or they are too small for the minimum sizes, the State of Registry sets the size, bearing in mind that the aircraft must be readily identifiable.
Lighter-than-air aircraft get one line here: marks at least 50 cm high, except unmanned free balloons, and airships and balloons have their own placement rules.
Now the style. The characters are capital Roman letters and Arabic numbers, both without ornamentation. Everything is proportioned from the character height, call it h.
Describe this figure
All characters in a group have the same height h. Each character is 2/3 h wide, except the letter I and the number 1. The hyphen is also 2/3 h long. Lines are solid, with a thickness of 1/6 h. Each character is separated from its neighbours by at least 1/4 of a character width, and the hyphen counts as a character for this purpose. The sample bars are drawn to scale to show these proportions.
The figure shows one character in a box of height h. Its width is two-thirds of h. The line is one-sixth of h thick. The next character stands at least one-quarter of a character width away. The hyphen is two-thirds of h long and counts as a character for spacing. The letter I and the number 1 are the exception to the width rule, because they are naturally narrow.
Characters and hyphens are drawn with solid lines, in a colour that clearly contrasts with the background.
Width and hyphen length: two-thirds of height (except I and 1). Line thickness: one-sixth of height. Spacing: at least one-quarter of a character width, hyphen included.
Worked examples
These examples use a fuselage character height of 30 cm (the minimum for the fuselage) and the call sign group CS-ABC.
Example 1: character geometry at the fuselage minimum. Given: character height h = 30 cm. Method: width = two-thirds of h; line thickness = one-sixth of h; minimum gap = one-quarter of a character width. Working: width = 30 × 2/3 = 20 cm. Line thickness = 30 / 6 = 5 cm. Minimum gap = 20 / 4 = 5 cm. Answer: each character is 20 cm wide, drawn with a 5 cm line, with at least 5 cm to the next character. The hyphen is also 20 cm long.
Example 2: minimum length of CS-ABC on the fuselage. Given: h = 30 cm. Six items: C, S, hyphen, A, B, C. None is the letter I, so each is 20 cm wide; the hyphen counts as a character. Method: total = six widths plus five gaps (one between each neighbouring pair). Working: 6 × 20 = 120 cm. 5 × 5 = 25 cm. 120 + 25 = 145 cm. Answer: at least 145 cm. This is the minimum length at the minimum height; larger characters make the group longer.
This is educational content. It does not replace ATO instruction or your aircraft's POH/AFM.
The documents behind the paint
The register. Each State, or common mark registering authority, keeps a current register. For every aircraft it registers, the register shows the information that appears on the certificate of registration.
The certificate of registration. It must reproduce the wording and layout of the ICAO model. The paper size is left to the State of Registry or the common mark registering authority. If the certificate is in a language other than English, it must include an English translation. The certificate has to be carried on board every aircraft engaged in international air navigation; this is taught on page 010-01-01.
| Item | Field from 26 Nov 2026 | Until 25 Nov 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Header | Issuing State or common mark registering authority (ministry, department or service) | Same |
| 1 | Nationality or common mark and registration mark | Same |
| 2 | Manufacturer and manufacturer's designation of the aircraft | Same |
| 3 | Aircraft serial number | Same |
| 4a (was 4) | Name of the certificate holder, with the basis of registration ticked: ownership of the aircraft, operator of the aircraft, or other (explained) | Item 4: name of owner |
| 4b (was 5) | Address of the certificate holder | Item 5: address of owner |
| 5 | Name and contact details of the owner, if not the certificate holder | No separate field |
| 6 | Statement that the aircraft has been entered on the named register in accordance with the Chicago Convention (7 Dec 1944) and the applicable national regulations | Same |
| Closing | Signature and date of issue | Same |
| The change on 26 November 2026 adds the certificate holder and the basis of registration, so an operator rather than the owner can be the registered holder. The wording and layout must follow the model; a certificate in a language other than English must include an English translation. | ||
Describe this figure
The table lists the header (issuing State or common mark registering authority), items 1 to 3 (marks, manufacturer and designation, serial number), 4a and 4b (certificate holder with the basis of registration, and address), 5 (owner if not the holder), 6 (the register statement) and the signature and date. A second column shows the earlier wording, in which items 4 and 5 were name and address of owner. The change lets an operator rather than the owner be the registered holder.
The figure is a field map of the model that applies from 26 November 2026. It shows the issuing State or common mark registering authority at the top, then these numbered fields.
- Nationality or common mark and registration mark.
- Manufacturer and manufacturer's designation of the aircraft.
- Aircraft serial number.
- Name of the certificate holder, with a tick for the basis of registration (ownership of the aircraft, operator of the aircraft, or other, explained), and the holder's address.
- Name and contact details of the owner, if the owner is not the certificate holder.
- A statement that the aircraft has been entered on the named register in accordance with the Chicago Convention of 7 December 1944 and the applicable national regulations, followed by a signature and the date of issue.
The idea behind field 4 is that the person registered may be an operator, not only an owner.
The certificate of registration follows the Annex 7 model; from 26 November 2026 it names a certificate holder and the basis of registration.
The certificate of deregistration. When a State removes an aircraft from its register and issues a certificate of deregistration, it must follow the Annex 7 model. That model gives the marks, manufacturer and designation, serial number, certificate holder and basis of registration, the owner if different, a statement of removal with the date and cancellation of the certificate of registration, and the reasons if known. If it is not in English, an English translation is included. ICAO guidance on registration and deregistration is in its manual on the subject.
The identification plate. Every aircraft carries a plate inscribed with at least its nationality or common mark and registration mark. The plate is made of fireproof metal or another fireproof material with suitable physical properties. Fireproof material withstands heat as well as or better than steel, when the dimensions in both cases suit the purpose. The plate is secured in a prominent position near the main entrance.
Do not mix this up with the manufacturer's plate required under EU Part-21. That plate is fitted by the manufacturer and shows the manufacturer's name, the product designation and the manufacturer's serial number. The Annex 7 plate shows the marks.
Identification plate: fireproof, shows at least the nationality or common mark and the registration mark, fixed in a prominent position near the main entrance.
Exam traps
"Wing marks go on the upper surface, or on both wings." Wrong. They appear once, on the lower surface, on the left half (unless they span the whole lower surface). The tops of the characters face the leading edge, not the trailing edge.
"Fuselage marks must be 50 cm." Wrong. 50 cm is the wing minimum; the fuselage and vertical tail minimum is 30 cm. The standard names two alternative places, the fuselage sides or the upper halves of the vertical tail surfaces, so it does not require both.
"There is always a hyphen, and the registration mark comes first." Wrong on both counts. The nationality or common mark comes first, and the hyphen is needed only when the registration mark starts with a letter.
"ICAO assigns nationality marks, and a common mark belongs to a country." Wrong. Nationality marks come from the ITU series allocated to the State. ICAO assigns only common marks, which serve aircraft of an international operating agency registered on a non-national basis.
"The identification plate is the manufacturer's data plate" or "EASA sets the size of registration marks." Wrong. The two plates differ in content and purpose, and EU law does not set the marks; Annex 7 and national law do.
Dated note on older material: until 25 November 2026 the certificate of registration had only "name of owner" and "address of owner". From 26 November 2026 it names a certificate holder and the basis of registration, so an operator rather than the owner can be the registered holder.
Explain it back
Imagine a friend sees CS-ABC painted under the left wing and on the fin of a light aeroplane. In your own words, explain what each part of the mark means, where it comes from, and what the minimum heights are in the two places.
Self-check
-
A State registers a light aeroplane and assigns the registration mark 123AB. Which statement about the complete group of marks is correct?mcq · easy
Show answer
The nationality (or common) mark always comes first, and a hyphen is required only when the registration mark starts with a letter, so a number-first mark needs none. The first option reverses the order. The third option wrongly makes the hyphen universal. The fourth is wrong because nationality marks come from the ITU call-sign series allocated to the State; only common marks are assigned by ICAO, from its own series.
Reference: ICAO Annex 7 3.1; ICAO Annex 7 3.2; ICAO Annex 7 3.3
-
You inspect a single-fin light aeroplane registered CS-ABC. Which marking arrangement meets the standard?mcq · medium
Show answer
Wing marks appear once, on the lower surface, normally on the left half, tops toward the leading edge, at least 50 cm high; on a single fin the marks go on both sides, at least 30 cm high. The first option uses the upper surface and one side of the fin. The third has a 30 cm wing height and the tops toward the trailing edge. The fourth repeats the wing marks on both wings, where the standard asks for them once.
Reference: ICAO Annex 7 4.3.1; ICAO Annex 7 4.3.2; ICAO Annex 7 5.2.1; ICAO Annex 7 5.2.2
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A club repaints the wing marks with a character height of 60 cm. Taking the standard proportions, what is the minimum space between two adjacent letters (neither is I)?mcq · medium
Show answer
Character width is two-thirds of the height: 60 x 2/3 = 40 cm. The minimum spacing is one-quarter of a character width: 40 / 4 = 10 cm. 15 cm is one-quarter of the height, not of the width. 40 cm is the character width. 6 cm comes from taking one-tenth of the height, which is not in the standard.
Reference: ICAO Annex 7 6.2; ICAO Annex 7 6.4
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Which description matches the ICAO definition of an aeroplane?mcq · easy
Show answer
An aeroplane is power-driven, heavier-than-air, and gets its lift mainly from fixed surfaces. The first option describes buoyancy, which is lighter-than-air. The third describes a glider, which is its own class because it is not power-driven. The fourth describes a hovercraft, which the definition of aircraft excludes.
Reference: ICAO Annex 7 Chapter 1 (Definitions); ICAO Annex 7 2.1
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Scenario: on 1 December 2026 a State registers an aeroplane in the name of the company that operates it, while a leasing company owns it. Which description of the certificate of registration fits the model that applies from 26 November 2026?mcq · medium
Show answer
From 26 November 2026 the certificate names a certificate holder, ticks the basis of registration (ownership, operator, or other), and gives the owner's details separately if the owner is not the holder. The first option describes the older model, valid until 25 November 2026. The third is wrong because a certificate in another language needs an English translation. The fourth is wrong because the manufacturer, its designation and the serial number are on the certificate.
Reference: ICAO Annex 7 8.1; ICAO Annex 7 8.2
Key concepts
Written with ASD-STE100 writing principles: short sentences, one topic per sentence, active voice, one word for one meaning.
Nationality mark
The full identity on the aircraft is one group of characters. The nationality mark, or common mark, always comes first. A hyphen separates the two parts only when the registration mark starts with a letter.
Rule: ICAO Annex 7 3.2
Minimum character height
On a heavier-than-air aircraft, the minimum character height is 50 cm on the wings. It is 30 cm on the fuselage, or equivalent structure, and on the vertical tail surfaces.
Rule: ICAO Annex 7 5.2.1, 5.2.2
Mark location
Wing marks appear once, on the lower surface of the wing. They go on the left half, unless they run across the whole lower surface. The tops of the characters point toward the leading edge.
On the fuselage, the marks go on each side between the wings and the tail. Alternatively, they go on the upper halves of the vertical tail surfaces. A single fin carries the marks on both sides. On several fins, the marks go on the outboard sides of the outer fins.
Rule: ICAO Annex 7 4.3.1, 4.3.2
Character proportions
Every width and length follows from the character height, called h. Each character is two-thirds of h wide, except the letter I and the number 1. Each hyphen is also two-thirds of h long. The line thickness is one-sixth of h. Each gap between characters is at least one-quarter of a character width.
Characters and hyphens use solid lines. The line colour must clearly contrast with the background.
Rule: ICAO Annex 7 6.2, 6.3, 6.4
Combinations to avoid
A State avoids registration letters that look like urgent or routine signal groups. These include the five-letter groups of the International Code of Signals. They also include the three-letter Q-code groups and the distress signal SOS. Examples of similar urgent signals are XXX, PAN and TTT.
Rule: ICAO Annex 7 3.6
Identification plate
Every aircraft carries an identification plate. It shows at least the nationality or common mark and the registration mark. The plate is made of fireproof metal or another fireproof material. It is secured in a prominent position near the main entrance.
Rule: ICAO Annex 7 10.1, 10.2
Common mark
ICAO assigns a common mark to a common mark registering authority. That authority registers the aircraft of one international operating agency on a non-national basis. All of those aircraft carry the same common mark. The common mark comes from the radio call-sign symbols that the ITU allocated to ICAO, not to a State. A common mark takes the place of the nationality mark in the group.
Rule: ICAO Annex 7 3.1, 3.2, 3.4 and Note 1
Certificate of registration
A certificate of registration follows the Annex 7 model. From 26 November 2026, the model names a certificate holder and the basis of registration. Until 25 November 2026, the model names the owner instead. A certificate in another language must include an English translation.
Rule: ICAO Annex 7 8.1, 8.2
Flashcards
Print them: A6 landscape cards (PDF, front and back) · 4 cards per A4 landscape sheet (PDF, cut lines) · Key figures deck (PDF, 13 figures)
Print double-sided, flip on the short edge.
010-03-01-01What comes first in an aircraft's marks?
The nationality mark, or the common mark. The registration mark follows it.
010-03-01-02When is a hyphen needed between the two parts of the marks?
Only when the registration mark starts with a letter, as in CS-ABC.
010-03-01-03What is the minimum character height on the wings of a heavier-than-air aircraft?
50 cm.
010-03-01-04What is the minimum character height on the fuselage and vertical tail?
30 cm, on the fuselage (or equivalent structure) and on the vertical tail surfaces.
010-03-01-05What is the minimum character height of lighter-than-air aircraft marks?
50 cm, except for unmanned free balloons.
010-03-01-06How many times does a wing mark appear?
Once, on the lower surface of the wing structure.
010-03-01-07Which way do the tops of wing mark characters point?
Toward the leading edge.
010-03-01-08Where do the marks go on a single fin?
On both sides of the fin, on the upper half of the vertical tail surface.
010-03-01-09Where do the marks go on several fins?
On the outboard sides of the outer fins.
010-03-01-10How wide is each character, except the letter I and the number 1?
Two-thirds of the character height (h).
010-03-01-11How long is a hyphen?
Two-thirds of the character height (h), the same as the character width.
010-03-01-12What is the line thickness of a character?
One-sixth of the character height (h).
010-03-01-13What is the minimum gap between two neighbouring characters?
One-quarter of a character width. The hyphen counts as a character.
010-03-01-14Which two characters are exceptions to the width rule?
The letter I and the number 1.
010-03-01-15Which five-letter groups must a registration mark avoid looking like?
The five-letter groups of the International Code of Signals.
010-03-01-16Which three-letter groups must a registration mark avoid looking like?
The three-letter groups that begin with Q, the Q-code groups.
010-03-01-17Name one example of an urgent signal that a registration must not resemble.
XXX, PAN or TTT. The distress signal SOS is also avoided.
010-03-01-18How many States can validly register an aircraft at one time?
One. The registration can still be transferred to another State.
010-03-01-19What must the identification plate show, at a minimum?
The nationality or common mark and the registration mark.
010-03-01-20What material must the identification plate be made of?
Fireproof metal or another fireproof material.
010-03-01-21Where is the identification plate secured?
In a prominent position near the main entrance.
010-03-01-22Who assigns a common mark?
ICAO, to a common mark registering authority.
010-03-01-23What does a common mark registering authority register?
The aircraft of one international operating agency, on a non-national basis.
010-03-01-24Which radio call-sign symbols does a common mark come from?
The ITU symbols allocated to ICAO, not to a State.
010-03-01-25Which mark does a common mark replace in the group?
The nationality mark.
010-03-01-26Which certificate model applies from 26 November 2026?
The Annex 7 model, which names a certificate holder and the basis of registration.
010-03-01-27Until 25 November 2026, whom does the certificate of registration name?
The owner, with the owner's name and address.
010-03-01-28What must a certificate of registration in another language include?
An English translation.
010-03-01-29What does a certificate of deregistration follow?
The Annex 7 model. It records the removal and cancels the certificate of registration.
010-03-01-30What is a heavier-than-air aircraft?
An aircraft that gets its lift in flight chiefly from aerodynamic forces.
010-03-01-31Trap: do wing marks go on the upper surface of the wing?
No. They go on the lower surface, on the left half, unless they span the whole lower surface.
010-03-01-32Trap: is 50 cm the minimum height for fuselage marks?
No. The minimum on the fuselage and vertical tail is 30 cm. 50 cm is the wing minimum.
Sources
- ICAO Annex 7, Aircraft Nationality and Registration Marks, 6th edition, with amendments in the copy provided by Rui (certificate model applicable from 26 November 2026).
- ICAO Doc 7300/9, Convention on International Civil Aviation, Articles 17–21 (recap; taught on 010-01-01).
This page is educational. It does not replace instruction at your ATO or your aircraft's POH/AFM. Rules change: check the regulation in force.