Annex 7 and the identity of an aircraft
Registration gives an aircraft a legal identity and a nationality. Annex 7 standardises the characters, their assignment, their position on the aircraft and the certificate that links the aircraft to its State of Registry.
Introduction to Annex 7
The Paris Convention of 1919 required aircraft to be registered and to carry nationality and registration marks. Annex 7 to the Chicago Convention now contains the international Standards for Aircraft Nationality and Registration Marks. It contains Standards, without separate Recommended Practices.
Annex 7 supports three practical questions. Which State carries registration responsibilities? Which unique mark identifies this airframe? Can the mark be seen and read readily? A State may grant a temporary exemption from normal registration or marking for a tightly controlled purpose such as prototype test flying, demonstration or an historic aircraft, but the exemption does not create an unrestricted operating right.
Nationality mark and registration mark
| Element | Source and function |
|---|---|
| Nationality mark | Selected from the radio call-sign symbols allocated to the State of Registry by the International Telecommunication Union. It identifies the State and precedes the registration mark. |
| Registration mark | Assigned by the State of Registry or a common mark registering authority. It uniquely identifies the aircraft within the applicable register. |
| Hyphen | Used between the marks when the first character of the registration mark is the same type of character as the last character of the nationality mark. |
| Common mark | Replaces a nationality mark for a qualifying international operating agency whose aircraft cannot sensibly take the nationality of one participating State. |
Characters and excluded combinations
A registration mark may use letters, numbers or both and, in Bali's Annex 7 summary, consists of one to five characters assigned by the State of Registry or common mark registering authority. It must not be confused with:
- Five-letter combinations used in the International Code of Signals.
- Three-letter combinations beginning with Q that are used in the Q Code.
- Distress, urgency or safety signals such as SOS, XXX, PAN and TTT.
Indian registration categories and national marks
India's register links owner eligibility, the aircraft's legal status and its visible mark. DGCA maintains the register and the aircraft carries the mark allocated for its category.
National provisions and owner eligibility
| Category | Owner or qualifying interest stated by Bali |
|---|---|
| Category A | Aircraft owned by citizens of India, eligible Indian companies, the Government of India or State Governments, and qualifying aircraft leased to Indian entities. |
| Category B | Aircraft owned by non-citizens or qualifying businesses in India, subject to the applicable registration conditions. |
The application and supporting ownership or lease evidence must satisfy the current DGCA requirement. A change in ownership or a change affecting eligibility is notified to DGCA. Registration is not an approval to conduct a particular commercial operation, nor is it proof that the aircraft is airworthy.
Marks used by India
| Use | Mark | Construction |
|---|---|---|
| ITU allocation to India | AT to AW | The internationally allocated range of nationality symbols stated by Bali. |
| Indian civil aircraft | VT | VT, a hyphen, then a three-letter registration mark, for example VT-ABC. |
| Indian Air Force aircraft | VU | The State aircraft marking identified by Bali, separate from civil registration. |
| Indian unmanned aircraft | U | U followed by six alphanumeric characters, for example UB67DFC. |
India continues to use the pre-Independence civil nationality mark VT despite the later ITU allocation. A civil aircraft must not display a mark reserved for State aircraft. National flags or colours may be displayed only when they remain distinct and cannot be confused with military markings.
How nationality and registration marks are affixed
- Paint the nationality and registration marks on the aircraft or affix them by another method providing similar permanence.
- Inscribe the owner's full name and address on the prescribed owner nameplate.
- Keep the marks clean and visible at all times.
- Do not add an advertisement, sign or lettering unless the Rules or Director General permit it.
- An aircraft or owner name and emblem may be displayed only if size, shape, colour and location do not interfere with recognition of the official marks.
Use of State marks
A civil aircraft must not bear a sign prescribed for a State aircraft. National flags and colours may be displayed only when their presentation is distinct and cannot be confused with military aircraft markings.
Where marks go and how large they must be
A registration mark is useful only when it is permanent, visible and large enough to read. Annex 7 therefore links each aircraft type and surface to a minimum character height.
Measurements of nationality, common and registration marks
| Surface | Location | Minimum character height |
|---|---|---|
| Wings of a heavier-than-air aircraft | Lower surface of the wing, arranged for ready identification. | 50 cm. |
| Fuselage or equivalent structure | On each side between the wings and tail. | 30 cm. |
| Vertical tail surfaces | On the appropriate vertical tail surface, normally in the upper portion. | 30 cm. |
Letters and numbers in each separate group are of equal height. Their proportions, thickness and spacing must preserve clear recognition. The fuselage and vertical-tail option allows the mark to remain visible when aircraft geometry makes one location more suitable than the other.
Lighter-than-air aircraft
Marks on a lighter-than-air aircraft other than an unmanned free balloon are at least 50 cm high. For an unmanned free balloon, the State of Registry determines the measurements in relation to the payload and the identification plate fixed to it.
Identification Plate
Every aircraft carries a fireproof identification plate bearing at least the nationality or common mark and the registration mark. It is secured in a prominent position near the main entrance. For an unmanned free balloon, it is conspicuously attached to the exterior of the payload. For a remotely piloted aircraft, it is near the main entrance or compartment, or conspicuously on the exterior when no such entrance or compartment exists.
The Certificate and the national register
The visible mark identifies the aircraft from outside. The Certificate of Registration records the legal particulars behind that mark, and the national register preserves the authoritative record.
Certificate of Registration
The Central Government is empowered to register an aircraft and grant its Certificate of Registration in India, with DGCA administering the register and certificate process. Annex 7 requires the certificate to be carried in the aircraft at all times. It is evidence of registration, not evidence of airworthiness.
Certificate particulars
| Aircraft identity | Ownership and registration |
|---|---|
| Type of aircraft. | Full name, nationality and address of the owner. |
| Constructor's or serial number. | Nationality and registration marks. |
| Year of manufacture. | Usual station of the aircraft. |
| Manufacturer's designation where shown in the prescribed form. | Date of registration and the period of validity. |
| Entry certification and authorised signature under the prescribed form. | For a leased aircraft, lease validity and the names, nationalities and addresses of lessor and lessee. |
Register of Aircraft
The Director General maintains the register of aircraft registered in India. It contains the principal particulars shown on the certificate. The register is open to public inspection at specified times and under specified conditions, and Bali notes that it is also available on the DGCA website.
Dealer and demonstration use
A dealer, manufacturer or operator may need to fly an aircraft before ordinary permanent registration is complete, for example for a demonstration, delivery or approved test. Such use depends on the specific temporary permission, identification or exemption granted by the competent authority. The conditions, purpose, period and marking requirements control the flight. A dealer or demonstration authority is not a permanent Certificate of Registration and does not remove the need for airworthiness and operating approval.
Cancellation, deregistration, common marks and leasing
Registration lasts only while its legal basis remains sound. DGCA may cancel the Indian registration when ownership, truthfulness, aircraft status, lease status, airworthiness or public interest no longer supports the entry.
Grounds for cancellation
- The registration does not conform to the Rules.
- It was obtained by furnishing false information.
- The aircraft could more suitably be registered in another country.
- The aircraft has been destroyed or permanently withdrawn from use.
- Public interest makes continued Indian registration inexpedient.
- The lease has expired, has been ended by mutual agreement, or has otherwise terminated under the lease agreement.
- The Certificate of Airworthiness has remained expired for five years or more.
Cancellation removes the aircraft from the Indian register and ends the validity of the Indian Certificate of Registration. Any transfer to another national register follows the applicable release, export and documentary process. Double registration is not permitted.
Common marks
A common mark replaces a nationality mark for an aircraft operated by an international operating agency registered across more than one country. The International Telecommunication Union allocates the common-mark series, and ICAO identifies the common mark registering authority that performs State of Registry functions for the aircraft's continuing airworthiness and registration. Bali gives the range 4YA to 4YZ for common marks.
Leasing: lease, lessor and lessee
| Term | Meaning and responsibility |
|---|---|
| Lease | An agreement by which a lessor furnishes an aircraft to a lessee for compensation or hire for a specified period or number of flights. |
| Lessor | The person or entity furnishing the aircraft under the lease. |
| Lessee | The person or operator using the aircraft under the lease and holding the required economic and operating authority. |
| Operational control | Bali places operational control with the lessee operator, while the lessor provides the aircraft and the resources specified by the arrangement. |
| GIFT City leasing entity | An entity registered in the International Financial Services Centre and approved by the International Financial Services Centres Authority for aircraft leasing. |
GIFT City is the Gujarat International Finance Tec-City special economic zone and hosts India's International Financial Services Centre. The unified authority regulates financial products, services and institutions there. Its approval of a leasing company does not replace DGCA aircraft-registration, airworthiness or operating requirements.
Aircraft classification for registration purposes
| Broad class | Non-powered | Powered |
|---|---|---|
| Lighter than air | Balloon. | Airship. |
| Heavier than air | Glider. | Aeroplane, rotorcraft, powered lift and ornithopter. |