GOVERNMENT OF INDIA CIVIL AVIATION REQUIREMENTS
CIVIL AVIATION DEPARTMENT SECTION 2 - AIRWORTHINESS
SERIES 'X' PART I
ISSUE I,DATED 18TH FEBRUARY '1976
File No. 4/451/AI(2)
Subject : Registration Markings of aircraft.
1. Rule 37 of Aircraft Rules (revised Aircraft Rules effective
1-4-1976) require that all aircraft registered in India must
have nationality and registration markings.
This part of Civil Airworthiness Requirements prescribes the
form and manner in which the nationality and registration
markings are to be affixed on aircraft.
2. DEFINITIONS :
(a) Nationality Marks : Group of characters affixed on
aircraft surface to identity the country to which the
aircraft belongs.
(b) Registration Marks : A group of characters affixed on
aircraft surface following nationality marks to
identify a particular aircraft.
3. Nationality and Registration Marks to be used :
The nationality marks to be affixed on Indian registered
aircraft would be capital letters "VT" in Roman character
and registration marking would consist of a group of three
letters in Roman Character as assigned by the Director
General of Civil Aviation. A hyphen must be placed between
the nationality and registration marks. The Nationality and
Registration marks shall be painted on the aircraft or shall
be affixed thereto by any other means ensuring a similar
degree of permanency in the following manner.
4. Location of Nationality and Registration Marks :
4.1 Lighter-than-Air aircraft :
4.1.1 Airships : The marks on an airship shall appear either
on the hull, or on the stabilizer surfaces. Where the
marks appear on the hull, they shall be located
lengthwise (to be read horizontally) on each side of
the hull and also on its upper surface on the line of
symmetry. Where marks appear on the stabilizer
surfaces, they shall appear on the horizontal and on
the vertical stabilizers, the marks on the horizontal
stabilizer shall be located on the lower surface, with
the tops of the letters towards the leading edge; the
marks on the vertical stabilizer shall be located on
each side of the bottom half stabilizers, with the
letters placed horizontally.
4.1.2 Spherical Balloons (other than unmanned free balloons):
The marks shall appear in two places diametrically
opposite. They shall be located near the maximum
horizontal circumference of the balloon.
4.1.3 Non-Spherical Balloons (other than unmanned free
balloons) :
The marks shall appear on each side. They shall be
located near the maximum cross section of the balloon
immediately above either the rigging band or the points
of attachment of the basket suspension cables.
4.1.4 The side marks on lighter-than-air aircraft (other than
unmanned free balloons) shall be visible both from the
sides and from the ground.
4.1.5 Unmanned free Balloons : The marks shall appear on the
identification plate.
4.2 Heavier-than-Air Aircraft :
4.2.1 Wings : The marks shall appear once on the lower
surface of the wing structure. They shall be located
on the left half of the lower surface of the wing
structure unless they extend across the whole of the
lower surface of the wing structure. As far as
possible the marks shall be located equidistant from
the leading and trailing edges of the wings. The tops
of the letters shall be towards the leading edge of the
wing.
4.2.2 Fuselage (or Equivalent Structure) and Vertical Tail
Surfaces :
The marks shall appear either on each side of the
fuselage (or equivalent structure) between the wings
and tail surface, or on the upper halves of the
vertical tail surfaces. When located on a single
vertical tail surface they shall appear on both sides.
When located on multivertical tail surfaces they shall
appear on the outboard sides of the outer surfaces.
4.2.3 Special Cases : If an aircraft does not possess parts
corresponding to those mentioned in 4.2.1 and 4.2.2 the
marks shall be located at a place approved by the
Director General of Civil Aviation.
5. Measurements of Nationality and Registration Marks :
5.1 The letters used for Nationality and Registration marks
shall be of equal height.
5.2 Lighter-than-air aircraft :
5.2.1 The height of the marks on lighter-than-air aircraft
(other than unmanned free balloons) shall be at least
50 centimetres.
5.2.2 The measurements of the marks related to unmanned free
balloons shall be determined taking into account the
size of the Payload to which the identification plate
is affixed, and shall have prior approval of Director
General of Civil Aviation.
5.3 Heavier-than-air Aircraft :
5.3.1 Wings : The height of the marks on the wings shall be
at least 50 centimetres.
5.3.2 Fuselage (or equivalent structure) and vertical tail
surfaces :
The height of the marks on the fuselage (or equivalent
structure) and on the vertical tail surfaces shall be
at least 30 centimetres.
5.3.3 Special case : If a heavier-than-air aircraft does not
possess parts corresponding to those mentioned in 5.3.1
and 5.3.2 the measurements of the marks shall have
prior approval of the Director General of Civil
Aviation.
6. Types of Characters for Nationality and Registration
Marks:
6.1 The letters shall be capital letters in Roman characters
without any ornamentation.
6.2 The width of each letter (except the letter I) and the
length of hyphens shall be two-thirds of the height of a
letter. W = 2/3H.
6.3 The letters and hyphens shall be formed by solid lines and
shall be of a colour contrasting clearly with the
background. The thickness of the lines shall be
one-sixth of the height of a letter. T = 1/6H.
6.4 Each letter shall be separated from that which it
immediately precedes or follows, by a space of not less than
one quarter of a letter's width. A hyphen shall be
regarded as a letter for this purpose. D = 1/4 W, =
1/4x2/3H, = 1/6 H.
6.5 The letters shall always be kept in good condition, so that
they are read clearly and easily.
7. Identification Plate :
An aircraft shall carry an identification plate inscribed
with Nationality and Registration mark together with the
name and address of the registered owner. The plate shall
be made of fire-proof metal/material and shall be secured in
a prominent place on the aircraft and kept clean. In case
of an unmanned free balloon, plate shall be affixed
conspicuously to the exterior of the payload.
8. General :
The provision of this CAR shall not apply to meteorological
pilot balloons used exclusively for meteorological purposes
or to unmanned free balloons without a payload.
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