Jun 25, 2013, 12:37 pm
Last edit by: JDiver
How to find the registration / "tail" number on AA (and other) planes and flights
Numbers commonly associated with commercial aircraft include:
- Registration (or "Tail") Number (in the US, begin with "N"), which may change with aircraft ownership and certainly so if ownership is also a change of registration country, comparably to an automobile's license number. Some refer to this as a "tail number", though it is generally found on the aft portion of the fuselage under or near the tail, and some aircraft sport the fleet number on the actual tail.
- Fleet Number or "nose code", a shorter identifying code, that is normally associated with the Registration Number, often only two or three (alphanumeric) characters; it may reflect some of the registration numbers or not, and may include other information (e.g. "ETOPS"). This number would be analogous to a company's auto fleet number.
- Manufacturer's Serial Number: (MSN or msn) or Construction Number (cn or c/n), which is like an automobile's Vehicle Identification Number or VIN - this number is issued to the hull itself and does not change, from construction to wrecking yard (with very few exceptions, such as a rebuild from multiple aircrafts). This number will also often appear on an affixed plate within the fuselage. This is the "gold standard" for identifying a specific aircraft, as Registration Numbers can be assigned to more than one aircraft at different times.
- Line Number: The constructor / manufacturer also assigns a Line Number that represents the order in which it was built relative to others of the same model on the production line.
AA shows the Reg number in the FIL in Sabre.
For aircraft you can see, the registration number is generally painted on the aft fuselage near or before the tail root (not on the tail). If you can not see that, the fleet number is usually painted on the nose wheel door. (If you have that, you can easily determine the aircraft registration number.)
The numbers are also on a small metal plate affixed to the bulkhead near the first port (left) door. (It's best not to look for and read this when boarding with a queue behind one
.) Various sites where the aircraft and flight data are archived or displayed are discussed in the ensuing posts.
Find / track AA / US registration / "tail" number, flights (consolidated)
Nov 4, 2007, 3:38 pm
#61
Join Date: Jul 2006
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There are other threads about this - search for them, but here goes:
BTS uses the AA Tail #, because that's what AA gives the Gov, N<tail>AA as the aircraft but it's not the same as the actual N number.
For example:
Ship Actual N# Reported as
5TT N717TW N5TTAA
223 N223AA N223AA
BTS will eventually have every flight - it takes a couple of weeks to be reported & posted.
Acars is a loosely linked database of people who have radio receivers, sound cards, software, it's up and running and reports what it hears to a central database. So if the PC was down, or no messages were transmitted while the aircraft was in range, no data found.
-----Burton
BTS uses the AA Tail #, because that's what AA gives the Gov, N<tail>AA as the aircraft but it's not the same as the actual N number.
For example:
Ship Actual N# Reported as
5TT N717TW N5TTAA
223 N223AA N223AA
BTS will eventually have every flight - it takes a couple of weeks to be reported & posted.
Acars is a loosely linked database of people who have radio receivers, sound cards, software, it's up and running and reports what it hears to a central database. So if the PC was down, or no messages were transmitted while the aircraft was in range, no data found.
-----Burton
Nov 5, 2007, 9:14 am
#62
FlyerTalk Evangelist
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Nov 5, 2007, 10:02 am
#63
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How to get an AA Tail Number?
Become an AA airplane.
There may also be an employee tattoo procedure, but that it could be uncomfortable and is unlikely to enhance your social appeal (except perhaps on FT).
(Sorry, couldn't resist.)
There may also be an employee tattoo procedure, but that it could be uncomfortable and is unlikely to enhance your social appeal (except perhaps on FT).
(Sorry, couldn't resist.)
Nov 6, 2007, 3:19 pm
#64
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Beaverton OR
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I've discovered that US carriers don't like you to have that info for some (cough) security (cough) reason - WN being the exception since the tail number is on the outside bulkhead many times. Never mind that it is visible except for the catering truck in the way, etc. However, carriers in other countries don't seem at all to mind giving you that info. I once asked on a BA flight, and got a very nice note back from the flight deck crew with a lot of detailed info on it.
Nov 6, 2007, 5:19 pm
#65
FlyerTalk Evangelist
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I've discovered that US carriers don't like you to have that info for some (cough) security (cough) reason - WN being the exception since the tail number is on the outside bulkhead many times. Never mind that it is visible except for the catering truck in the way, etc. However, carriers in other countries don't seem at all to mind giving you that info. I once asked on a BA flight, and got a very nice note back from the flight deck crew with a lot of detailed info on it.
Cheers.
Nov 7, 2007, 9:37 am
#66
FlyerTalk Evangelist
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Location: Massachusetts, USA; AA Plat, DL GM and Flying Colonel; Bonvoy Platinum
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I've discovered that US carriers don't like you to have that info for some (cough) security (cough) reason - WN being the exception since the tail number is on the outside bulkhead many times. Never mind that it is visible except for the catering truck in the way, etc. However, carriers in other countries don't seem at all to mind giving you that info. I once asked on a BA flight, and got a very nice note back from the flight deck crew with a lot of detailed info on it.
Nov 7, 2007, 11:01 am
#67
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Beaverton OR
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The UK is the home of trainspotting, registration number spotting (back when the three letters indicated where the car was from) and other hobbies like that which people from most other places find a tad odd. Chances are a BA flight crew, even if they're not personally into planespotting, would know of it and find it inside the bounds of normality.
Nov 7, 2007, 8:14 pm
#68
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: FLL
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Posts: 1,212
The UK is the home of trainspotting, registration number spotting (back when the three letters indicated where the car was from) and other hobbies like that which people from most other places find a tad odd. Chances are a BA flight crew, even if they're not personally into planespotting, would know of it and find it inside the bounds of normality.
An hour later as I was leaving someone else was at the desk and a printed list of the day's departures with tail numbers was sitting there. I was able to easily read the paperwork, albeit upside down. Sadly, N781AN and I weren't going to the same place.
Jan 10, 2008, 12:01 am
#69
Join Date: Oct 2006
Programs: QPNB, MH, BI, VA | Le Club Gold
Posts: 6
American Eagle tail number request
Hi everyone,
Not sure if this post is in the right forum, however...
I keep a log of all of my daughter's flights (she's 22 months old) on flightmemory.com
On a trip to US/Canada/Europe last year, I managed to get all of the aircraft registrations or tail numbers, except two American Eagle flights. If anyone can help with the tail numbers for the two sectors below, I'd be most appreciative.
02 Jan 2007 LGA/YYZ AA4848
10 Jan 2007 YYZ/JFK AA4768
Thanks.
Not sure if this post is in the right forum, however...
I keep a log of all of my daughter's flights (she's 22 months old) on flightmemory.com
On a trip to US/Canada/Europe last year, I managed to get all of the aircraft registrations or tail numbers, except two American Eagle flights. If anyone can help with the tail numbers for the two sectors below, I'd be most appreciative.
02 Jan 2007 LGA/YYZ AA4848
10 Jan 2007 YYZ/JFK AA4768
Thanks.
Jan 10, 2008, 12:22 am
#70
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: FLL
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Posts: 1,212
You can get tail numbers from the Bureau of Travel Statistics here: http://www.bts.gov/programs/airline_...me_statistics/
Unfortunately, it appears to only track domestic flights. Do you remember where the aircraft was headed after it arrived in JFK?
Unfortunately, it appears to only track domestic flights. Do you remember where the aircraft was headed after it arrived in JFK?
Jan 10, 2008, 12:55 am
#71
Join Date: Oct 2006
Programs: QPNB, MH, BI, VA | Le Club Gold
Posts: 6
Unfortunately, no.
I usually pay more attention, but we had to connect to a Finnair flight from a different terminal, and there was a bit of commotion due to a power outage in one of the terminals.
Thanks for the bts link ^ That's a really useful resource for the future.
I usually pay more attention, but we had to connect to a Finnair flight from a different terminal, and there was a bit of commotion due to a power outage in one of the terminals.
Thanks for the bts link ^ That's a really useful resource for the future.
Jan 11, 2008, 5:23 pm
#73
Join Date: Nov 2004
Programs: AA EXP, 3.5 MM Miles, HH Diamond
Posts: 65
Tail Number While in Fight?
Do any of the flight tracker web sites give you the tail number of the plane making the flight, while the flight is still in the air?
The ones listed here are all historical.
Robert
The ones listed here are all historical.
Robert
