Renaming an aircraft - (Archive)

This content has been archived; it may no longer be relevant.

If you ever wondered what is involved to rename an aircraft…

  • Follow the process as described by the FAA
    • Tip: When you check for available N-numbers, you may also want to check the number(s) you like against the NTSB or ASN database…
  • Once you’re ready to make the change, get your new decals from a service specialized on aircraft decals, e.g. Aerographics is the one we used several times and are very happy
  • Applying the new decals and obtaining both new airworthiness and registration certificates from the FAA is one thing, but don’t forget about your avionics: ADS-B / XPDR and ELT will have to be reconfigured – don’t underestimate effort, time and costs to get those tasks taken care of by your favorite avionics shop
  • Eventually you also need to update the logbooks, make sure ADS-B trackers like e.g. FlightAware and FlightRadar24 are updated, be sure the NOAA is aware of the ELT change, and don’t forget to inform the CBP in case you have a border-crossing decal on your plane

Happy flying!