Nationality and registration mark formats
Aircraft mark = nationality mark + registration mark, hyphen between (e.g. C-FABC).
Canadian nationality marks ("C" or "CF"):
| Mark | Aircraft | Registration letters | First letter | Cite |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| C | Regular (including amateur-built) | 4 letters | F or G | CAR 202.03(1); TC AIM LRA 4.3 |
| C | Basic or advanced ultralight aeroplanes | 4 letters | I | TC AIM LRA 4.3 |
| CF | Vintage (manufactured before January 1, 1957, CAR 200.01) or registered in Canada before January 1, 1974 | 3 letters; "C" with 4 letters also allowed | - | CAR 202.03(2); TC AIM LRA 4.3 |
CF on aircraft manufactured after December 31, 1956 (TC AIM LRA 4.3):
- May keep "CF" until next repaint, then must show "C" (e.g.
CF-XXXbecomesC-FXXX). - Owner must notify Transport Canada in writing.
Change of ownership: in process, aircraft may be unflyable in some circumstances (TP 1102 ch.4).
Trap: letter count follows nationality mark, not aircraft type: "C" always 4 letters (F/G regular, I ultralight), "CF" always 3.
References
- CARs 200.01
- CARs 202.03
- TC AIM LRA 4.3