This list contains all known International Registration Prefixes for
aircraft, sorted by Country Name.
The information in this list was colected from various books and
publications, and many additional information was received from
Rudi Longueville from Belgium, who's e-mail address I don't have, and
Jos Stevens from Amsterdam, the Netherlands, who's e-mail address
is: (stevens@nlr.nl).
Pascal Brugier has a very complete list of registration prefixes available
on the web (in French) at
w3.teaser.fr/~pbrugier, and even has additionally very many
registrations (in zipped text files) for anyone to download.
Explanations and conventions:
=============================
Code = International Registration Prefix, as displayed on the
---- aircraft, but with letters from the Latin alphabet;
(Cyrillic or other alphabets are indicated in {} in the
Description);
Country = English representation of the name of the Contry;
------- (it is indicated, when the government form, like Republic,
etc., is part of the name);
(previous names are listed as 'was OldName');
(equivalent and some indegious spellings/names are listed as
'also OtherName/Spelling');
(prevoius country affiliations are indicated by 'FROM -
TILL OldName');
(Common International Abbreviations are also listed);
Description = Displays and explaines (if available) all the possible
----------- registrations in the form '1 - 999, AAA - ZZZ'; meaning a
registration could be either a number between 1 and 999,
but without leading zeros, or any combination of three
letters like AAA, AAB, AAC, up to ZZZ;
(if letter have a known special meaning, this meaning is
explained);
Current = Current - if the code is currently in use,
------- Old - if the code is now out of use, either replaced by
another code, or the country ceased to exist;
??? - if it is not sure if this code was ever used or
ever assigned to this country;
Time-Frame = Lists the time frame of the validity of this code, form of
---------- registration or existence of country;
(a '(+)' denotes 'at least', a '(?)' denotes 'guessed');
CAPITALS = in Code: as is (the registration prefix);
in Description: represents a range; "AAA - ZZZ" means:
possible registrations are AAA, AAB, etc. up to ZZZ;
the letter 'x' = represents a variable; possible values can be found in
remarks like: (x = A/B/C);
the '-' (dash) = after a Code: ("XX-"): represents the separator, as it is
displayed on the aircraft;
in Description: ("XXX - XXX"): means a range (from - to)
text in () = surrounds explanations or remarks;
text in [] = surrounds optional parts of registrations, which are
either sometimes omitted or which are only sometimes used
as modifiers;
text in {} = represents letter from the cyrillic or other alphabets;
it contains a visual representation of the character,
using other ASCII characters (as far as possible);
This article is (c) 1995, 1997 by Andreas Gehrs-Pahl.
Please send comments, corrections, additions ans suggestions to me at:
.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Country (Names, Remarks)
Code Descriptions, Remarks
Status Time-Frame
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afghanistan (also Afganistan)
YA- AAA - ZZZ
current ? -
Albania
B- AAAA - AZZZ
old ? - ?
ZA- ? - ?
current ? -
Algeria
F- ???? - ????
old ? - 1962
7T- AAA - ZZZ
current 1962 -
Andorra
C3- ? - ?
current ? -
Angola (was Portuguese West Africa)
CR- LAA - LZZ
old ? - 1975
D2- AAA - ZZZ
current 1975 -
Antigua and Barbuda (also Antigua & Barbuda, Leeward or Windward Islands)
VP- LAA - LZZ
old ? - 1981
V2- AAA - ZZZ
current 1981 -
Argentina (Republic)
R- ? - ?
old ? - ?
LQ- AAA - ZZZ
current ? -
LV- AAA - ZZZ
current ? -
Armenia (1917 to 12/25/1991 USSR)
SSSR- 00001 - 99999, (displayed cyrillic as {CCCP})
old 12/25/1991 - ?
RH- ? - ? (not official)
current 1991 -
EK- ? - ?
current 1991 -
Australia
G- AUAA - AUZZ
old ? - ?
VH- AAA - ZZZ
current ? -
Austria (also Oestereich, was Austria-Hungary)
A- ? - ?
old 1918 - ?
OE- AAA - ZZZ
current 1918 (+) -
Azerbaijan (19.. to 1991 USSR)
SSSR- 00001 - 99999, (displayed cyrillic as {CCCP})
old 12/25/1991 - ?
4K- ? - ?
current 1991 -
Bahamas (Islands)
VP- BAA - BZZ
old ? - 1973
C6- ? - ?
current 1973 -
Bahrain
V?- ??? - ???
old ? - 1971
A9C- AA - ZZ (?)
current 1971 -
Bangladesh (was Eastern Pakistan)
V?- ??? - ???
old ? - 1972
S2- AAA - ZZZ
current 1972 -
S3- AAA - ZZZ
current 1972 -
Barbados (Islands)
VQ- BAA - BZZ
old ? - 1966
8P- ? - ?
current 1966 -
Belarus (also Byelorussia, White Russia, 19.. to 1991 USSR)
SSSR- 00001 - 99999, (displayed cyrillic as {CCCP})
old 12/25/1991 - ?
EW- 00001 - 99999
current 1991 -
Belgium
O- BAAA - BZZZ
old ? - ?
OO- AAA - ZZZ
current ? -
Belize (was British Honduras)
VP- HAA - HZZ
old ? - 1966
V3- ? - ?
current 1966 -
Benin (People's Republic, was Dahomey)
F- ???? - ????
old ? - 1960
TY- AAA - ZZZ
current 1960 -
Bhutan (was Sikkim)
A5- ? - ?
current ? -
Bolivia
C- VAAA - VZZZ
old ? - ?
CB- ? - ?
old ? - ?
CP- 1 - 9999
current ? -
Bosnia-Herzegovina (Republic, 1918 to 04/06/1992 Yugoslavia)
T9- ? - ?
current 04/06/1992 -
Bosnian Serb Republic (Republika Srpska, RS, part of Bosnia-Herzegovina)
?- ? - ?
??? ? -
Botswana (Republic, was Bechuanaland)
VQ- ZAA - ZZZ
old ? - 1966
A2- ? - ?
current 1966 -
Brazil
P- BAAA - BAZZ, PAAA - PAZZ
old ? - ?
PP- AAA - ZZZ
current ? -
PT- AAA - ZZZ
current ? -
Brunei Darussalam (was British Northern Borneo)
VR- UAA - UZZ
old ? - 1963
V8- AAA - ZZZ
current 1963 -
Bulgaria
B- BAAA - BZZZ
old ? - ?
LZ- AAA - ZZZ
current 1908 (+) -
Burkina Faso (was Upper Volta)
F- ???? - ????
old ? - 1960
XT- AAA - ZZZ
current 1960 -
Burundi
BR- ? - ?
old ? - ?
9U- AAA - ZZZ
current 1962 (+) -
Cambodia (also Kampuchea, was Indochina)
F- KHAA - KHZZ
old ? - 1955 (+)
KW- ? - ?
old 1955 (+) - ?
XU- 001 - 999 (?)
current 1955 (+) -
Cameroon (Federal Republic, was British Cameroons)
VR- NAA - NZZ
old ? - 1979
TJ- AAA - ZZZ
current 1960 -
Canada
G- CAAA - CAZZ, CYAA - CYZZ (Government & RCAF)
old 1920 - 1928
CF- AAA[-x] - ZZZ[-x], (x = G/X/... temporairy registrations ?)
old 1929 - 1973
the 'CF-xxx' layout is allowed to be used only by aircraft
which were build before 1956, but there are also newer ones
current 1974 -
C- xAAA[-X] - xZZZ[-X], (x = F/G/I)
x = category (?): F = maybe originally for 'France'
G = maybe originally for 'Great Britain'
I = used for Ultra Lights
[-X] maybe used for temporairy/ferry registrations?
current 1974 -
Newfoundland (now part of Canada)
VO- AAA - ZZZ
old ? - 1958
Cape Verde (Islands)
CR- CAA - CZZ
old ? - 1975
D4- AAA - ZZZ
current 1975 -
Central African Republic
F- ???? - ????
old ? - 1960
TL- ? - ?
current 1960 -
Chad
F- ???? - ????
old ? - 1960
TT- ? - ?
current 1960 -
Chile (Republic)
CC- 001 - 999, AAA - ZZZ
current ? -
China (People's Republic of China, PRC)
X- CAAA - CZZZ
old ? - ?
XT- ? - ?
old ? - 1958 (+)
B- 1 - 9999
the '-' (dash) as separator is sometimes omitted
current 1958 (+) -
Taiwan (Republic of China, RoC, was Formosa)
B- 1 - 99999
current 1949 (+) -
Mandschukuo (now part of PRC ?)
?- ? - ?
old 1934 - 1945 (?)
Colombia
C- ? - ?
old ? - ?
HK- 1[[-]x] - 9999[[-]x], (x = E/G/P/I/X/..., depicting usage ?)
current ? -
Comoros (also Comores, Comoro Islands)
F- ???? - ????
old ? - 1975
D6- ? - ?
current 1975 -
Congo (Congolese People's Republic, was Brazzaville)
F- ???? - ????
old ? - 1960
9O- ? - ?
old 1960 - ?
TN- ? - ?
current 1960 (+) -
Congo (Democratic Republic of Congo, was Zaire, was Belgian Congo)
OO- CAA - CZZ
old ? - 1960
9Q- AAA - ZZZ
current 1960 -
9T- AAA - ZZZ
current 1960 -
Costa Rica
TI- 001[-L] - 999[-L] (?)
current ? -
Croatia (Republic, 1918 to 05/22/1991 Yugoslavia)
RC- AAA - ZZZ
old 05/22/1991 - ?
9A- AAA - ZZZ
current 1991 (+) -
Cuba
C- CAAA - CZZZ
old ? - ?
CU- x[-]001 - x[-]999, (x = C/P/T/..., depicting usage ?)
current ? -
Cyprus
VQ- CAA - CZZ
old ? - 1960
5B- ? - ?
current 1960 -
Czech Republic (also Chechia, 1918 to 12/31/1992 Czechoslovakia)
OK- AAA - ZZZ
current 01/01/1993 -
Denmark (including Greenland)
T- DAAA - DZZZ
old ? - ?
OY- AAA - ZZZ
current ? -
Djibouti (was French Somalia)
F- ???? - ????
old ? - 1977
J2- ? - ?
current 1977 -
Dominica (Winward Islands)
V?- ??? - ???
old ? - 19..
J7- ? - ?
current 19.. -
Dominican Republic
HI- 1-AA - 999-ZZ (?)
current ? -
Ecuador
E- EAA - EZZ
old ? - ?
HC- AAA - ZZZ
current ? -
Egypt (Arab Republic of Egypt, 02/21/1958 to 09/02/1971 as UAR)
V?- ??? - ???
old ? - 1922
SU- AAA - ZZZ
current 1922 -
El Salvador
YS- 00A - 99Z (?)
current ? -
Equatorial Guinea (was Rio Muni)
3C- ? - ?
current 1969 -
Eritrea (19.. to 1993 Ethiopia)
ER- ? - ?
old ? - ?
E3- ? - ?
current 1993 -
Estonia (19.. to 1929 ?, 1939 to 1991 USSR)
E- AAA - AZZ
old 1929 - 1939 (?)
SSSR- 00001 - 99999, (displayed cyrillic as {CCCP})
old 12/25/1991 - ?
ES- AAA - ZZZ
current 1991 -
Ethiopia
ET- ? - ?
current ? -
Fiji (Islands)
VQ- FAA - FZZ
old ? - 1970
DQ- ? - ?
current 1970 -
Finland (also Suomi)
K- SAAA - SZZZ
old ? - ?
OH- AAA - ZZZ
current 1917 (+) -
France (Europe, with Corsica and other Islands)
F- AAAA - ZZZZ
current ? -
Free France (1940 - 1945 ?)
FC- ? - ?
old 1940 (+) - 1945
French Overseas Departments & Territories
F- OAAA - OZZZ
current ? -
Guadeloupe (Islands)
F- OGAA - OGZZ
current ? - 1958 (+)
Martinique (Island)
F- OMAA - OMZZ
current ? - 1958 (+)
Gabon
F- O??? - O???
old ? - 1960
TR- AAA - ZZZ
current 1960 -
Gambia (was Western Africa)
VP- XAA - XZZ
old ? - 1965
C5- ? - ?
current 1965 -
Senegambia (Confederation of Senegal and Gambia)
?- ? - ?
??? ? - ?
Georgia (also Grusinia, 19.. to 1991 USSR)
SSSR- 00001 - 99999, (displayed cyrillic as {CCCP})
old 12/25/1991 - ?
4L- ? - ?
current 1991 -
Germany (German Reich, Deutsches Kaiser Reich, Weimarer Republic, Third Reich)
D- 1 - 9999, AAAA - ZZZZ, LZ1 - LZ999 (airships)
up to the 1930's often displayed without '-' (dash), but with
a space, like: "D 123"; first only numbers were used, later
mainly letters
old 192. - 1945
Germany (Federal Republic of Germany, FRG, Deutschland, 10/03/1990 re-united)
D- 0001 - 9999, xAAA - xZZZ
(x = class = A/B/C/E/F/G/H/I/K/L/M/O)
0001 - 9499 = glider/sailplanes without engine
9500 - 9999 = government / semi-military aircraft and
prototypes, mainly during 1960's - 1980's
classes: A = multi-engine, MTOW > 20,000 kg
B = multi-engine, MTOW > 14,000 kg - 20,000 kg
C = multi-engine, MTOW > 5,700 kg - 14,000 kg
E = single-engine, MTOW <= 2,000 kg
F = single-engine, MTOW > 2,000 kg - 5,700 kg
G = multi-engine, MTOW <= 2,000 kg
H = all rotory-wing / helicopter, (Hubschrauber)
I = multi-engine, MTOW > 2,000 kg - 5,700 kg
K = all powered gliders
L = all airships / blimps, (Luftschiff)
M = all ultra lights (UL)
O = all manned free balloons
current 1955 -
Germany (Democratic Republic of Germany, GDR)
DDR- 1001 - 4001, xAA - xZZ, (x = A/E/S/T/U/V/W/Z), (101 - 551)
(101 - 551) = glider, without the 'DDR-' prefix
1001 - 4001 = glider, sailplanes (with or without engines)
letters didn't have a specific meaning
old 1952 - 1956
old 1981 - 10/03/1990
DM- 1001 - 4001, xAA - xZZ, (x = A/S/T/U/V/W/Z), (101 - 551)
(101 - 551) = glider, without the 'DM-' prefix
1001 - 4001 = glider, sailplanes (with or without engines)
letters didn't have a specific meaning
old 1956 - 1981
Saar (also Saarland, 1947 - 1959 (?), belongs now to Germany)
EZ- ? - ?
old ? - ?
SL- ? - ?
old ? - ?
TS- ? - ?
old ? - ?
Ghana (was Gold Coast)
VP- AAA - AZZ
old ? - 1957 (+)
9G- AAA - ZZZ
current 1957 (+) -
Greece
S- GAAA - GZZZ
old ? - ?
SX- ? - ?
current ? -
Grenada
VQ- GAA - GZZ
old ? - 1974
J3- ? - ?
current 1974 -
Guatemala
L- GAAA - GZZZ
old ? - ?
LG- AAA - ZZZ
old ? - ?
TG- AAA - ZZZ
current ? -
Guinea
F- ???? - ????
old ? - 1958
3X- AAA - ZZZ
current 1958 -
Guinea-Bissau (was Portuguese Guinea)
CR- GAA - GZZ
old ? - 1974
J5- ? - ?
current 1974 -
Guyana (was British Guiana)
VP- GAA - GZZ
old ? - 1958 (+)
8R- AAA - ZZZ
current 1958 (+) -
Haiti (Republic)
H- HAAA - HZZZ
old ? - ?
HH- AAA - ZZZ
current ? -
Honduras
X- HAAA - HZZZ
old ? - ?
XH- AAA - ZZZ
old ? - ?
HR- AAA - ZZZ
current ? -
Hungary
H- MAAA - MZZZ
old ? - ?
HA- AAA - ZZZ
current 1918 (+) -
Iceland
TF- AAA - ZZZ
current 1918 (+) -
India
G- IAAA - IZZZ
old ? - ?
VT- AAA - ZZZ
current 1947 -
Portuguese India (also Goa, now part of India)
CR- IAA - IZZ
old ? - ?
Indonesia (Republic, also Irian Jaya, West Irian, was Netherlands New Guinea)
PK- AAA - ZZZ
current 1949 -
Netherlands East Indies (now part of Indonesia)
JZ- AAA - ZZZ
old ? - 1963
Timor (also East Timor, Portuguese Protectorate, occupied by Indonesia 1975)
CR- TAA - TZZ
old ? - 1975 (?)
Iran (was Persia, till 1935)
RV- ? - ?
old ? - ?
EP- AAA - ZZZ
current ? -
Iraq
YI- AAA - ZZZ
current 1932 -
Arabic Federation (Iraq and Jordan)
4YB- ? - ?
old 1958 (+) - ?
Ireland (also Eire)
EI- AAA - ZZZ
current 1922 -
EJ- AAA - ZZZ
old 1922 - ?
Israel (was British Protectorate Palestine / Palestina)
VQ- PAA - PZZ
old 1923 - 1948
4X- AAA - ZZZ
current 1948 (+) -
Palestinian Authority (PA)
?- ? - ?
future ? -
Italy
I- AAAA - ZZZZ
current ? -
Trieste (now part of Italy)
?- ? - ?
old 1945 - 1954
Ivory Coast (also Cote d'Ivoire)
VP- AAA - AZZ
old ? - 1960
TU- AAA - ZZZ
current 1960 -
Jamaica
VP- JAA - JZZ
old ? - 1962
6Y- AAA - ZZZ
current 1962 -
Japan (also Nippon)
J- AAAA - ZZZZ
old ? - 1945
JA 0001 - 9999
no '-' (dash) as separator used
current 1945 (+) -
Jordan (Kingdom, was Transjordan)
TJ- ? - ?
old 1946 - 1958 (+)
JY- AAA - ZZZ
current 1958 (+) -
Arabic Federation (Iraq and Jordan)
4YB- ? - ?
old 1958 (+) - ?
Kazakstan (also Kazakhstan, 19.. to 1991 USSR)
SSSR- 00001 - 99999, (displayed cyrillic as {CCCP})
old 12/25/1991 - ?
UN- ? - ?
current 1991 -
Kenya
VP- KAA - KZZ
old ? - 1963
5Y- ? - ?
current 1963 -
Kiribati (also Gilbert Islands, West Pacific Isles)
VP- PAA - PZZ
old ? - 1979
T3- ? - ?
current 1979 -
Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea, DPRK, also North Korea)
P- ? - ?
current 1948 (+) -
Korea (Republic of Korea, RoK, also South Korea)
HL 1 - 9999
no '-' (dash) as separator used
current 1948 (+) -
Kuwait
K- ? - ?
old ? - ?
9K- AAA - ZZZ
current 1961 -
Kyrgyz Republic (also Kyrgyzstan, Kirghizia, 19.. to 1991 USSR)
SSSR- 00001 - 99999, (displayed cyrillic as {CCCP})
old 12/25/1991 - ?
EX- ? - ?
current 1991 -
Laos (Lao People's Democratic Republic, LPDR, was Indochina)
F- LAAA - LAZZ
old ? - 1955 (+)
XW- ? - ?
old 1955 (+) - ?
RDPL- ?
current 1955 (+) -
Latvia (19.. - 1929 ?, 1939 to 1991 USSR)
B- LAAA - LZZZ
old 1929 - 1939 (?)
SSSR- 00001 - 99999, (displayed cyrillic as {CCCP})
old 12/25/1991 - ?
YL- AAA - ZZZ
current 1991 -
Lebanon (Republic)
LR- AAA - ZZZ
old ? - ?
OD- AAA - ZZZ
current 1941 (+) -
Lesotho (was Basutoland)
VQ- ZAA - ZZZ
old ? - 1966
7P- ? - ?
current 1966 -
Liberia
L- LAAA - LZZZ
old ? - ?
LI- AAA - ZZZ
old ? - ?
EL- AAA - ZZZ
current ? -
Libya (Arabic Republic, 1971 to 1979 UAR ?)
5A- AAA - ZZZ
current 1951 -
Lithuania (19.. to 1929 ?, 1939 to 1991 USSR)
R- ZAAA - ZZZZ
old 1929 - 1939 (?)
SSSR- 00001 - 99999, (displayed cyrillic as {CCCP})
old 12/25/1991 - ?
RY- ? - ?
old 1991 - ?
LY- AAA - ZZZ
current 1991 -
Luxembourg
UL- ? - ?
old ? - ?
L- UAAA - UZZZ
old ? - ?
LX- AAA - ZZZ, N11111 - N99999 (for NATO aircraft)
current ?
Macedonia (The Former Republic of Yugoslavia, TFRYM, 1918 to 199. Yugoslavia)
Z3- ? - ?
current 199. -
Madagascar (Republic, also Malagasy)
F- ???? - ????
old ? - 1960
5R- AAA - ZZZ
current 1960 -
Malawi (was Nyasaland)
VP- NAA - NZZ
old ? - 1964
7Q- ? - ?
current 1964 -
Malaysia (was Malaya, 19.. to 09/16/1963 Federation of Malaya)
VR- RAA - RZZ
old ? - 1963
9M- AAA - ZZZ
current 1963 -
Borneo (also North Borneo, now part of Malaysia)
VR- OAA - OZZ
old ? - 1958 (+)
Johore (now partially part of Malaysia)
VR- JAA - JZZ
old ? - 1963
Maldives (Islands)
V?- ??? - ???
old ? - 1965
8Q- ? - ?
current 1965 -
Mali (Republic)
F- ???? - ????
old ? - 1960
TZ- AAA - ZZZ
current 1960 -
Malta
VP- MAA - MZZ
old ? - 1964
9H- AAA - ZZZ
current 1964 -
Mariana Islands (Northern Marana Islands, Guam, associated with USA)
?- ? - ?
current ? -
Marshall Islands (associated with USA)
MI- ? - ?
old ? - ?
V7- ? - ?
current 1991 ? -
Mauritania (Republic, also Mauretania)
F- ???? - ????
old ? - 1960
5T- AAA - ZZZ
current 1960 -
Mauritius
VQ- MAA - MZZ
old ? - 1968
3B- AAA - ZZZ
current 1968 -
Mexico
M- SAAA - SZZZ
old ? - ?
X- AAAA - BZZZ
old ? - ?
XA- AAA - ZZZ
current ? -
XB- AAA - ZZZ
current ? -
XC- AAA - ZZZ
current ? -
Micronesia (Federated States of Micronesia, associated with USA)
V6- ? - ?
current ? -
Moldova (Republic of Moldova, also Moldovia, Moldavia, 19.. to 1991 USSR)
SSSR- 00001 - 99999, (displayed cyrillic as {CCCP})
old 12/25/1991 - ?
RM- ? - ?
old 12/25/1991 - ?
ER- ? - ?
current 1991 (+) -
Monaco (Fiefdom)
CZ- ? - ?
old ? - ?
MC- ? - ?
old ? - ?
3A- ? - ?
current ? -
Mongolia (People's Republic)
HMAY- 1 - 9999
old 1945 (+) - ?
MPR- ? - ?
old 1945 (+) - ?
BNMAU- ?
current 1945 (+) -
MONGOL- ?
current 1945 (+) -
MT- ? - ?
current 1945 (+) -
Morocco (was French Morocco)
F- DAAA - DZZZ
old ? - 1956
CN- AAA - ZZZ
current 1956 -
Sahara (also Spanish Sahara, occupied by Morocco, was Rio de Oro)
?- ? - ?
??? ? - ?
Tangier (also Tanger, now part of Morocco)
?- ? - ?
old 1911 - 19.. (?)
Mozambique (was Portuguese East Africa)
CR- AAA - BZZ
old ? - 1975
C9- ? - ?
current 1975 -
Myanmar (was Birma / Burma)
XY- AAA - ZZZ
current 1948 -
XZ- AAA - ZZZ
current 1948 -
Namibia (19.. to 03/31/1991 to South Africa)
V5- ? - ?
current 03/31/1991 -
Nauru
V?- ??? - ???
old ? - 1968
C2- ? - ?
current 1968 -
Nepal
9N- AAA - ZZZ
current ? -
Netherlands (also Holland)
H- NAAA - NZZZ
old ? - ?
PH- AAA - ZZZ
current ? -
Netherlands Antilles (partial autonomy)
PJ- AAA - ZZZ
current ? -
Aruba (19.. - 1986 Netherland Antilles, now partial autonomy)
P4- ? - ?
current 1986 (+) -
New Zealand
G- NZAA - NZZZ
old ? - ?
ZK- AAA - ZZZ
current ? -
ZL- AAA - ZZZ
current ? -
ZM- AAA - ZZZ
old ? - ?
Nicaragua
A- NAAA - NZZZ
old ? - ?
AN- AAA - ZZZ
old ? - 1958 (+)
YN- ? - ?
current 1958 (+) -
Niger (Republic)
F- ???? - ????
old ? - 1960
5U- AAA - ZZZ
current 1960 -
Nigeria (was Western Africa)
VR- NAA - NZZ
old ? - 1960
5N- AAA - ZZZ
current 1960 -
Norway
N- ? - ?
old ? - ?
LN- 1 - 999, AAA - ZZZ
current ? -
Oman
V?- ??? - ???
old ? - 1970
A4O- AAA - ZZZ (?)
current 1970 -
Pakistan (was Belutshistan)
V?- ??? - ???
old ? - 1947
AP- AAA - ZZZ
current 1947 -
Palau (associated with USA)
?- ? - ?
current 1994 -
Panama
R- ? - ?
old ? - ?
S- PAAA - PZZZ
old ? - ?
RX- ? - ?
old ? - ?
HP- 001 - 999 (?)
current ? -
Papua New Guinea (also Niugini)
VH- ??? - ???
old ? - 1975
P2- AAA- ZZZ
current 1975 -
Paraguay
ZP- AAA - ZZZ
current ? -
Peru
O- PAAA - PZZZ
old ? - 1966
OA- AAA[-111] - ZZZ[-999]
old ? - ?
OB- AAA-111 - ZZZ-999, [x-]1 - [x-]9999
(x = M/R/T/..., depicting usage ?)
current ? -
Philippines (Republic)
PI- C[-]1 - C[-]9999
old ? - 1948 (+)
RP- C1 - C9999
current 1958 (+) -
Poland
SP- AAA - ZZZ
current 1918 (+) -
Danzig (now Gdansk, Free Hanse City, was part of Germany, now part of Poland)
DZ- ? - ?
old ? - ?
Y- MAAA - MZZZ
old ? - ?
Portugal
C- PAAA - PZZZ
old ? - ?
CS- AAA - ZZZ
current ? -
Portuguese Overseas Provinces (only Macau left after 1991)
CR- AAA - ZZZ
current ? - 1997 (?)
Macau (back to PRC ?)
CR- MAA - MZZ
old ? - 1991
Timor (also East Timor, Portuguese Protectorate, occupied by Indonesia 1975)
CR- TAA - TZZ
old ? - 1975 (?)
Qatar
V?- ??? - ???
old ? - 1971
A7- AAA - ZZZ
current 1971 -
Romania (also Rumania)
C- RAAA - RZZZ
old ? - ?
CV- AAA - ZZZ
old ? - ?
YR- AAA - ZZZ
current ? -
Russia (Russian Federation, 1917 to 1991 USSR)
SSSR- 00001 - 99999, (displayed cyrillic as {CCCP})
old 12/25/1991 - ?
IS- 00001 - 99999, (displayed cyrillic as {I/IC}), (not official)
current 1991 -
RF- 00001 - 99999, (displayed cyrillic as {Pqp}), (not official)
current 1991 -
RA- 00001 - 99999
current 1991 -
Chechnya (autonomous Republic of Russia)
?- ? - ?
??? ? - ?
Tannu-Tuva (now an autonomous Republic of Russia)
?- ? - ?
old 1921 - 1944
Rwanda
9XR- ? - ?
current 1962 -
Saint Kitts and Nevis (also St. Kitts & Nevis, Leeward or Winward Islands)
VP- LKA - LLZ
old ? - 1983
V4- ? - ?
current 1983 -
Saint Lucia (also St. Lucia, Windward Islands)
VQ- LAA - LZZ
old ? - 1979
VR- LAA - LZZ
old ? - 1979
J6- ? - ?
current 1979 -
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (also St. Vincent & Grenadines, Windward Is.)
VP- VAA - VZZ
old ? - 1979
J8- ? - ?
current 1979 -
Samoa (also Western Samoa)
5W- ? - ?
current 1962 -
San Marino (Republic)
T7- ? - ?
current ? -
Sao Tome and Principe (Islands)
CR- SAA - SZZ
old ? - 07/12/1975
S9- ? - ?
current 07/12/1975 -
Saudi Arabia (Kingdom, was Hejaz, 1920 to 1932 Nedjd)
A- HAAA - HZZZ
old ? - ?
UH- ? - ?
old ? - ?
HZ- 001 - 999, AAA - ZZZ, MS1 - MS999
(numeric registrations = military/government ?)
current 1920 (?) -
Senegal
F- ???? - ????
old ? - 1960
6V- AAA - ZZZ
current 1960 -
6W- AAA - ZZZ
current 1960 -
Senegambia (Confederation of Senegal and Gambia)
?- ? - ?
??? ? - ?
Seychelles (Islands)
VQ- SAA - SZZ
old ? - 1976
S7- ? - ?
current 1976 -
Sierra Leone (was Western Africa)
VR- LAA - LZZ
old ? - 1961
9L- ? - ?
current 1961 -
Singapore (09/16/1963 to 09/05/1965 Malaysia)
VR- SAA - SZZ
old ? - 1959 (?)
9V- AAA - ZZZ
current 1959 (?) -
Johore (now partially part of Singapore)
VR- JAA - JZZ
old ? - 1963
Slovak Republic (also Slovakia, 1918 to 12/31/1992 Czechoslovakia)
OM- AAA - ZZZ
current 01/01/1993 -
Slovenia (1918 to 06/25/1991 Yugoslavia)
SL- ? - ? (not official)
current 06/25/1991 - ?
S5- ? - ?
current 1991 -
Solomon Islands (also British Solomon Islands, West Pacific Isles)
VP- PAA - PZZ
old ? - 1978
H4- ? - ?
current 1978 -
Somalia (Republic, was Somaliland Protectorate)
VP- SAA - SZZ
old ? - 1960
6OS- ? - ?
old 1960 - ?
6O- ? - ?
current 1960 (+) -
South Africa (Republic)
G- UAAA - UZZZ
old ? - ?
ZS- AAA - ZZZ
current 1961 -
ZT- AAA - ZZZ
current 1961 -
ZU- AAA - ZZZ
current 1961 -
Spain (also Espania)
M- ? - ?
old ? - ?
EC- 001 - 999, AAA - ZZZ
current ? -
Sri Lanka (was Ceylon)
VP- CAA - CZZ
old ? - 1948
CY- ? - ?
old 1948 - ?
4R- AAA - ZZZ
current ? -
Sudan
V?- ??? - ???
old ? - 1956 (+)
FT- ? - ?
old 1956 (+) - (?)
SN- ? - ?
old 1956 (+) - ?
ST- AAA - ZZZ
current 1956 (+) -
Suriname (also Surinam, was Netherlands Guyana)
PZ- AAA - ZZZ
current ? -
Swaziland
VQ- ZAA - ZZZ
old ? - 1968
3D- ? - ?
current 1968 -
Sweden
S- AAAA - AZZZ
old ? - ?
SE- 001 - 999, AAA - ZZZ, A00 - Z99
(digits often used for prototypes)
current ? -
Switzerland (Schweiz)
CH- 1 - 999
old 191. - 1934/36
HB- AAA - ZZZ
current 1935/36 -
Liechtenstein (Fiefdom)
HB- AAA - ZZZ
current ? -
Syria (02/21/1958 to 10/13/1961 as UAR)
YK- ? - ?
current 1941 -
Tajikistan (also Tadjikistan, 19.. to 1991 USSR)
SSSR- 00001 - 99999, (displayed cyrillic as {CCCP})
old 12/25/1991 - ?
YT- ? - ? (not official)
old 1991 - ?
EY- ? - ?
current 1991 -
Thailand (was Siam)
H- SAAA - SZZZ
old ? - ?
HS- [TA-]AAA - [TA-]ZZZ, 000 - 999 (Government)
current ? -
Togo
F- ???? - ????
old ? - 1960
5V- AAA - ZZZ
current 1960 -
Tonga (also Tongo)
V?- ??? - ???
old ? - ?
A3- ? - ?
current ? -
Trinidad and Tobago (also Trinidad & Tobago Islands)
VP- TAA - TZZ
old ? - 1962
9Y- AAA - ZZZ
current 1962 -
Tunisia
F- ???? - ????
old ? - 1956
TS- AAA - ZZZ
current 1956 -
Turkey
TC- AAA - ZZZ
current ? -
Turkmenistan (19.. to 1991 USSR)
SSSR- 00001 - 99999, (displayed cyrillic as {CCCP})
old 12/25/1991 - ?
EZ- ? - ?
current 1991 -
Tuvalu (Ellice Islands)
V?- ??? - ???
old ? - 1978
T2- ? - ?
current 1978 -
Uganda
VP- UAA - UZZ
old ? - 1962
5X- AAA - ZZZ
current 1962 -
Ukraine (19.. to 1991 USSR)
SSSR- 00001 - 99999, (displayed cyrillic as {CCCP})
old 12/25/1991 - ?
UR- 00001 - 99999
current 1991 -
United Arab Emirates (UAE)
V?- ??? - ???
old ? - 1971
A6- AAA - ZZZ
current 1971 -
United Kingdom (also Great Britain, UK, GB)
G- AAAA - ZZZZ, 1-1 - 99-999
numbers used for temporary/ferry registrations
(and maybe company-owned prototypes)
first number aircraft type, second number sequence ?
current ? -
Anguilla (Leeward or Windward Islands)
VP- LAA - LJZ
current ? -
Bermuda (Islands)
VR- BAA - BZZ
current ? -
British Virgin Islands (Leeward or Windward Islands)
VP- LVA - LZZ
current ? -
Cayman Islands
VR- CAA - CZZ
current ? -
Falkland Islands (also Malvinas)
VP- FAA - FZZ
current ? -
Gibraltar
VR- GAA - GZZ
current ? -
Hong Kong (1997 to PRC)
VR- HAA - HZZ
current ? - 1997
Montserrat (Leeward or Windward Islands)
VP- LMA - LUZ
current ? -
St. Helena (Island)
VQ- HAA - HZZ
current ? -
Turks and Caicos Islands (also Turks & Caicos Islands)
VQ- TAA - TZZ
current ? -
United Nations (UN)
4U- ? - ?
current ? -
United Republic of Tanzania (was United Republic of Tanganyika and Zansibar)
5H- AAA - ZZZ
current 04/26/1964 (+) -
Tanganyika (1961 to 04/26/1964, now part of Tanzania)
VR- TAA - TZZ
old ? - 04/26/1964 (+)
Zansibar (also Sansibar, Island, 1961 (+) to 04/26/1964, now part of Tanzania)
VP- ZAA - ZZZ
old ? - 04/26/1964 (+)
United States of America (USA)
N [x]1 - [x]99999, [x]1A - [x]9999Z, [x]1AA - [x]999ZZ
(letters "I" and "O" are not used, so they can't be confused
with the digits "1" and "0"), (x = category = C/L/R/S/X),
the '-' (dash) as separator is normally not used, but can be
sometimes seen applied before or after the category prefix,
which itself was normally displayed up to the mid-1950s,
while today only (some) oldtimer (are allowed to) show such
a prefix, the categories are: C = Commercial
L = Limited
R = Restricted
S = Standard (?)
X = eXperimental
current ? -
Uruguay (Republic)
C- UAAA - UZZZ
old ? - ?
CX- AAA - ZZZ
current ? -
Uzbekistan (19.. to 1991 USSR)
SSSR- 00001 - 99999, (displayed cyrillic as {CCCP})
old 12/25/1991 - ?
UK- ? - ?
current 1991 -
Vanuatu (also New Hebrides Islands, West Pacific Isles)
VP- PAA - PZZ
old ? - 1980
YJ- ? - ?
current 1980 -
Vatican City (also The Vatican, Vatican State)
HV- ? - ?
current ? -
Venezuela
YV- 111x[x] - 999x[x], (x = C/P/..., depicting usage ?),
[x-]AAA[-1] - [x-]ZZZ[-9], (x = O/P/T/..., depicting usage ?)
current ? -
Vietnam (also Viet Nam, was Indochina)
F- VNAA - VNZZ
old ? - 1958 (+)
3W- ? - ?
old ? - 1958 (+)
Vietnam (People's Republic, also North Vietnam, re-united 1976)
VN- A001 - Z999 (?)
current 1958 (+) -
Vietnam (also South Vietnam)
XV- ? - ?
old 1958 (+) - 1976
Yemen (1967 to 05/22/1990 separated)
YE- AAA - ZZZ
old ? - 1967
7O- AAA - ZZZ
current 05/22/1990 -
Yemen (Arab Republic, also North Yemen)
4W- AAA - ZZZ
old 1967 - 05/22/1990
Yemen (People's Democratic Republic, Yemen PDR, also South Yemen)
7O- AAA - ZZZ
old 1967 - 05/22/1990
Aden (now part of Yemen)
VR- AAA - AZZ
old ? - 1958 (+)
Yugoslavia (now only Serbia and Montenegro left)
UN- ? - ?
old ? - ?
YU- AAA - ZZZ
current 1918 (+) -
Serbia (since 1918 part of Yugoslavia)
X- SAAA - SZZZ
old ? - ?
Zambia (was North Rhodesia)
VP- RAA - RZZ
old ? - 1964
9J- AAA - ZZZ
current 1964 -
Zimbabwe (was South Rhodesia, till 1979)
VP- WAA - WZZ, YAA - YZZ
old ? - 1979
Z- AAA - ZZZ
current 1979 -
The following countries cheased to exist and split into several different
countries (or I don't know their current names):
Czechoslovakia (Czech and Slovak (Socialist/Federal) Republic, CSSR/CSFR/CSR)
L- BAAA - BZZZ
old 1918 - 1928 (+)
OK- AAA - ZZZ
old 1928 (+) - 12/31/1992
Dodekanes (Islands)
?- ? - ?
old 1912 - 1945 (?)
Katanga (now part of Zaire or maybe Zambia ?)
KA- ? - ?
old ? - ?
Soviet Union (USSR, also Russia, 1917 - 12/25/1991)
R- R1 - R999, RAAA - RZZZ
the '-' (dash( as separator was sometimes omitted
old 1922 - 1928 (+)
RR- 1 - 999, AAA - ZZZ
the '-' (dash) as separator was sometimes omitted
old 1922 - 1928 (+)
URSS- [x]1 - [x]9999
(x = D/J/M/N/S/..., latin letters, not cyrilic!)
old 1927 - 1937 +
USSR- ? - ?
old ? - ?
SSSR- 1 - 999, (displayed cyrillic as {CCCP})
old 1929 (?) - 193. (?)
SSSR- x[-]1 - x[-]99999, (displayed cyrillic as {CCCP})
(x = capital cyrillic letter: A {A} / F {qp} / I {I/I} /
K {K} / L {JI} or {n} / M {M} / N {H} / S {C} / Sh {W} /
U {Y} / V (or W) {B} / ...)
the '-' (dash) as separator was sometimes omitted, or
replaced by a space, or displayed behind the initial
cyrillic letter (like: {CCCP-N12}, {CCCP N12}, {CCCPN-12})
old 1931 (?) - 195. (?)
SSSR- 00001 - 99999, (displayed cyrillic as {CCCP})
old 195. (?) - 12/25/1991
United Arab Republics (UAR, Egypt and Syria)
?- ? - ?
old 1958 - 1961
United Arab Republics (UAR, Egypt)
?- ? - ?
old 1961 - 1971
United Arab Republics (UAR, Libya ?)
?- ? - ?
old 1971 - 1979
Wei-Hei-Wei (now ?)
VP- WAA - WZZ
old ? - ?
Zara
?- ? - ?
old 19.. (?) - ?
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