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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