newbie question... aircraft registration numbers

[super bean flicker]

I have a bit of a newbie question... how do you find out the registration numbers of the aircraft? I've seen them near the tail of the plane, and sometimes under the flaps of the front wheel, but sometimes you can't see the plane when boarding so can't find out the reg number... Any way to find out from onboard the plane? Or any other method?

Thanks!

[SQflyergirl]

The nosewheel and tail are your best bets.

The nosewheel doors only have the last two alphabets - in reality you only need the last one, to be honest, cause once you're inside you can deduce.

Onboard, they're typically posted as metal plates in galleys for example, and have three alphabets. (S**).


---snip edit ---- too much info

[SQflyergirl]

As a quick primer:

All SQ aircraft are registered in Singapore and carry the 9V prefix (although this was not the case during the late 80's early 90's with the N registered 743's)

All of them as a third alphabet - carry the letter S. They'll always be 9V-S** (again, wasn't always the case in the past IIRC)

The 4th Alphabet is arranged by SQ in series. The range is as follows:

the SF series is used for SQ Cargo 747-400F's
the SG series is used for 2 class J64/Y117 (soon to be J100) A340-500's
the SQ series is used for 3 class F12/J42/Y234 777-200's
the SK series is used for 3 class R12/J60/Y399 A380's
the SM and SP series is used for 3 class F12/J50/Y310-313 747-400's
the SR series is used for 2 class J30/Y293 regional nonspacebed 777-200's
the SV series is used for 2 class J30/Y255 long-haul spacebed 777-200's
the SW series is used for 3 class F8/J42/Y228 777-300ER's
the SY series is used for 3 class F18/J49/Y265 777-300's

[kapitan]

Most ships registered under the Singapore flag also have a callsign beginning with

9 V x x

The newer ships are give S 6 now a days...

When we use radio to call a shore station we will say...

"This is Nine Na Vic Tor blah blah.." don't know if pilots do the same...

[9V-JKL]

"This is Nine Na Vic Tor blah blah.." don't know if pilots do the same...

Pilots will say: "Singapore 1" if the flight is Singapore Airlines flight SQ1. If its a big jet, then they add also "Heavy" after the call sign.

[SQflyergirl]

Pilots will say: "Singapore 1" if the flight is Singapore Airlines flight SQ1. If its a big jet, then they add also "Heavy" after the call sign.

The limitation for use of the term "heavy" is 250,000lbs I believe, however, it's a US thing. Outside, I don't think they use "heavy", so "Singapore 1 Heavy" is more likely than "Singapore 118 Heavy".

Also read somewhere than when the A380 visits the US and A, it uses the callsign suffix "Ultra" or "Super" or something like that.

[SQflyergirl]

Most ships registered under the Singapore flag also have a callsign beginning with

9 V x x

The newer ships are give S 6 now a days...

When we use radio to call a shore station we will say...

"This is Nine Na Vic Tor blah blah.." don't know if pilots do the same...

Pilots will say: "Singapore 1" if the flight is Singapore Airlines flight SQ1. If its a big jet, then they add also "Heavy" after the call sign.

Not necessarily pilots, but when SQ aircraft are being towed for repositioning - the tug operators use the rego. "Sierra Victor Hotel taxi to Stand Foxtrot four one via"

[EWR]

I have a bit of a newbie question... how do you find out the registration numbers of the aircraft? I've seen them near the tail of the plane, and sometimes under the flaps of the front wheel, but sometimes you can't see the plane when boarding so can't find out the reg number... Any way to find out from onboard the plane? Or any other method?

Thanks!

Registration numbers can be found on metal plates inside some airplanes. On SQ's 747s, for instance, the plate can be found at the back of economy class, near the last door on the port side. On some airlines (not SQ), the aircraft names just under the cockpit's window (usually port side) can be compared with a list of aircraft registrations. TG's Suvarnaphum (sp?) is HS-TAA for instance.

Btw, the 'flaps of the front wheel' are gear doors, not to be confused with the wing flaps.

[787]

As a quick primer:

All SQ aircraft are registered in Singapore and carry the 9V prefix (although this was not the case during the late 80's early 90's with the N registered 743's)

All of them as a third alphabet - carry the letter S. They'll always be 9V-S** (again, wasn't always the case in the past IIRC)

The 4th Alphabet is arranged by SQ in series. The range is as follows:

the SF series is used for SQ Cargo 747-400F's
the SG series is used for 2 class J64/Y117 (soon to be J100) A340-500's
the SQ series is used for 3 class F12/J42/Y234 777-200's
the SK series is used for 3 class R12/J60/Y399 A380's
the SM and SP series is used for 3 class F12/J50/Y310-313 747-400's
the SR series is used for 2 class J30/Y293 regional nonspacebed 777-200's
the SV series is used for 2 class J30/Y255 long-haul spacebed 777-200's
the SW series is used for 3 class F8/J42/Y228 777-300ER's
the SY series is used for 3 class F18/J49/Y265 777-300's

very nice info.