Short Tail Numbers

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I have a three character tail number. We'll call it N9AZ.

When I request flight following I say "RV Niner Alpha Zulu", "Experimental Niner Alpha Zulu", or "November Niner Alpha Zulu".

I've noticed that when I start it with "November" it goes right on through, but when I use the other equally accurate phrases I'm asked to confirm that "Niner Alpha Zulu" is the full identifier.

I'm training myself to always say "November" but I'm curious about the experiences of other short numbered folks.
 
You found the solution. Say November. Controllers are use to 5 character call signs. Anything else is out of ryhthm. 3 character ones make you assume the pilot is abbreviating to the usual last 3 characters even though it's the initial contact. The ones I hated the most were 4 character call signs. They just didn't fit at all. If there was a letter it wasn't to bad. But a 4 character, all numbers, could be a real head scratcher.
 
Mine is N92D, even with the N I get asked for my full number.
 
Was this really you or someone at OSH? We know you like to play jokes on POA members.
 
One Alpha.

November one alpha the Goodyear blimp Mayflower.
 
Used to have Skymaster 285 on field. He was constantly asked for his full call sign. Response was always "November 285".
 
Grum.Man said:
Mine is N92D, even with the N I get asked for my full number.
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Dang yeah I'd probably just sell the plane or try to get a new N #. Toss in the extra November at the front and you've got a stuttering problem and/or left off the last #. You been drinking? Starting with November and being 4 digits... Double whammy.
 
Even 4 confused them. I used to fly N73FR a lot. Been asked more than a few times for the full callsign.
(By the way this used to be 73ER...if any of you ERAU guys have Riddle 73 in your logbooks, it's the same plane).
 
My RV-4 is N4WJ. I am asked for full number on occasion.


This space intentionally left blank for future sarcasm.
 
We had a twin at my flight school that was N44K. I always just said, "Seminole N44K."
 
One of the most unique short tail #'s. N1KE G650.
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I once saw "N1" at KOMA. IIRC, it belongs to the FAA and I was wondering if they got that question, or if the controllers called ahead to warn each other.
 
Looking forward to what happens when I begin flying my Fokker D-VIII. I've reserved N32UT.

"It's that Fokker, 32UT"

Cheers
 
Don't forget you are required to inform ATC of the experimental nature of your aircraft so you might want to stick with one that includes that info.
 
As a rookie ATC working ground control many years ago at SMO, "Bonanza Four Echo" called for taxi...I responded, "roger, what is the full callsign?" And received a very, very deliberate "Bonanza Four Echo"...pulled out the binoculars and sure enough "N4E" on the side of the plane. My bad.
 
Mine is not short, but apparently it's hard to read back correctly... N90098 I make a call: Cessna Niner Zero Zero Niner Eight as clearly as I can, then they call back many different variations... Niner Niner Zero Eight, Niner Zero Niner Niner, etc. I always correct them so there is no confusion later, but I sometimes have to say it more than once. I've learned to say it very slowly and I'm glad when they abbreviate Zero Niner Eight.
 
SkyDog58 said:
Don't forget you are required to inform ATC of the experimental nature of your aircraft so you might want to stick with one that includes that info.
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It will be marked NX32UT so I can avoid the "experimental" labels all over the plane.

Cheers
 
Lowflynjack said:
Mine is not short, but apparently it's hard to read back correctly... N90098 I make a call: Cessna Niner Zero Zero Niner Eight as clearly as I can, then they call back many different variations... Niner Niner Zero Eight, Niner Zero Niner Niner, etc. I always correct them so there is no confusion later, but I sometimes have to say it more than once. I've learned to say it very slowly and I'm glad when they abbreviate Zero Niner Eight.
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Yep! It's not a short number issue, but I have the exact same trouble with the T-6 that I fly; N9790Z. No controller EVER gets that right on the first read back; it's just a tongue twister, plus it doesn't help that being a noisy airplane it overwhelms the microphone.

My RV-8 does have a short number though, N8YV; I've had a bit of confusion with that one as well.
 
jbDC9 said:
Yep! It's not a short number issue, but I have the exact same trouble with the T-6 that I fly; N9790Z.
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That's worse than mine for sure! The zero zulu part sounds pretty cool though!

Growing up I flew in a plane that was N19998. She was known as triple niner eight by all controllers in the area. I miss that N-number!
 
once flew with ian groom his pitts s2b was numbered N1AN or ian , but i wish i had a better time with him .nice tail number though.he did introduce me to a Friend of his Mike goulian and had fun with him, did a hour with him in n1AN ,what a great guy! 1995 ish .my best to IANS wife and son .
 
We have a plane with only 3 digits at our airport - including the 'N'. The pilot lately confessed that while it is nice to have a short tailnumber he is sick of being asked for 3rd he full tailnumber... :D

I like the N1KE though!!:)
 
Cap'n Jack said:
I once saw "N1" at KOMA. IIRC, it belongs to the FAA and I was wondering if they got that question, or if the controllers called ahead to warn each other.
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They actually have most or all of the single-digit ones like that. You probably won't ever hear it on the radio as they use the callsign Flight Check. They test navaids, approaches, etc.
 
I have N394 and am asked for the full call sign not only by the first controller, but subsequent controllers on the same flight. I though (in error) that a short N number would save time. When I was trying to reserve numbers, there was one guy in Florida that was reserving all the numbers that came available that had three characters. I assume he was doing it that way to sell them to others for a profit. I am sure there have been many aircraft with N394 before, but I have been unable to find the history.
 
cheap weenie said:
They actually have most or all of the single-digit ones like that. You probably won't ever hear it on the radio as they use the callsign Flight Check. They test navaids, approaches, etc.
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N70 did flight check at Shawnee and announced himself as FlightCheck 70. Saw him at Meacham today in fact.
 
flyingron said:
Even 4 confused them. I used to fly N73FR a lot. Been asked more than a few times for the full callsign.
(By the way this used to be 73ER...if any of you ERAU guys have Riddle 73 in your logbooks, it's the same plane).
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I've got hundreds of hours in it and 737NF. Of course when I was flying them it was Fetter 1 and Fetter 2. Good times. Kind of ironic that 3FR used to be a ERAU ship considering Stan's opinion of it's graduates.

My ride is N182V. My initial call is usually "skylane November 1 8 2 victor" and yet I still get asked for my full call sign and type of aircraft. Often, thanks to Virginia state aircraft, and the hordes of Vans drivers in the skies, ATC will often try to slip in an "Alpha" after the "victor".
 
I still had keys to 73FR for years after it was sold to Stan. He told me to keep them, I might need them. When Michelle Powell hired on there I gave my set to her. I don't know if Stan ever figured out how she got them the first day on the job.
 
cheap weenie said:
They actually have most or all of the single-digit ones like that. You probably won't ever hear it on the radio as they use the callsign Flight Check. They test navaids, approaches, etc.
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I thought N1 "belonged" to the FAA administrator? I read it on the internet and we all know that's 100% accurate information ;)
 
If the Administrator is on board N1 (or any N aircraft) the official call sign is SafeAir One.

But the aircraft is used for lots of things, including positioning NTSB members to accident scenes.
 
hotprops said:
once flew with ian groom his pitts s2b was numbered N1AN or ian , but i wish i had a better time with him .nice tail number though.he did introduce me to a Friend of his Mike goulian and had fun with him, did a hour with him in n1AN ,what a great guy! 1995 ish .my best to IANS wife and son .
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I was fortunate enough to meet Mike Goulian once. You're right, he's one of the nicest, friendliest guys out there!

SkyDog58 said:
Don't forget you are required to inform ATC of the experimental nature of your aircraft so you might want to stick with one that includes that info.
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I believe the only time you're required to say "Experimental" is on initial contact with the tower. To me, saying X-Ray all the time (in N number) seems clumsy.
 
Pilawt said:
In the mid 1990s I rented a Piper Cadet, N9199Z. Sadly, about 10 years later somebody flew it into the side of a mountain near Las Vegas on a clear day.
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I used to fly 99Z as well :) I believe he had his whole family on board :(
 
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