[edit] Tail Numbers

Frequent flyers who track their flights using tools such as FlightMemory.com often ask how to obtain the tail number (aircraft registration number) for a flight they have been on. A number of useful online tools to accomplish this have been identified in various FlyerTalk threads. While this article focuses on obtaining AA and American Eagle tail numbers, many of the tools and concepts are applicable to other airlines as well.

[edit] Tail Numbers vs. Fleet Numbers

Aircraft registry numbers in the United States are comprised of the letter N, followed by one to five digits and letters, with a minimum of one number and a maximum of two trailing letters. Some examples of valid tail numbers are:

N123
N12345
N1234A
N123AA

AA fleet numbers (ship numbers) are comprised of three alphanumeric characters. Often, but not always, the fleet number corresponds to the second, third, and fourth characters of the tail number. In other cases, the fleet number has little or no correlation to the tail number. Some actual examples of AA fleet numbers and the corresponding tail numbers are:

234 = N234AA
345 = N345AN
402 = N402A
507 = N3507A
200 = N76200
3AA = N901AN
4XX = N965TW
5BR = N645AA
7AA = N770AA

[edit] Locating Tail Numbers on Aircraft

On AA aircraft, the tail number is always printed on the fuselage near the tail, while the fleet number is printed on the nose-gear door. On some aircraft, including MD-80s, the fleet number is also printed on the fuselage near the forward door. An AA flight attendant has reported that the tail number is indicated onboard the aircraft above the forward right door and the aft left door. You can also ask a flight attendant for the tail number of the aircraft.

On BA A320 aircraft, the tail number is also printed inside the aircraft on the placards just inside the forward left door and above the forward right door.

[edit] Looking Up Tail Numbers for Historical Flights

Here is one approach to identifying tail numbers for a historical flight:

Query the BTS Database Detailed Statistics by Departures or Arrivals for your airport, airline (AA or MQ), and date(s) - select "All Statistics". Note that this will only work for domestic flights back to 1995. For recent international flights, you can try querying the ACARS databases listed in the next section. There is also a dedicated site with historical flight information to and from LHR and LGW.
Identify your flight number and the corresponding tail number. Here's the catch - AA actually reports fleet numbers to the BTS, in the format N###AA, where ### = fleet number. So, you may see what are invalid registration numbers. Some older American Eagle flights are also reported in the format N###MQ, where the two trailing letters are actually not MQ.
Query rzjets.net by fleet number (and airline if necessary) to identify the true tail number for your aircraft. For American Eagle flights, you can query rzjets.net by registry, omitting the last two characters. Also note that Embraer 140 (ERD) and Embraer 145 (ER4) aircraft are both registered under Embraer 145. Embraer 140 (ERD) aircraft appear to include at least registry numbers N800AE-N858AE, as N800AE was the first E140 aircraft delivered to American Eagle, the launch customer.

[edit] Example 1 - AA1 JFK-LAX 1/1/08

• A query of BTS Detailed Statistics - Departures for All Statistics, New York - Kennedy, American Airlines, Jan, 1, 2008 returns AA0001 as N321AA.
• In this case, the tail number is accurate, and a query of rzjets.net for registry N321AA returns the same tail number, a Boeing 767-223(ER). Interestingly, this tail number was previously assigned to a Douglas DC-7, the Flagship Rhode Island.

[edit] Example 2 - AA375 JFK-DFW 1/1/08

• The same BTS query above returns AA0375 as N4YNAA. Obviously, this is an invalid tail number and the fleet number is 4YN
• In this case, the tail number is invalid, so a query of rzjets.net for fleet number 4YN returns N979TW, which was formerly operated by TWA Trans World Airlines prior to the merger with AA in 2001.

[edit] Example 3 - AA4465 LGA-CLE 1/1/04

• This is an American Eagle flight, so a BTS query for All Statistics, New York - LaGuardia, American Eagle, Jan, 1, 2004 returns MQ4465 as N718MQ.
• In this case, the tail number is inaccurate, so a query of rzjets.net for registry number N718 and operator American Eagle Airlines (EGF-MQ) returns the real tail number, N718AE, an Embraer ERJ-135LR. This aircraft previously had a registration number of PT-SJR, which was used temporarily during delivery from Embraer, with PT designating a Brazilian aircraft.

[edit] Useful Resources

U.S. Department of Transportation, Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) - An excellent site for identifying tail/fleet numbers for historical flights back to 1995 (domestic only) - search Detailed Statistics by Departures or Arrivals, specifying airport, airline, and date(s).
ACARS Database Search - Another resource for identifying tail numbers for any flight based on flight number (required format: AA0012) - does not have comprehensive data and only covers the most recent few weeks, but includes international flights.
SPOTTERS - An easy-to-use site with 3-4 months of consolidated ACARS and selcal information, including some international flights - some flights are not listed in both databases, so both should be searched.
Heathrow & Gatwick Airport Movements - A dedicated site for flights to/from LHR and LGW, with historical data back to at least 1993 and 1999, respectively.
rzjets.net - An excellent site for searching by tail number, fleet number, equipment type, or operator
FAA N-Number Inquiry - Full registration information for US aircraft.
ACARS Fleetlists - browse fleetlists by aircraft type or carrier
Bill Harms' AA Fleetlist - no longer updated, but organized by aircraft
Aeromoe's AA Fleetlist - also no longer updated
FlightStats Historical Flight Report - Does not provide tail numbers, but does provide other useful historical flight data for approximately 4+ years (equipment, departure times, arrival times, delays).