Aircraft Identification Mark Placement: Annex 7 Wing, Fuselage, and Tail Rules

010-02-04Pablo Asensio Martínez2026-03-271 min

Annex 7 specifies where identification marks must be placed on heavier-than-air aircraft (aeroplanes, helicopters, etc.) to ensure their visibility.

Location on Heavier-than-Air Aircraft

Wings

  • Marks must appear once on the lower surface of the wing structure.
  • They shall be located on the left half of the lower surface unless they extend across the whole of the lower surface.
  • They shall be equidistant from the leading and trailing edges as far as possible.
  • The tops of the letters and numbers shall be toward the leading edge of the wing (4.3.1).

Fuselage and Tail

Marks must appear in one of the following locations (4.3.2):

  1. Fuselage: On each side of the fuselage (or equivalent structure) between the wings and the tail surface.
  2. Vertical Tail Surfaces:
    • If there is a single vertical surface: On both sides.
    • If there are multiple vertical surfaces: On the outboard sides of the outer surfaces.

Special Cases

If an aircraft does not possess the corresponding parts mentioned above, the marks shall appear in a manner such that the aircraft can be identified readily (4.3.3).