Motorglider cleanup

ICAO has implemented a two-stage cleanup of motorglider with a retractable engine or folding/retractable propeller entries in Doc 8643 – Aircraft Type Designators. 

In Stage 1 (completed), all affected motorglider types remain listed and have been reassigned to the generic designator GLIM, with certain engine types corrected as required. 

In Stage 2​ (upcoming), individual GLIM motorglider types, as well as manufacturers associated solely with these types, will be removed. The final consolidation will be reflected in the April 2026 edition of Doc 8643.​ 

The Doc 8643 Foreword is being updated to state that, when a designator is required for a motorglider with a retractable engine or folding/retractable propeller, the designator GLIM shall be used, alongside other generic designators such as BALL, GLID, ULAC, UHEL, GYRO and PARA. 

This phased approach was chosen to avoid sudden removal of aircraft types, allow national registers and systems to update designations in an orderly manner, and provide maximum transparency to all data users. ​​​