Special Designators
| Model | Type Designator |
|---|---|
| Aircraft type not (yet) assigned a designator | ZZZZ |
| Airship | SHIP |
| Balloon | BALL |
| Glider | GLID |
| Microlight aircraft | ULAC1 |
| Microlight autogyro | GYRO2 |
| Microlight helicopter | UHEL2 |
| Powered parachute/Paraplane | PARA |
| Sailplane | GLID |
| Ultralight aircraft | ULAC1 |
| Ultralight autogyro | GYRO2 |
| Ultralight helicopter | UHEL2 |
Note 1.— For the purposes of document 8643, micro-/ultra-light aircraft are those aircraft types with a maximum take-off mass of 454 kg/1 000 lb or less and a stalling speed not greater than 35 kt.
Note 2.— Micro-/ultra-light helicopters and gyrocopters are those helicopters or gyrocopters with a maximum certified take-off mass of 454 kg/1 000 lb or less.
Unmanned Aircraft (UA)
Designators to be used for unmanned aircraft (UA) having a maximum take-off mass of 454 kg/1 000 lb or less.
| Aircraft Capabilities | Type Designator |
| UA which is not capable of hover or vertical flight and needs to be in horizontal motion to sustain flight. | FFLO (forward flight lift only) |
| UA which is capable of vertical flight and hover | VFHC (vertical flight and hover capability) |
Note.— Tilt-rotor or tilt-wing UA, should use FFLO or VFHC depending on the aircraft capabilities for the particular operation.