Aircraft Nationality, Registration, Airworthiness and Documents
This domain tests the legal status and paperwork that make an aircraft internationally airworthy: which State registers it, what marks it carries, which State certifies it, and which documents must be on board. Questions typically ask 'which document, issued by whom, is required?'
Nationality and registration
Article 17 gives an aircraft the nationality of the State in which it is registered. Article 18 states that an aircraft cannot be validly registered in more than one State, although it may be transferred from one register to another. Article 19 allows registration by a person who is not a national of the registering State, subject to the conditions of Annex 7. Article 20 requires every aircraft engaged in international air navigation to bear its nationality and registration marks; Article 21 requires the State of registry to report registrations to ICAO.
Marks and airworthiness
Annex 7 governs marks: the nationality mark is the common mark of the State in capital letters, followed by a hyphen and the registration mark. Annex 8 contains the minimum standards of airworthiness, with Part IIIA applying to aeroplanes above 5 700 kg and Part IIIB to those at or below that mass. Article 31 requires a certificate of airworthiness issued or rendered valid by the State of registry; Article 33 obliges other States to recognise it provided its basis meets or exceeds the Annex 8 minimum standards.
Documents under Article 29
Certificate of registration; certificate of airworthiness; appropriate licences for each crew member; journey logbook; radio station licence; passenger list showing names and places of embarkation and destination; cargo manifest and detailed declarations of cargo. Annex 6 and EU rules add the operational flight plan, technical log and, under SERA, documents for the route.
Worked example
An aircraft registered in State A is wet-leased to an operator established in State B. It may be registered in only one State, so it stays on State A's register, carries State A's marks, and its certificate of airworthiness is issued or rendered valid by State A. If State B wanted the aircraft on its own register, State A's registration would first have to be cancelled and a new certificate of airworthiness obtained.
Traps
The State of registry, not the State of the operator, certifies airworthiness. Article 29 is a fixed list; the radio station licence is issued by the State of registry, not by the State where the radio is manufactured or licensed. Dual registration is always invalid.