What is an FAA N-Number?

A FAA N-Number is a registration number that an aircraft owner is required to choose from an available list to either assign to or reserve for his aircraft. Registration of an FAA N-Number involves a fee and can also be used for aircraft owners looking to change their assigned N-Numbers.

Aircraft owners reserving N-Numbers are able to keep them for up to one year, and it is then renewable in one year increments. Applications to change an existing N-Number require the owner to send in a letter that describes his aircraft by serial number, manufacturer name, model designation and its current U.S. registration number.