Aircraft Placards

Aircraft Placards

Aircraft vinyl graphics

Article 5 of the Air Navigation Order 2000 requires that UK registered aircraft bear nationality and registration marks. It is an offense not to comply with these regulations. There are also tight regulations concerning acceptable lettering and format.

The aim of displaying the registration mark is to allow identification of the aircraft. The requirements are specific...

the Schedule requires the letters to be in Roman characters and to be without ornamentation. Fancy letters are not permitted. For the side lettering a slope of not more than 30 degrees is acceptable. No other letter or number may be inserted anywhere around the nationality and registration marks.

Constructional features of the aircraft are not an excuse and the graphics must always be kept clean and visible. The best advantage is the best advantage of an external viewer either on the ground or in another aircraft. The size of the letters must not be less than the specified dimensions and the height of the letters for underwing markings must be a minimum of 50 cm. The standard side markings required to be displayed on the fuselage or tail of an aircraft should normally be not less than 30cm.

Nationality and registration marks have to be of the same single colour and distinct from the background on which the letters are placed, and must be given adequate separation from other markings. Letters should contrast significantly with the background colour of that part of the aircraft. Simply outlining the letters in a contrasting colour is unlikely to provide the necessary legibility. There has also to be a fireproof metal plate bearing the nationality and registration marks of the aircraft.

As long as they are within the stringent regs and away from the nationality and registration marks, vinyl graphics and decals can be customised. Vinyl graphics are easier to apply and less expensive than painting. They are easily removed.

Customised aircraft graphics allow accurate colour matches to be made to cabin interior colour schemes or Pantone or RAL references when refurbishing aircraft interiors.

Aircraft with pressurised cabins which fly over 13000ft, commercial airliners, require a specialised vinyl. This vinyl literally breathes with the skin of the aircraft as it expands and contracts when it moves through different altitudes.

Aircraft placards

Aircraft signage and placards appear wherever there is a switch, knob or lever. Labelling should be clear to show function and mode of operation. Switches are up for on and down for off, in common with established aviation practice. Engine controls and instruments should be labelled to show their purpose and range of indication. Warning lights must be identified.

Cockpit exit levers, door and canopy latches should be marked and an arrow applied inside and outside the aircraft to show the direction for emergency use of the levers.

Baggage weight and cockpit loading limitations should be placarded.

Static vents should have "keep vent clear", oil capacity and spec. next to the oil filler, the orientation of fuel cocks shown. Aircraft fuel systems maintenance involves checking the position of handles matches the indication of the aircraft placards, otherwise there are real safety implications and an aviation fuel hazard.