Aircraft ident markings Canada.

[Paul Tuttle]

I've been looking through the Canadian regs trying to determine what size markings I have to put on the sides of my airplane. I've had little luck finding an definitive answer. My plan is to put the 20" letters under the wing and I was hoping to get away with 3" letters on the vertical stab. I don't want to put 11" letters on the side of the fuselage and the rudder is checkered so I don't want any letters on it either. If anyone can let me know what's required I'd appreciate it.

Thanks

[rodeja]

Hi Paul,

Will have to look up the exact wording the in the CARS, but all that is required is 6" letters on the tail or fuse. There is a limit to the slant and style. We had huge letters on the side before paint and found out it's not necessary. All spelled out in the CARS if you look. PM me if you can't find it.

[C-FAH Q]

As per transport Canada, here....

http://www.tc.gc.ca/eng/civilaviatio...s-222-1005.htm

Specifications for the Letters in the Marks Displayed on Aircraft

(2) The letters in the marks displayed on an aircraft shall meet the following specifications:

(a) be of equal height;

(b) subject to subsections (c) and (d), the height of each letter in the marks displayed on a heavier-than-air aircraft shall be not less than 15 cm (5.9 inches);

(c) the height of each letter in the marks displayed on the bottom surface of a wing of a heavier-than-air aircraft shall be not less than 50 cm (19.68 inches);

(d) the height of each letter in the marks displayed on the bottom surface of the fuselage or cabin of a rotorcraft shall be the lesser of

(i) 50 cm (19.68 inches), and

(ii) four fifths of the width of the fuselage or cabin;

(e) the height of each letter in the marks displayed on a lighter-than-air aircraft shall be not less than 50 cm (19.68 inches);

(f) the width of each letter in the marks displayed on an aircraft, other than the letters "I", "M" and "W", shall be two thirds of the letter's height;

(g) the width of the letter "I" in the marks displayed on an aircraft shall be one sixth of the letter's height;

(h) the width of the letter "M" or "W" in the marks displayed on an aircraft shall not exceed the letter's height;

(i) the length of a hyphen in the marks displayed on an aircraft shall be two thirds of the height of any letter in the marks;

(j) the thickness of the lines of a letter or hyphen in the marks displayed on an aircraft shall be one sixth of the height of any letter in the marks;

(k) the letters in the marks displayed on an aircraft shall be displayed adjacent to each other in a series;

(l) adjacent letters in the marks displayed on an aircraft shall be separated by a space that is not less than one quarter of the width of the letter "C" in the marks;

(m) a letter in the marks displayed on an aircraft that is adjacent to a hyphen shall be separated from the hyphen by a space that is not less than one quarter of the width of the letter "C" in the marks;

Marks Displayed at an Angle

(n) where the letters of marks are displayed at an angle,

(i) the letters are displayed at an angle of not more than plus or minus 35 degrees to the perpendicular of their base,

(ii) the angle of each letter and of both sides of the hyphen comprising the marks are the same,

(iii) the height of the letters is measured perpendicular from the base line of the letters, and

(iv) the width of the letters, the spacing between the letters and the width of the hyphen are measured parallel to the base line and between the lines that define the outside edges of each letter and the hyphen;

[Golf Echo]

Paul, here's the link to the Reg's:
http://www.tc.gc.ca/eng/civilaviatio...005.htm#222_01

What appear to be the important parts:

Heavier-than-Air-Aircraft Other than Helicopter or Gyroplane


(g) except as provided in paragraph 222.01(2)(p), once parallel to the longitudinal axis
(amended 2000/06/01; previous version)

(i) on each side of the fuselage or an alternative structure in the area between the wing and the tail surface,

(ii) in the case of a single vertical tail on each side surface of the tail, or

(iii) in the case of a multi-vertical tail on each outboard surface of the tail;

(iv) where an engine pod or other appurtenance occupies the area between the wing and the tail surface of a heavier-than-air aircraft and is an integral part of the side surface of the fuselage or an alternative structure, the marks of the aircraft shall be displayed on the outboard surface;

(h) the display of marks on the bottom surface of the wings is optional,

(i) where the marks are displayed and the aircraft has one set of wings, the marks shall be placed once on the bottom surface of the wings or, where the aircraft has more than one set of wings, once on the bottom surface of the lowest wings

(A) extending from wing tip to wing tip or on the left wing only,

(B) equidistant, to the extent possible, from the leading and the trailing edges, and

(C) with the letters arranged with their tops toward the leading edge; or

(i) where the marks are not displayed on the bottom surface of the wings, the height of the marks that are displayed on the side surfaces in accordance with subsection (g) shall be displayed in accordance 222.01(2)(o).

Specifications for the Letters in the Marks Displayed on Aircraft

(2) The letters in the marks displayed on an aircraft shall meet the following specifications:

(a) be of equal height;

(b) subject to subsections (c) and (d), the height of each letter in the marks displayed on a heavier-than-air aircraft shall be not less than 15 cm (5.9 inches);

(c) the height of each letter in the marks displayed on the bottom surface of a wing of a heavier-than-air aircraft shall be not less than 50 cm (19.68 inches);

(d) the height of each letter in the marks displayed on the bottom surface of the fuselage or cabin of a rotorcraft shall be the lesser of

(i) 50 cm (19.68 inches), and

(ii) four fifths of the width of the fuselage or cabin;

(e) the height of each letter in the marks displayed on a lighter-than-air aircraft shall be not less than 50 cm (19.68 inches);

(f) the width of each letter in the marks displayed on an aircraft, other than the letters "I", "M" and "W", shall be two thirds of the letter's height;

(g) the width of the letter "I" in the marks displayed on an aircraft shall be one sixth of the letter's height;

(h) the width of the letter "M" or "W" in the marks displayed on an aircraft shall not exceed the letter's height;

(i) the length of a hyphen in the marks displayed on an aircraft shall be two thirds of the height of any letter in the marks;

(j) the thickness of the lines of a letter or hyphen in the marks displayed on an aircraft shall be one sixth of the height of any letter in the marks;

(k) the letters in the marks displayed on an aircraft shall be displayed adjacent to each other in a series;

(l) adjacent letters in the marks displayed on an aircraft shall be separated by a space that is not less than one quarter of the width of the letter "C" in the marks;

(m) a letter in the marks displayed on an aircraft that is adjacent to a hyphen shall be separated from the hyphen by a space that is not less than one quarter of the width of the letter "C" in the marks;

Marks Displayed on Side Surfaces of a Heavier-than-Air-Aircraft
When not Displayed Under the Wing or Cabin
(amended 2000/06/01; no previous version)

(o) the height of the letters in the marks on the side surfaces of a heavier-than-air aircraft that does not display marks under the wing or cabin, shall be 30 cm (11.8 inches), except that, where required by the dimensions of the structure of the aircraft, that height may be reduced to:

(i) the maximum height allowed by the dimensions of the structure of the aircraft or a height of 15 cm (5.9 inches), whichever is greater, or

(ii) in the case of a glider, an amateur-built aircraft or an ultra-light aeroplane, the maximum height allowed by the dimensions of the structure of the aircraft or a height of 7.5 cm (3 inches), whichever is greater,

provided that a margin of 5 cm (1.970 inches) can be maintained as required under subparagraph 222.01(1)(b)(iii); and
(amended 2000/06/01; previous version)


(p) where either one of the surfaces referred to in paragraph 222.01(1)(g) is large enough for display of marks meeting the size requirements of paragraph (o) and the other is not, full size marks shall be placed on the larger surface.
(amended 2000/06/01; no previous version)

So, I think you're OK with 15cm marks on the sides of the fuse or tail if you have marks on the bottom of the wing >= 50cm.

Simple, right?

[Bevan]

Originally Posted by C-FAH Q

As per transport Canada, here....

http://www.tc.gc.ca/eng/civilaviatio...s-222-1005.htm

Specifications for the Letters in the Marks Displayed on Aircraft

(2) The letters in the marks displayed on an aircraft shall meet the following specifications:

(a) be of equal height;

(b) subject to subsections (c) and (d), the height of each letter in the marks displayed on a heavier-than-air aircraft shall be not less than 15 cm (5.9 inches);

(c) the height of each letter in the marks displayed on the bottom surface of a wing of a heavier-than-air aircraft shall be not less than 50 cm (19.68 inches);

(d) the height of each letter in the marks displayed on the bottom surface of the fuselage or cabin of a rotorcraft shall be the lesser of

(i) 50 cm (19.68 inches), and

(ii) four fifths of the width of the fuselage or cabin;

(e) the height of each letter in the marks displayed on a lighter-than-air aircraft shall be not less than 50 cm (19.68 inches);

(f) the width of each letter in the marks displayed on an aircraft, other than the letters "I", "M" and "W", shall be two thirds of the letter's height;

(g) the width of the letter "I" in the marks displayed on an aircraft shall be one sixth of the letter's height;

(h) the width of the letter "M" or "W" in the marks displayed on an aircraft shall not exceed the letter's height;

(i) the length of a hyphen in the marks displayed on an aircraft shall be two thirds of the height of any letter in the marks;

(j) the thickness of the lines of a letter or hyphen in the marks displayed on an aircraft shall be one sixth of the height of any letter in the marks;

(k) the letters in the marks displayed on an aircraft shall be displayed adjacent to each other in a series;

(l) adjacent letters in the marks displayed on an aircraft shall be separated by a space that is not less than one quarter of the width of the letter "C" in the marks;

(m) a letter in the marks displayed on an aircraft that is adjacent to a hyphen shall be separated from the hyphen by a space that is not less than one quarter of the width of the letter "C" in the marks;

Marks Displayed at an Angle

(n) where the letters of marks are displayed at an angle,

(i) the letters are displayed at an angle of not more than plus or minus 35 degrees to the perpendicular of their base,

(ii) the angle of each letter and of both sides of the hyphen comprising the marks are the same,

(iii) the height of the letters is measured perpendicular from the base line of the letters, and

(iv) the width of the letters, the spacing between the letters and the width of the hyphen are measured parallel to the base line and between the lines that define the outside edges of each letter and the hyphen;

Holy smokes Bat Man. Is is even possible to comply 100% ? Maybe this is a test to see if you actually can follow instructions and are technical enough to have built the thing in the first place??

Bevan

[Paul Tuttle]

Thank Graham.

I was just about to paste the same section. Good read huh?

Like you've highlighted. it looks like 3" letters are acceptable as long as you have the big ones under the wing, that's my interpretation anyhow.

I've seen a few RVs around that are done that way and haven't heard of anyone being harassed by the letter police.

Thanks

PS. I think I'll go 3.25" just to be on the safe side

[Golf Echo]

Originally Posted by Paul Tuttle

Thank Graham.

I was just about to paste the same section. Good read huh?

Like you've highlighted. it looks like 3" letters are acceptable as long as you have the big ones under the wing, that's my interpretation anyhow.

I've seen a few RVs around that are done that way and haven't heard of anyone being harassed by the letter police.

Thanks

PS. I think I'll go 3.25" just to be on the safe side

Paul, I interpret it a bit differently...

If you have the 30cm (20") marks under wing, then you are OK to have 15cm (6") marks on the fuse/tail. The only time you can go less than 15cm is if you are required to do so due to the dimensions of the aircraft structure.

If you're limited by the aircraft structure, it seems you can go to a minimum of 7.5cm (3").

But, this is just how I interpret the gibberish in the regs.

[terrye]

I can't find the reference, but I believe that entering or leaving an ADIZ, there is a requirement for the marks to be 12" high displayed on the fuselage sides.

The way I interpret all of this is that if you have 12" high marks on the fuselage sides, you don't need the underwing marks, nor the 6" tail marks and are good for ADIZ.

Put another way, if you have 6" tail marks and 20" under wing marks, if you enter or leave an ADIZ you STILL have to display 12" marks on the fuselage sides.

[flyboy1963]

Paul, all this stuff is great, but I think what needs to be said:

only about 1% of the markings I've seen actually meet the regs. ( assuming you treat them as black and white). Being in the graphics business it's a pet peeve of mine.
OH, they are usually correct on a 1948 Piper Cub...back when they were taped off by hand and brushed on with dope. Now that it's EASY, nobody cares.....but I digress.

I'd say you should talk to the guy who will sign off on your markings BEFORE you paint them on, 'cause it appears that's about the only person you really need to satisfy.
...almost everyone uses the wrong letter style, adds an outline, shadow and fade..... which is totally illegal etc. etc.

you still get guys in paint shops who swear up and down that they can't be vinyl letters, ( have a close look at the next CF-18 or 747 you park next to...it's ALL vinyl). Maybe they are right, but it's not what's in common use.

I think if you read up on the ADIZ, you'd have to be penetrating our airspace from 200 nm offshore to worry about this one.

I look at it this way; layout your paint scheme, and see if 12" letters on the side don't ruin it. Pretty easy to stick 6" on the tail, and 20" underwing, where you never really see them.

of course, this advice is worth..... exactly what you paid for it!

[Ralph Inkster]

Might be wise to check with your MD-RA inspector, as they may snag your final inspection if their interpretation of the CARs is not the same as yours.