What's the Official FAA designator?

[RV8iator]

For filing purposes, what's the official designator for RV's. I've looked at the AOPA's website link to the FAA publication, http://www.aopa.org/whatsnew/acdesig.html and it doesn't have Vans on it. One FAA link to 7110.65 Contractions, http://www.faa.gov/airports_airtraff.../CNT/5-1-V.htm shows RV8 as the designator, but the AOPA online flight planner won't accept this. Shows invalid aircraft type.
What do you guys put in the A/C TYPE blank on your flight plans?

[tc1234c]

Try ICAO website:

http://www.icao.int/anb/ais/8643/index.cfm

Manufacturer Model Type Designator Description Engine Type Engine Count WTC Photo
VAN'S RV-10 RV10 Landplane Piston 1 L
VAN'S RV-9 RV9 Landplane Piston 1 L -
VAN'S RV-8 RV8 Landplane Piston 1 L
VAN'S RV-7 RV7 Landplane Piston 1 L -
VAN'S RV-6 RV6 Landplane Piston 1 L
VAN'S RV-4T RV4T Landplane Turboprop 1 L -
VAN'S RV-4 RV4 Landplane Piston 1 L
VAN'S RV-3 RV3 Landplane Piston 1 L -

I use RV9 for my RV9A and never had any problem.

[Phil]

Just beat me to it.....

Make sure you put the apostrophe in Van's...... Otherwise it won't come up.

Phil

[RV8iator]

Has anybody got the new AOPA online flight planner to accept RV8 or RV-8 as a type designator. It will not let you use apostrophe's in the "Make and Model" line, hence can't put VAN'S and does not recognize VANS or RV8, or RV-8.
Just wondering if anybody else has figured out how to make it work without getting an error message say unrecognized type.

Thanks for the replies.

[Hal-san]

could this be the information you are looking for?? The type designator starts with H, i.e. HXA for a/c with indicated air speed of 100 knots or less.

FAA Order 7110.65, Air Traffic Control
Effective February 14, 2008
Includes Change 1 Effective July 31, 2008

Appendix A: Fixed-Wing Aircraft | Appendix B: Helicopters/Rotorcrafts

Appendix C.

Aircraft Information

Specific Homebuilt/Experimental Aircraft

Homebuilt and Experimental Aircraft*

Designator Criteria
Type
Designator
Performance Information**



Climb Rate
(fpm)
Descent Rate (fpm)
SRS Cat.

Aircraft with cruise (indicated) airspeeds of 100 knots or less
HXA
500
500
I

Aircraft with cruise (indicated) airspeeds of greater than 100 knots, up to and including 200 knots
HXB
750
750
I

Aircraft with cruise (indicated) airspeeds greater than 200 knots
HXC
1,000
1,000
I


NOTE-
*Configuration diversity and the fact that airworthiness certificates are issued to aircraft builders, vice manufacturers, necessitates the assignment of generic aircraft type designators based on cruise performance, rather than specific manufacturer and normal descriptive/performance information.

**All performance criteria has been estimated because configuration diversity precludes determining precise aircraft-specific information.

[tc1234c]

I see what you meant. Just tried the new AOPA Internet Flight Planner and encountered the same error message. I added HXB as the FAA designator and kept RV9 as the make and model and it worked.

On fltplan.com and AOPA real-time flight planner there is no FAA Designator field and I was able to file just as before.

[Sticky1]

While in the air NYC ATC asked the same.....HXB under 200knots

[RV8iator]

Thanks Ted, Like you said, that made it work. Go figure. HXB..

[Paul Eastham]

I've seen both of these designations in various documents...online I can understand using HXB, but when I call up for flight following and say type aircraft, am I "supposed" to say HXB or RV_ ?

I say the latter and haven't gotten any complaints so far, but this is mostly in RV-dense California.

[RVadmirer]

I have an inquiry into the FAA on this and they have responded twice that they are still researching!

In my research I finally got an answer from a center controller that they prefer the more accurate designators vs. the simple three. I too have used accurate designators all over the country with no problem. Never tried one of the 3 before. In the AOPA application it's just a matter of programming and that issue wasn't a priority in getting it out of Beta testing. Took some getting used to but I really like it now.