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1. GENERAL. The Operational Systems Branch, AFS620, manages and controls all air operator and air agency

certificate numbers. The numbering system used by AFS620, provides a standardized format, a multitude of possible

numbers, and a central location for assigning, storing, and

retrieving information.

3. ELEMENTS OF A CERTIFICATE NUMBER

A. Four Elements of a Certificate Number. A certificate

number consists of four elements: the “designator”

element, the “type” element, the “numeric” element, and

the “alpha suffix” element. For example, the operator

certificate number RWI-L-001-A (or RWIL001A without

the dashes) denotes the following:

(1) RWI (designator element). The “designator”

element is a designation using combinations of three letters.

An air operator or air agency applicant may request a

specific three-letter designator. Given the 26 letters of the

alphabet in combinations of three, there are 17,576

possible, unique combinations. Thus, an operator can

personalize the designator received.

(a) For FAR Part 121, 125, 135, 145, 147, and 149

applicants, this can be accomplished on the Preapplication

Statement of Intent (PASI). 

(b) For FAR Part 129, 133, 137, or 141 applicants,

the three-letter designators can be requested in the letter of

intent and/or on the respective application forms.

(c) AFS-620 shall attempt to accommodate the

applicant’s request. If all three choices have already been

assigned or if the applicant does not provide any choices,

AFS-620 issues the first available, random designator.

(2) L (type element). The “type” element identifies

the type of certificate and the applicable regulation. AFS620 always assigns an organization with operations having

different types of certificates the same three-letter

designator with the “type” element assuring the

differentiation.

AIR OPERATORS

TYPE OF CERTIFICATE TYPE FAR

ELEMENT PART

Air Carrier Certificate A 121/135

Operating Certificate B 125

(Business/private carriage)

Operating Certificate (commercial) C 121/135

Foreign Operator F 129

(Operations specifications only)

Agricultural Aircraft Operator G 137

Rotorcraft External-Load Operator L 133

FAR Part 125 Full Deviation Holder M 91

(Certificate number not issued)

AIR AGENCIES

TYPE OF CERTIFICATE TYPE FAR

ELEMENT PART

Domestic Satellite Repair Station D 145

Parachute Loft P 149

Domestic Repair Station R 145

Pilot School S 141 

Aviation Maintenance Tech School T 141

Provisional Pilot School V 141

Foreign Repair Station Y 145

Foreign Satellite Repair Station Z 145

(3) 001 (numeric element). The “number” element

provides 999 (001 to 999) certificate number combinations

for each type of certificate.

(4) A (alpha suffix element). The “alpha suffix”

element provides even more possible combinations by

established 25 alphabet groups (A through Z, excluding P

which is used to denote a precertification number for FAR

Part 125 only). When all possible number element

combinations (001 to 999) have been used for a particular

type of certificate, the alpha suffix changes to the next letter

alphabetically. For example, take the imaginary externalload operator number ELO-L-999-A.

CHAPTER 9 OBTAIN CERTIFICATE NUMBER FOR AN 

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A. The next external-load operator certificate number,

regardless of the designator, will be: XYZ-L-001-B.

B. Certificate Commonality. This number system also

allows operators who hold different types of certificates to

maintain a certain amount of commonality in their

certificate numbers. For example, an air operator who is

also an air agency can have the same designator:

Number: RWI-L-001-A

Elements: RWI - Rotorworks International

L - External-Load Operator

001 - First certificated external-load operator

A - First group alphabetically

Number: RWI-R-003-A

Elements: RWI - Rotorworks International

R - Repair Station

002 - Second certificated repair station

A - First group alphabetically

5. PRECERTIFICATION NUMBERS. The letter “P”

is used as the alpha suffix element for the temporary

precertification number used for FAR Part 125 applicants.

Upon successful completion of the certification process, the

“P” is changed to the appropriate alpha suffix element (A

through Z, excluding P).

7. RESTRICTIONS

A. Number Assignment. The complete certification

number (all eight characters), once assigned to a particular

organization, is never assigned to another.

B. Reassignment of Designators

(1) Regardless of the type of certificate, the designator element of an organization that has become inactive or

has terminated operations shall not be reassigned to a different organization until at least three years have elapsed.

During the three year time period, the designator can be

reassigned to the original organization if it resumes operations.

(2) After the three year period, the number can be

assigned to another organization provided there is no record

of significance associated with the designator element in

any of the databases maintained by AFS-620. If a designator element has an associated record of significance, AFS620 shall not reassign the designator element for at least 10

years.

C. Alpha Suffix Combination Reassignment. Organizations

which have more than one type of certificate, who conduct

business under more than one operating regulation are

assigned identical numeric elements for each assigned

certificate number, wherever possible. A specific numeric

element can be reassigned provided a different alpha suffix

element is assigned. For example, 999 can be used with an

“A” alpha suffix and also with a “B” alpha suffix.

9. TERMINATION OF THE CERTIFICATION

PROCESS. If an applicant for a FAR Part 121, 125, 135,

145, 147, or 149 certificate terminates the certification

process prior to certificate issuance, the district office must

inform AFS-620 so that the precertification number and the

three-letter designator can be released for future use. The

same holds true for when the FAA terminates the process.

NOTE: FAR Part 129, 133, 137, or 141 applicants

are not affected since they are not issued precertification numbers.