Okay, so I've never posted anything on this site. However, I was looking to replace my N number with something meaningful, and then I ran across this post. Went to the website that was listed (short n number) and contacted them. Here was their reply to: how much do they charge over the $10 reservation fee and how do I legally acquire it from them. My blood started to boil when I saw they are nothing but an extortion company. Per the CFR, $10 to get an N number. Thoughts on these guys? I mean I could go in and purchase every N-number if I wanted to and hold all of you out for double the price. Why not, why aren't these guys doing that if they can charge a premium?

CheemsAF wrote:Okay, so I've never posted anything on this site. However, I was looking to replace my N number with something meaningful, and then I ran across this post. Went to the website that was listed (short n number) and contacted them. Here was their reply to: how much do they charge over the $10 reservation fee and how do I legally acquire it from them. My blood started to boil when I saw they are nothing but an extortion company. Per the CFR, $10 to get an N number. Thoughts on these guys? I mean I could go in and purchase every N-number if I wanted to and hold all of you out for double the price. Why not, why aren't these guys doing that if they can charge a premium?

I think it's pretty egregious to scalp a required government registration, even if it is a vanity registration number, especially when the multiplier is so preposterous.

I'd imagine the FAA isn't too happy about this practice either, but I can also see them being utterly unable to impose a restriction on it from a practical standpoint...i.e. they can't figure out how to do it.

Entrepeneurship at its best! Ain’t it grand?

MTV

This post just spurred me into reserving one I've had kicking around in my head for awhile, for fear that someone else might snag it. Now I just need a cool new plane to put it on!

Yup, like domain names. Squatters ruin everything they touch.

Helping people acquire tail numbers, for a fee....fine.
Holding tail numbers hostage, aka "scalping, not fine.
How many (if any) numbers do they have reserved?

FWIW I just changed tail numbers, back to the original circa-1953 number for my C180.
Real easy, once the 5-year hold on the number (from the interim airplane assigned that number) was released.
I can't see why anyone would pay someone else to have someone do it for them.
Very slow process, like 3 months for everything to be done, but easy. And cheap ($20).

As far as changing from the original tail number to a vanity number on a vintage airplane...
please don't.
You will likely only own that airplane a few years, but every follow-on owner will have to put up with "what does the xx on your tailnumber stand for?"
The number on my 53 model was changed in 1986 or so,
that owner sold the airplane off within about 5 years.

IMHO changing the number of the vintage airplane you just bought is kinda like a fifty-year-old guy marrying some gal,
and her wanting him to change his name from "Joe" to something snazzier.

hotrod180 wrote:Helping people acquire tail numbers, for a fee....fine.
Holding tail numbers hostage, aka "scalping, not fine.
How many (if any) numbers do they have reserved?

http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/Name_Results.aspx?Nametxt=SHORT-N-NUMBERS&sort_option=1&PageNo=1

According to the FAA Database they have 1360 under their name. I agree, it’s BS. It shouldn’t be legal to reserve the numbers and sell them off. I also think the FAA should put a limit on the amount of tail numbers any one person or company can reserve.

Yup absolutely agree with you on the original N numbers on a vintage aircraft. Vanity numbers take away from there nostalgia. If I had a vintage, no way I'd change it. However, I don't.

& agree, there should be a max you can reserve. Or how about they do away with the reservation service altogether and only allow you to apply for an N number for a specific aircraft. It'd kill off the scalpers and only the actual aircraft would hold an N number, instead of some database at some extortion company.