How To Obtain A Callsign For ATC?

[User546]

I've always been curious - what does it take to get a callsign that ATC will recognize and call you by when your flying?

I've heard a couple corporate aircraft use them (there callsign's slip my mind currently) so I don't think it'd be limited to just the airlines and Air Force.

Anyone, anyone?

 

[Nova]

I believe you only have to make a note of it in the remarks section of the flightplan.

 

[Gearmunky]

That is incorrect, You have to submit your request with the FAA through paperwork like anything else. If you are flying a formation you may give the formation a name like "My avatar is hot flight" with just a normal radio call up.

I was flying charter out of MD and we wanted to change our tail numbers the company call sign "Blue Claw," our owner looked into it and it required all types of paperwork. It was funny, I heard "crab pot" on my way into BWI the other day.

 

[CRJDog]

I believe you only have to make a note of it in the remarks section of the flightplan.

First you have to go to the local Tower and fill out a form USC1009-1 and pay a $50.00 processing fee. There will be a waiting period of 90 days for TSA approval and after the waiting period you have to pay a $25.00 fee to obtain the paperwork. Then you would copyright your callsign to make sure it belongs to only you, for a $250.00 fee of course.

Then after all that you will be legal to use your callsign and file it with your flightplan.

Hope this helps!

 

[Snakum]

First you have to go to the local Tower and fill out a form USC1009-1 and pay a $50.00 processing fee. There will be a waiting period of 90 days for TSA approval and after the waiting period you have to pay a $25.00 fee to obtain the paperwork. Then you would copyright your callsign to make sure it belongs to only you, for a $250.00 fee of course. Then after all that you will be legal to use your callsign and file it with your flightplan.

Cool! That's very good info to have!

Pretty soon you'll be hearing "$@#%stick Air out of 4000 for five." all around GSO, GSP, and ATL.



Minh

 

[Hung Start]

Must have changed a bit. When my company started flying freight, I actually had to go throught the State Department to get my company a call sign. Seemed it had to go through ICAO and stuff to ensure it didn't conflict with some other country. Did help tho, because after 911 we were able to launch our little 402's flying freight because the government released "air carriers" before general aviation. Was a hoot to fly into an airport with al those heavy irons sitting around and other guys wondering how we could fly and they couldn't. Made a buck picking up stranded passengers too!

 

[T-REX]

If you are just flying in the local area and only dealing with one facility you can usually make an agreement with the local tower to call you by that callsign.

 

[mike1mc]

Here is all the info you need. http://www.faa.gov/avr/afs/faa/8400/8400_vol2/2_003_06.pdf

I went through this process last year. I made a written request to the FAA and received my approval a few weeks later. PM me if you need any specific information.

 

[mattpilot]

Pretty soon you'll be hearing "$@#%stick Air out of 4000 for five." all around GSO, GSP, and ATL.

LOL .. that cracks me up! Would be cool if my flightschool used that call sign.

AFAIK, if you just want to use a callsign for a local area, a LOA between the ATC facilities in the area you are intending to use it is enough. Infact, ATC asked spartan to use callsigns because it got to complicated for them.