Has anyone ever applied for a custom call sign? I have heard you can apply for one and get one. Also,who uses the “Citrus” call sign. I here them all the time.
I can’t answer the first part of your question but Airtran Airways is the answer to the second part of your question.
I tried to get Alpha Foxtrot 1 but they wouldn’t give it to me.
There are specific requirements to get a call sign. You would need a waiver to get a call sign (telephony in FAA parlance) if you don’t meet the requirements.
From the FAA Contractions handbook
(I’ve highlighted a couple of items that are most pertinent to your question. The rest of the paragraph is included to give you the context of the asigning of call signs.)
Section 4. CIVIL AIRCRAFT-COMPANY THREE-LETTER IDENTIFIER AND/OR TELEPHONY DESIGNATOR ASSIGNMENTS
1-4-1. DEFINITIONS
a. This section identifies the criteria for eligibility and procedures for requesting the assignment of an International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) three-letter identifier and/or telephony designator for aircraft operating agencies, aeronautical authorities, and air operational services.
b. A three-letter identifier, which when used in conjunction with the flight number, serves as the aircraft identification in the air traffic control system in flight plans, fix postings, control messages, computers, etc. When authorized, the identifier/flight number combination is used instead of the aircraft registration number. Three-letter identifiers are applicable to ICAO assignments for commercial domestic/international aircraft operations, national record communication purposes and air traffic operational service related functions.
c. A telephony designator, normally the company name or an abbreviation thereof, used in combination with the flight number is usually assigned simultaneously with the three-letter identifier and becomes the aircraft identification in all voice communications with air traffic control facilities. It is also used for telephone coordination purposes.
1-4-2. CRITERIA
a. A three-letter identifier is registered only for those aircraft operating agencies and other aircraft servicing companies which, in the opinion of the State of jurisdiction, require a specific three-letter identifier. They are assigned on a worldwide basis to an aircraft operating or servicing company for commercial domestic/international operations. ICAO three-letter company identifiers may be used on the international telecommunications service when deemed advantageous for air traffic control and operational purposes.
b. As stated in ICAO Document 8585, telephony designators “should be pronounceable and suitable phonetically in at least one of the following languages: English, French, or Spanish.” Such telephony designators should, preferably, resemble the name of the “aircraft operating companies and/or servicing authorities.” The telephony designator should consist of not more than two words and three syllables. This eliminates the amount of verbiage created on-line contributing to similar sounding telephony designator confusion. Letters are not assigned as telephony designators; however, companies which have previously been assigned letters as telephony designators will remain.
c. Three-letter identifiers are assigned to aircraft operating agencies which operate 7 or more non-seasonal international air operations per week and/or generate the appropriate flight movement messages and other related flight operations over the Aeronautical Fixed Telecommunications Network (AFTN); or, 15 or more non-seasonal domestic commercial round trip air operations per week. Aircraft operating agencies which generate less than the prescribed international and/or domestic flight operations, may be waived as deemed advantageous to the U.S. air traffic control system and operationally appropriate by FAA. Exceptions to the above criteria may be authorized on an individual basis.
d. Connection to the AFTN is a requirement established by ICAO Document 8585. According to ICAO, Annex 10, the AFTN is an integrated worldwide system of aeronautical fixed circuits providing, as part of the Aeronautical Fixed Service (AFS), an exchange of messages between aeronautical fixed stations within the network. The integrated system permits the exchange of messages between aeronautical fixed stations within the network. AFTN telecommunication service provides an electronic media for transmission of international flight movement messages for the safety of air navigation and for regular, efficient and economical operation of air services.
1. AFTN connections are authorized only for aircraft operating and servicing agencies to introduce aircraft movement data into the air navigation system and the exchange of permissible traffic in accordance with ICAO Annex 10 and Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 189.
2. AFTN authorized non-FAA users are required to enter into a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) in order to access the National Airspace System June 20, 1996. Interfacility Communications System (NICS) for transmitting non-ICAO computerized (domestic) flight movement data to the aviation industry. The use of the assigned identifier will not be approved until the MOA has been finalized. For specific details and requirements concerning MOA’s contact FAA Headquarters, System Operations Services/System Operations Airspace and AIM.
1-4-3. REQUEST
a. Requests for ICAO three-letter identifiers and/or telephony designator assignments should be addressed to the appropriate FAA service area office. The service area office will ensure all documentation submitted by the applicant/company is validated before data is forwarded. It is the responsibility of the service area office to review and determine if an applicant/company meets the requirements before submitting recommendations to FAA Headquarters. When that determination is made, the request is either denied at the service area office level, or submitted to FAA Headquarters with recommendations supporting the request for approval. The service area office recommendation and all supporting documentation should be forwarded to FAA Headquarters, System Operations Services/System Operations Airspace and AIM, for coordination with and approval by ICAO.
b. Coordination of all three-letter identifiers and/or telephony designators are assigned by FAA with approval by ICAO on a worldwide basis for commercial domestic/international air traffic control operations and use in the AFTN system.
c. All telephony designator assignments endorsed by FAA are extended courtesy coordination with our military counterparts before final approval from ICAO. This procedure further reduces the elimination of duplicate and/or similar sounding military tactical telephony designator assignments, vice ICAO assignments, which have previously been authorized.
1-4-4. DOCUMENTATION
In order to determine eligibility for an ICAO three-letter identifier and/or telephony designator, the following information is required:
a. Name and address of aircraft company or servicing agency.
b. Type of aircraft operation or service provided. (A list of operators served is required for servicing operations.)
c. Intended use of AFTN for international services or operations.
d. Intended use of AFTN for domestic services or operations which require a MOA with FAA.
e. The number and type of AFTN messages generated on a daily basis.
f. A copy of the company/operator flight schedule.*
g. A copy of the FAA Certificate which authorizes the company’s operations stating the 14 CFR Part under which operations are to be conducted, i.e. 14 CFR Parts 121, 125, 135 etc.*
NOTE-
14 CFR Part 91 describes general operating rules and regulations governing operation of aircraft within the U.S. including the waters within 3 nautical miles of the U.S. coast. Each person operating an aircraft in said airspace is in compliance of this 14 CFR; however, 14 CFR Part 91 operations alone are not considered criteria for eligibility.
h. Provide at least five (5) suggested three-letter identifiers and/or telephony designators in order desired.
*Not required for servicing agencies.
NOTE-
The required administrative period for approval of a company three-letter identifier and/or telephony designator is approximately 45 calendar days. Failure to submit the proper documentation may delay approval of an assignment.
1-4-5. BASIS FOR ASSIGNMENT
a. ICAO three-letter identifiers and/or telephony designators are assigned when it is deemed advantageous to the U.S. air traffic control system.
b. ICAO three-letter identifiers and/or telephony designators will not be assigned to eliminate problems which can be resolved by changing registration number, or similar sounding company names. However, due to the vastly growing flying aviation community, modifying a similar sounding telephony designator will not be an uncommon technique. In the interest of safety to the air traffic control system and operationally appropriate albeit FAA standards, adjustments can be made via this procedure.
c. 14 CFR Section 91.169(2)(d) (revised 1/1/91) requires when a flight plan has been activated, the pilot in command, upon canceling or completing the flight under the flight plan, shall notify an FAA Flight Service Station or ATC facility, thus avoiding search and rescue procedures by FAA.
1-4-6. CHANGES IN COMPANY STATUS
Immediately notify FAA Headquarters, System Operations Services/System Operations Airspace and AIM, in writing, when an assigned three-letter identifier and/or telephony designator is no longer required; or, a change in the name, address, or physical location of the company occurs. Any designator released will not be reassigned for at least 60 calendar days.
Exceptions to this ruling may be modified on an individual basis. Listed below are reasons governing the notification of release:
a. Operations are permanently suspended or cancelled for any reason;
b. When combining any company names holding more than one three-letter identifier and/or telephony designator; or,
c. When the company air carrier certificate has permanently been terminated.
1-4-7. USE OF AIRCRAFT COMPANY THREE-LETTER IDENTIFIER AND/OR TELEPHONY DESIGNATOR ASSIGNMENT
a. Authorized three-letter identifiers and/or telephony designators are valid only when aircraft are flown for company business in accordance with the provisions of the 14 CFR under which an operating certificate was obtained from the FAA. The pilot will revert to standard identification procedures when using the aircraft for personal flying.
b. If the three-letter identifier and/or telephony designator is new or changed, it should be listed in the “Remarks” portion of the flight plan for at least 60 days following the effective date. In cases where there is no three-letter identifier assignment or it is used in a medical emergency, the assigned telephony designator must be listed in the “Remarks” portion of the flight plan. This requirement necessitates the air traffic controller’s correlation between the written records and radio communications.
c. The FAA Headquarters, System Operations Services/System Operations Airspace and AIM, reserves the right to revise or cancel designator assignments should confusion or misuse result within the United States. ICAO Document 8585 states in the interest of safety, simple procedures should be developed and maintained by States and aircraft operating companies/agencies for detecting, reporting and eliminating similar sounding telephonies which may cause confusion or mistakes in identification.
1-4-8. PUBLICATION OF AIRCRAFT-COMPANY THREE-LETTER IDENTIFIER AND/OR TELEPHONY DESIGNATOR ASSIGNMENTS
The effective date of an ICAO three-letter identifier and/or telephony designator assignment will be established to provide adequate lead-time for entry into the Stored Flight Plan Program; and, for FAA facilities to be advised of the authorized assignments pending publication in appropriate