FAA N-number availability checker.
Type any N-number and get the FAA's answer in seconds — checked live against the registry, not a cached copy. Free, no signup.
How it works
- 1. Enter any N-number — with or without the leading N.
- 2.We query the FAA's reservation system directly, the same check their own form runs.
- 3. You get one of four answers: available, reserved, assigned to an aircraft, or in transition.
Found one you want? We reserve it in your name within 24 hours — or browse the catalog of numbers already confirmed open.
What each result means — and what to do next
Available
Nobody holds the number and it can be reserved today. Availability is first-come: a number open this morning can be gone by tonight, because reservations are processed in order of receipt. If it's one you actually want, reserve it the day you find it — either directly with the FAA for $10, or through our concierge if you'd rather have the search, filing, and confirmation handled for you.
Reserved
Someone holds an active reservation. Every reservation carries a renewal (“purge”) date — miss it and the number eventually returns to the open pool. Holders do let numbers lapse constantly, so reserved today doesn't mean reserved forever. Tell us the number and we'll let you know if it opens.
Assigned to an aircraft
The number is on a flying aircraft in the registry. It only becomes obtainable if that owner re-registers or the aircraft leaves the fleet. The practical move is a close variant — different digit, your initials appended — which the catalog search surfaces in seconds.
In transition
The FAA shows the number between states — recently lapsed, recently released, or mid-processing. These are the ones that quietly become available days later, and most people never see it happen.
A 30-second primer on N-number format
Every US registration is N followed by one to five characters: digits first (never starting with 0), up to two letters at the end, and no letter I or O anywhere — from the ground they read as 1 and 0. That yields 915,399 possible numbers, from N1 to N999ZZ. Shorter reads better on a fuselage and is dramatically scarcer — see the live census for how few are open at any moment, or the full format rules guide.
Checker questions
Is this checker really live?+
Yes. Every check queries the FAA's own reservation system at the moment you ask — nothing is cached or estimated. If the tool says a number is available, it is available right now.
What do the results mean?+
Available means nobody holds the number and it can be reserved today. Reserved means someone holds an active reservation (they renew annually, so it may lapse). Assigned means it's painted on an aircraft in the FAA registry. In transition means the FAA shows it between states — often a number that is about to open.
What makes an N-number valid?+
US registration numbers start with N followed by one to five characters: digits first (the first digit can't be 0), with up to two letters at the end. The letters I and O aren't used — they read as 1 and 0 from the ground.
The number I want is available — what now?+
You can file with the FAA yourself for $10, or have us handle it: we reserve it in your name within 24 hours for a flat fee, paperwork included, with a full refund if we can't secure it.
Can I check as many numbers as I want?+
Yes — the checker is free and unlimited. If you're hunting for something specific, the concierge catalog lists thousands of numbers confirmed open today, sorted into short numbers, initials, birth years, and more.
How is this different from the FAA's own N-number inquiry?+
The FAA's registry inquiry tells you who holds a number; its availability search tells you what's open — two tools, two result formats. This checker runs the availability question in one step and translates the answer into plain English, with what to do next for each outcome.
What is a purge date?+
Every reservation has a renewal date — the FAA calls it a purge date. If the holder doesn't renew by then, the reservation lapses and the number eventually returns to the open pool. A reserved result with a near-term purge date is a number worth watching.
How much does it cost to reserve an N-number?+
Filing directly with the FAA costs $10 per year. Our concierge service reserves it in your name within 24 hours for a flat $500 — search, filing, and confirmation handled end to end, with a full refund if we can't secure it.
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