DU Prefix??

[Wizofoz]

Out at Skydive Dubai I noticed the Jump Aircraft (Twin-Otters and a Pilatus Porter) Had Regos with a "DU" prefix, rather than "A6".

There doesn't seem to be a "DU" prefix in lists of ICAO regos.

Is it "Dubai"? Do we have a Dubai Regulatory Authority all of a sudden?

[Gulfstreamaviator]

DU is a local Telecomms service provider, and might be the sponsor.

Just thinking out loud.....

Glf

[givemewings]

Isn't one of the Princes involved in skydiving here? Could they be privately (i.e. royal) registered/owned - Or are all of them subject to the A6 rego? Can't recall what the UAE govt 747 has on it.... but then again it's prob military reg anyway

[Wizofoz]

THE Prince (Hamden) is the driving force behind the whole thing and has thrown tonnes of money at it- It WAS why I was wondering if he's done an end-run around the GCAA.

Pretty sure all the Royal Flight aircraft are A6.

[nitro rig driver]

Wizofox is correct..Royal flight a/c are A6 reg and subject to the full GCAA regs

[givemewings]

Cheers, wasn't paying much attention last time...!

So, those QR Galaxy (or whatever they are), surely military reg? (Off topic I know but since they have civilian paintjob, I always wondered....)

[Jet II]

Both Skydive aircraft (pilatus and twin otter) are DU prefix - doing a quick search also threw up a few more aircraft with DU prefix's, mainly helicopters attached to the air wing or police. Could be a Dubai military reg?

[Mister Warning]

Givemestrength,
The QAF Globemasters are rego'd A7- MAA and MAB respectively.
MW.

[givemewings]

No need to be snarky, I thought it a valid question since they are traditionally military aircraft yet have QR (airline) livery. So I was curious as to which it would be... thanks for answering the question

[Wizofoz]

Especially as I wouldn't imagine the C-17 is civilian certified.

Jet II- thanks. Makes sense. Does make you wonder what certification and licensing they operate under.

[Left Coaster]

Calm down Captain...still A6... Always will be, it's an advertisement gimmick. 'Nuff said.

[Jet II]

Calm down Captain...still A6... Always will be, it's an advertisement gimmick. 'Nuff said.

Nah... DU Reg (http://www.airliners.net/search/photo.search?regsearch=DU-SD4&distinct_entry=true) ;)

[Visual Procedures]

Jet II is correct. The skydive dubai planes are all military reg. The military does all the maintenance side of things.

The pilots are not required to have GCAA licences.

[Wizofoz]

Hehe- so a civilian, commercial dropzone run under the auspices of the Military.

Guess it's not what you know....

[Three Wire]

I think you will find that the twotters belong to Special Forces. they are normally all white and flit in and out of that secret south asian airbase. Occasionally transit over the Ranches at 500 feet.

[ironbutt57]

Wizofoz

Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Boldly going where no split infinitive has gone before..
Posts: 3,246
Especially as I wouldn't imagine the C-17 is civilian certified.

Jet II- thanks. Makes sense. Does make you wonder what certification and licensing they operate under.

Under the impression the C-17 is in fact civilian certified, and being ( not sure if successfully or not) to civilian operators

[ironbutt57]

In the mid-1990s, McDonnell Douglas began to market the C-17 to commercial civilian operators, under the name MD-17.[129] Because of its high projected fuel, maintenance and depreciation cost for a low-cycle military design in commercial service, as well as a limited market dominated by the An-124, very little interest was expressed. After McDonnell Douglas merged with Boeing, the commercial version was renamed BC-17.[130] However, the aircraft received no orders and Boeing stopped offering the BC-17 for sale.

?????

[Wizofoz]

Thanks ib.

[C4]

WTF are you all smoking??

[Wizofoz]

....Given the 00:43 timestamp, shall we assume that little, cryptic gem is a result of what you were DRINKING C4?