French dispensation no registration on fuselage

[Sam Rutherford]

Hi,

We're working through this at the moment for a Stearman (UK based) that has no registration on the fuselage (it has the CAA derogation so it's legal).

Looking to take it to Calais on Wednesday, so we need the French equivalent - but this is proving more complicated than expected.

Anyone been through this process, any tips?

Thanks, Sam.

[Tay Cough]

The solution I have seen is simply get some decals made of the reg and stick them on.

Take a look at the Duxford Catalina. It carries the UK reg in small "non-regulation" font on the rear fuselage yet it has a UK reg exemption so is not required to carry one at all.

This will be to allow for foreign transits (it operates on the continent occasionally) without extra paperwork.

[Sam Rutherford]

We've discussed this, but the owner (entirely justifiably) wants it 100% legal and correct...

[patowalker]

I don't know what the regs are for GA, but if a foreign ULM does not have registration letters, permission must be obtained to temporarily fit French marks.

https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/eli/a...1163A/jo/texte

[Tay Cough]

That's the point. It is legal and correct. If you have a UK reg exemption, you can display your reg how you like as there's no requirement to display it at all. For foreign land, provided you display the correct registration, you're covered.

Or you can wait a few weeks.

[Sam Rutherford]

If you fly to France, you must show the registration in correct size, locations etc.

So the Catalina is not legally correct - just that they know it's 'okay'.

We need to be completely legal and correct...

[kestrel539]

Sam,

I take an annex 11 glider( No G-reg) to France every year.

Link you need is

Foreign aircraft | Drupal.

All very painless, about 80 euro.

You may be pushing it for Wed tho'

Cheers

[Tay Cough]

I can point you at a number of F-reg warbirds with small font registrations tucked under the tail and nothing below the wing. The French don't have the equivalent of the UK reg exemption.

With the best will in the world - and I genuinely admire what you do (wish I could get the time off to join you), you won't get the paperwork in time.

[treadigraph]

UK registered Spitfires and so on go to France regularly, anyone know how they do it?

[Sam Rutherford]

The French do have an equivalent of the UK exemption, just that it's for a set, short period each time. The current answer is that it's only for 'public events' (not the case for us tomorrow) - but I don't think that's right.

In any event, we have the details of the guy who issues them (in Paris) if anyone wants, please EMAIL (not PM!) me.

Thanks, Sam.

[Sam Rutherford]

We found a solution, in the nick of time!

Thanks for all the help, Sam.