2-4-21

Description of Aircraft Types

JO 7110.65BB, Change 3, effective July 9, 2026 · Official text on faa.gov

Except for super andheavy aircraft, describe aircraft as follows when issuing traffic information.

Military:
1. Military designator, with numbers spoken in group form, or
2. Service and type, or
3. Type only if no confusion or misidentification is likely.
Air Carrier:
1. Manufacturer's model or type designator.
2. Add the manufacturer's name, company name or other identifying features when confusion or misidentification is likely.
  Example
  
  “A‐Three Twenty.”
  “American E‐One Ninety.”
  “Seven Thirty‐seven.”
  “Boeing Seven Fifty‐seven.”
  
  Note
  
  Pilots of “interchange” aircraft are expected to inform the tower on the first radio contact the name of the operating company and trip number followed by the company name, as displayed on the aircraft, and the aircraft type.
General Aviation and Air Taxi:
1. Manufacturer's model or type designator.
2. Manufacturer's name, or add color when considered advantageous.
  Example
  
  “Tri‐Pacer.”
  “P A Twenty‐Two.”
  “Cessna Four‐Oh‐One.”
  “Blue and white King Air.”
  “Airliner.”
  “Sikorsky S‐Seventy‐Six.”
When issuing traffic information to aircraft following a super aircraft, specify the word super before the manufacturer's name and model.
When issuing traffic information to aircraft following a heavy aircraft, specify the word heavy before the manufacturer's name and model.
Example

“Super A-Three-Eighty” or “Super A-three-eighty-eight.”
“Heavy C-Seventeen.”
“Heavy Boeing Seven Forty-Seven.”

Reference

FAA Order JO 7110.65, Para 2-1-21, Traffic Advisories.