NBAA established an online resource on requesting an International Civil Aviation Organization company and telephony designator (or callsign) from the FAA. Developed by NBAA’s Domestic Operations Committee, the resource provides guidance on the application process, which operations are eligible, the types of designators and what might or might not be acceptable to the agency.

The FAA’s Air Traffic Organization evaluates callsign requests from eligible operators and issues designators deemed of benefit to the National Airspace System. NBAA cautions that if a designator is misused or causing confusion, the FAA could either cancel or revise the designator.

The callsign is assigned at the same time as the three-letter written ICAO company designator. NBAA advises operators to check availability of callsigns before submitting an application. It advises operators to submit inquiries to callsigns@faa.gov as they begin the application process. The FAA works with both ICAO and the Department of Defense on issuance of the designators. The resource also provides information on tracking and/or blocking of designators.