Definition
The unique designator broadcast by an aircraft's transponder or ADS-B equipment that allows air traffic control and other aircraft to identify it on radar and traffic displays. For airline and commercial flights, this is typically the flight number (e.g., UAL123); for general aviation, it is usually the aircraft's registration number (tail number).
Plain English
The name or number that tells controllers and other aircraft exactly which aircraft they are looking at on a screen.
Context Anchor
Seen on traffic displays and safety-system screens when another aircraft is shown with a label or data block.
Derivation
Identification comes from older words meaning “to make the same” or “to establish who or what something is.” In aviation, it helps because the point is not just seeing an aircraft, but knowing exactly which aircraft it is.
Why Pilots Care
Correct aircraft identification prevents confusion during handoffs, traffic advisories, and separation instructions.
Intuition Check
Do not read aircraft identification as the aircraft type, such as Cessna or Boeing. Here it means the specific name or code used to identify that particular aircraft.
Example Sentence 1
Before pushback, the first officer entered the aircraft identification into the transponder so the flight would display correctly to ATC.
Example Sentence 2
ADS-B Out automatically transmits the aircraft identification so nearby traffic can see the correct tail number on their displays.