--- title: "SERA.13015 On-board aircraft identification setting — ANNEX: Rules of the Air, SERA · Avioverse" description: "Aircraft equipped with a Mode S or ADS-B transmitter that has an aircraft identification feature shall transmit the aircraft identification as specified…" url: "https://avioverse.aero/regulations/easa/sera/annex-rules-of-the-air/section-13/sera-13015" --- # SERA.13015 On-board aircraft identification setting ANNEX: Rules of the Air · Regulation (EU) No 923/2012 · EAR revision 26 Aug 2025 IR Implementing rule ## SERA.13015 On-board aircraft identification setting (a) [Aircraft](https://avioverse.aero/glossary/easa/aircraft) equipped with a Mode S or ADS-B transmitter that has an aircraft identification feature shall transmit the aircraft identification as specified in the [flight plan](https://avioverse.aero/glossary/easa/flight-plan) or, when no flight plan has been filed, the aircraft registration, unless the aircraft operator holds an approval from the [competent authority](https://avioverse.aero/glossary/easa/competent-authority) to use other than the aircraft registration as aircraft identification for flights without a flight plan. (b) Whenever it is observed on the situation display that the aircraft identification transmitted by an aircraft equipped with a Mode S or ADS-B transmitter is different from that expected from the aircraft, the pilot shall be requested to confirm and, if necessary, re-enter the correct aircraft identification. (c) If, following confirmation by the pilot that the correct aircraft identification has been set on the Mode S or ADS-B transmitter identification feature, the discrepancy continues to exist, the [air traffic](https://avioverse.aero/glossary/easa/air-traffic) services unit shall take the following actions: (1) inform the pilot of the persistent discrepancy; (2) where possible, correct the label showing the aircraft identification on the situation display; and (3) notify the next control position and any other unit concerned using Mode S or ADS-B for identification purposes that the aircraft identification transmitted by the aircraft is erroneous. IR · SERA.13015 — Regulation (EU) No 923/2012 · Regulation (EU) 2024/404 · SERA Easy Access Rules · EAR revision 26 Aug 2025 AMC Acceptable means of compliance ## AMC1 SERA.13015 On-board aircraft identification setting [AIRCRAFT](https://avioverse.aero/glossary/easa/aircraft) IDENTIFICATION SETTING (a) The aircraft identification transmitted should conform to the format specified for Item 7 of the ICAO [flight plan](https://avioverse.aero/glossary/easa/flight-plan) form. (b) The [competent authority](https://avioverse.aero/glossary/easa/competent-authority) should only authorise aircraft operators to use other than aircraft registration as aircraft identification when operating without a flight plan provided that: (1) the aircraft operator demonstrates that procedures have been implemented to ensure the uniqueness of the aircraft identification for flights that might operate simultaneously; (2) the [air traffic](https://avioverse.aero/glossary/easa/air-traffic) services providers have indicated that the air traffic services surveillance systems are capable of managing duplication of Mode S aircraft identification; (3) the need for individual identification for other authorities is addressed accordingly. AMC · AMC1 SERA.13015 — Regulation (EU) No 923/2012 · ED Decision 2024/007R · SERA Easy Access Rules · EAR revision 26 Aug 2025 GM Guidance material ## GM1 SERA.13015 On-board aircraft identification setting OPERATION OF ADS-B TRANSMITTERS To indicate that it is in a state of emergency or to transmit other urgent information, an [aircraft](https://avioverse.aero/glossary/easa/aircraft) equipped with ADS-B may operate either of the emergency and/or urgency mode as follows: (a) emergency, (b) communication failure, (c) unlawful interference, (d) minimum fuel/energy, (e) medical. GM · GM1 SERA.13015 — Regulation (EU) No 923/2012 · ED Decision 2024/007/R · SERA Easy Access Rules · EAR revision 26 Aug 2025 GM Guidance material ## GM2 SERA.13015 On-board aircraft identification setting OPERATION OF ADS-B TRANSMITTERS Some [aircraft](https://avioverse.aero/glossary/easa/aircraft) equipped with first-generation ADS-B avionics do not have the capability described in GM1 SERA.13015 and only have the capability to transmit a general emergency alert regardless of the code selected by the pilot. GM · GM2 SERA.13015 — Regulation (EU) No 923/2012 · ED Decision 2024/007/R · SERA Easy Access Rules · EAR revision 26 Aug 2025 GM Guidance material ## GM3 SERA.13015 On-board aircraft identification setting [AIRCRAFT](https://avioverse.aero/glossary/easa/aircraft) IDENTIFICATION SETTING Point (b)(1) of AMC1 SERA.13015 requires aircraft operators to incorporate into an operations manual a mechanism that ensures the uniqueness of aircraft call signs. For example, they may elect to assign each pilot-in-command or each airframe with a unique number, which may also be augmented with the addition of letters. The call sign, consisting of the operator designator issued by ICAO and the unique number together with any augmenting letter, is to be inserted into the Mode S identification feature prior to departure and used in all radio communications unless instructed otherwise by [air traffic](https://avioverse.aero/glossary/easa/air-traffic) services. GM · GM3 SERA.13015 — Regulation (EU) No 923/2012 · ED Decision 2024/007/R · SERA Easy Access Rules · EAR revision 26 Aug 2025 GM Guidance material ## GM4 SERA.13015 On-board aircraft identification setting DUPLICATED [AIRCRAFT](https://avioverse.aero/glossary/easa/aircraft) IDENTIFICATION To demonstrate the resilience of the ATS surveillance system to duplicated aircraft identification, as prescribed in point (b)(2) of AMC1 SERA.13015, it is normally enough to indicate that a duplicated downlinked aircraft identification would not affect, or reduce in any way, the performance of the surveillance tracker for generating and validating system tracks. In the case of a multisensor tracking system, using surveillance information from sensors belonging to neighbouring [air traffic](https://avioverse.aero/glossary/easa/air-traffic) services providers, indication that the neighbouring surveillance tracker is not affected by potential duplication of the aircraft identification is needed. GM · GM4 SERA.13015 — Regulation (EU) No 923/2012 · ED Decision 2024/007/R · SERA Easy Access Rules · EAR revision 26 Aug 2025 GM Guidance material ## GM5 SERA.13015 On-board aircraft identification setting [AIRCRAFT](https://avioverse.aero/glossary/easa/aircraft) IDENTIFICATION SETTING The ATS surveillance information used by an air navigation service provider is in many Member States also used by other authorities (e.g. air defence, search and rescue). The impact, if any, of allowing aircraft operating without a [flight plan](https://avioverse.aero/glossary/easa/flight-plan) to transmit aircraft identification other than aircraft registration should be assessed and documented accordingly, as prescribed in point (b)(3) of AMC1 SERA.13015. GM · GM5 SERA.13015 — Regulation (EU) No 923/2012 · ED Decision 2024/007/R · SERA Easy Access Rules · EAR revision 26 Aug 2025 [All rules in SECTION 13 SSR Transponder and ADS-B transmitters](https://avioverse.aero/regulations/easa/sera/annex-rules-of-the-air/section-13) Consolidated from the EASA Easy Access Rules (revision 26 Aug 2025, extracted 13 Oct 2026) for convenience. Not the official publication — verify against the Official Journal of the European Union and the EASA publications before operational use.