Part 135 aircraft use registration instead of callsign?

Apophis

Resident Iconoclast
Savannah/Hilton-Head (KSAV) is the only airport I've ever heard this, but every time I fly to this airport, the ATIS requests that "general-aviation" aircraft operating under part 135 use their aircraft's registration number rather than company callsign.

My question is.....what is the reasoning behind this? It isn't a huge deal, I'm just sort of curious.
 
I would continue to use my 135 call sign, if something happens and the FAA comes calling I want my call sign on the tapes, and not have to explain why I changed my callsign mid flight. Not to mention, my IFR flight plan says nothing about the actual registration of the aircraft I am flying, the only IFR flight plan that I have is on my call sign.
 
I've been to SAV, and used our 135 call sign without issue.

The better point here, is that the filed flight plan has no mention of the actual aircraft registration, so how does anyone expect that to work?
 
I would continue to use my 135 call sign, if something happens and the FAA comes calling I want my call sign on the tapes, and not have to explain why I changed my callsign mid flight. Not to mention, my IFR flight plan says nothing about the actual registration of the aircraft I am flying, the only IFR flight plan that I have is on my call sign.

Well, we always use our 135 callsign. Even when flying into SAV and hearing that on the ATIS, I still used my 135 callsign. I agree with you and the other person in this thread.

I just thought it was kind of strange hearing that on the ATIS. I flew to SAV last week though, and didn't hear it so who knows.
 
I've been to SAV, and used our 135 call sign without issue.

The better point here, is that the filed flight plan has no mention of the actual aircraft registration, so how does anyone expect that to work?
That's odd, our (121, but you get the idea) flight plans usually include something like this:
Code:
...
RMK/RNAVE99/REG N237SW)
I think the tail number is a part of the ICAO long-form format along with that alphabet soup for nav/comm equipment.
 
It's been years since I've flown into SAV, but knowing G-land is there, maybe that is part of the reason. I have no clue why a GA airport would want you broadcasting your information, and I will actually send an email tomorrow to Gulfstream asking if they have any clue why this is on the broadcast. This is bad for this type clientele so I'm not sure the main employer there knows this is happening...
 
Maybe the tower people use binoculars, and it turns out not many operators paint their call sign on the aircraft in big block letters like they do the registrations?
While we're on the subject, "SkyWest in (one of five paint schemes)".


AFIS LINK ACK
 
I seem to remember reading on FAA.gov that you needed a fleet of at least five before you could use a callsign, so it may well be aimed at those less than legal but enthusiastic one off operators.
 
I (as well as our flight ops) use DCM (Dot Com) call signs from FltPlan. I file my flight plans with my DCM call sign and use DotComxxx in the air.
 
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