Narrative:

Mem and msp FAA has failed to enforce regulations and criterion of n-numbers painted on air carrier small transport aircraft. N-numbers are required to be of (most) contrasting paint color to backgnd. On air carrier aircraft at mem and msp, n-numbers are light gray on white and are virtually unreadable in certain lighting conditions and make visual identify of n-number impossible. This is contrary to intent of regulations and FAA should enforce to sharply contrasting color standard. Make all air carrier n-numbers conform and usable as intended. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: the reporting captain states that he wanted the n-number off of a commuter aircraft so that he could talk to the pilot later to point out a minor flaw in technique or slip in courtesy. He has never worked for the commuter company nor does he know anyone who does. The n-numbers on this particular aircraft are light gray on white and are nearly impossible to read from certain vantage points and in certain lighting conditions. The reporter believes that all aircraft should conform to the same set of rules.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN ACR PLT COMPLAINS THAT ANOTHER ACR'S ACFT DO NOT HAVE CONTRASTING PAINT FOR THEIR N-NUMBERS.

Narrative: MEM AND MSP FAA HAS FAILED TO ENFORCE REGS AND CRITERION OF N-NUMBERS PAINTED ON ACR SMT ACFT. N-NUMBERS ARE REQUIRED TO BE OF (MOST) CONTRASTING PAINT COLOR TO BACKGND. ON ACR ACFT AT MEM AND MSP, N-NUMBERS ARE LIGHT GRAY ON WHITE AND ARE VIRTUALLY UNREADABLE IN CERTAIN LIGHTING CONDITIONS AND MAKE VISUAL IDENT OF N-NUMBER IMPOSSIBLE. THIS IS CONTRARY TO INTENT OF REGS AND FAA SHOULD ENFORCE TO SHARPLY CONTRASTING COLOR STANDARD. MAKE ALL ACR N-NUMBERS CONFORM AND USABLE AS INTENDED. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: THE RPTING CAPT STATES THAT HE WANTED THE N-NUMBER OFF OF A COMMUTER ACFT SO THAT HE COULD TALK TO THE PLT LATER TO POINT OUT A MINOR FLAW IN TECHNIQUE OR SLIP IN COURTESY. HE HAS NEVER WORKED FOR THE COMMUTER COMPANY NOR DOES HE KNOW ANYONE WHO DOES. THE N-NUMBERS ON THIS PARTICULAR ACFT ARE LIGHT GRAY ON WHITE AND ARE NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO READ FROM CERTAIN VANTAGE POINTS AND IN CERTAIN LIGHTING CONDITIONS. THE RPTR BELIEVES THAT ALL ACFT SHOULD CONFORM TO THE SAME SET OF RULES.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.