The International Cessna^® 170 Association

Hello, new to the forum. I have a question regarding aircraft data plates. My 52 170B only has the data plate on the inside of the door frame. Drug Enforcement requirements now make a data plate required to be affixed to the exterior of the aircraft. Does anyone have a good source for these data plates? I dont want to use an experimental data plate available at Spruce. Is there a place to get a Cessna Data plate? Thanks,
Doug

I haven't read the rule in a while but I believe the following is accurate:

There is no requirement for a "data plate" to be affixed to the tail of the aircraft. The rule requires an indelibly engraved/stamped metal dataplate to be affixed between the pilot's position and the aft portion of the fuselage, and the original Cessna dataplate (the one in the door-jamb) meets that rule. (The purpose of this rule is to assist in identifying an accident aircraft, even if it burns.)

The DEA/Customs requirement is only that the aircraft be identified by model and serial number on the port/aft side of the fuselage. It may be so identified with a sticker, a painted placard, or other indelible marking, including a dataplate if you so desire. Mine is painted. (The purpose of this rule is to allow any DEA/Customs inspector access to the identifying numbers for their report, even if the aircraft is found to be parked and unattended.)

Is this the one you don't want?: Any jeweler can engrave it for you.



You can also simply go to any jeweller or trophy shop and have them engrave a plain metal tag with the model/serial on it. (All my painted placard says is "170B SN 25713") You can have them make it out of stainless, or better yet, aluminum. (Go to the airport, ask the shop for a piece of scrap, cut it into a small rectangle, have it engraved, rivet it on the left fuselage below the left horiz. stab.) But if it were mine, I'd simply stencil it onto the fuselage with paint.

Thank you for the quick reply. I will resort to a label for the serial and manufacturer.

A simple method of compliance (This was approved by the local FSDO in 1990) is to use a piece of aluminum (METAL) duct tape and emboss the information on it using a ball point pen. Write on a semi hard surface such as a piece of blotter paper on a hard surface.
I don't think this requirement had any other purpose other than those dummies didn't know one airplane from another.

My A&P printed the information in black ink onto a clear sticker that is about 3x3" or just a little larger. The sticker was then placed just under the leading edge of the horizontal stabilizer. The net result is what looks like perfect black letters printed on polished aluminum. You don’t notice it unless you are looking for it. I would guess he printed it using a laser printer with clear labels like you get at an office supply store.