Serial Removal
Whats the problem with a visible serial number or registration, there are none if you are a plane spotter – actually they are quite covenient. But from an operational security perspective, they allow a specific asset to be identified. So Air Mobility Command has decided to remove the visible serial number, along with the data block normally carried on the port side of the aircraft – which also gave the aircraft serial.
AMC Announces
Air Mobility Command has directed its refueling and cargo planes to obscure the majority of identifying information painted on the aircraft, citing national security concerns — an unusual move that is alarming to government watchdogs. (Published by Military,com 01/03/2023)
In truth, the visible serial number on any United States Air Force aircraft is probably under threat – not just the Air Mobility Command sircraft. As technology has made the requirement for a displayed serial number redundant. The USAF approved the use of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) back in 2009, so the visible serial number has probably been on the way out since then – although it seems that the decision for AMC was early 2023.
From a support perspective, the tech’s that have to do work on a specific aircraft – just need a simple RFID reader to confirm that it is the correct aircraft. The technology is well proven, think about tapping your bank card to pay at a checkout.
What does it mean for a spotter?
As spotters, we all like to know that what we see is what we think it is. This change means that you have to place trust in the technology, even the Mk 1 eyeball is of no use whatsoever in the case of an aircraft with no markings to identify it. At the moment I’ve managed to identify (possibly) four aircraft reported as having the serials removed, but that could be just three as two of them are reported as KC-135’s – there’s also a C-32 and a C-130 that I’m aware of.
So when it comes to exact ID of the aircraft, it’s down to what you can get from FR24 or ADSB Global – how much you want to trust that is down to you. In the main it is probably pretty accurate, but it is possible to transmit any code or none.
I’m currently trying to put together a composite list of units and aircraft, I will post these (currently speculative) lists when I get a chance.
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