You're probably thinking: "What the heck is Jon talking about?"
When an aircraft files a flight plan, the crew specifies what type of aircraft they're flying (C172, B788, A380, B734, A321, etc.). To provide the most information to ATC in the flight plan, crews will also include a suffix and a letter designation after the type.
For example, an Alaska Airlines 737-400 which flies precision routes in and out of Alaskan airports would be B734/Q. The "/Q" suffix means that aircraft is capable of RNP approaches while operating in a RVSM environment for aircraft separation minimums.
The suffix designations are specified by Chapter 5, Section 1 of the FAA Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM). Also, if you happen to see an "H/" prefix (H/B772/Q), the letter designates a "heavy" call sign to the aircraft.
Here's the complete list of FAA AIM suffix codes and their significance:
| Suffix | Equipment Capability |
|---|---|
| NO DME | |
| /X | No transponder |
| /T | Transponder with no Mode C |
| /U | Transponder with Mode C |
| DME | |
| /D | No transponder |
| /B | Transponder with no Mode C |
| /A | Transponder with Mode C |
| TACAN ONLY | |
| /M | No transponder |
| /N | Transponder with no Mode C |
| /P | Transponder with Mode C |
| AREA NAVIGATION (RNAV) | |
| /Y | LORAN, VOR/DME, or INS with no transponder |
| /C | LORAN, VOR/DME, or INS, transponder with no Mode C |
| /I | LORAN, VOR/DME, or INS, transponder with Mode C |
| ADVANCED RNAV WITH TRANSPONDER AND MODE C (If an aircraft is unable to operate with a transponder and/or Mode C, it will revert to the appropriate code listed above under Area Navigation.) | |
| /E | Flight Management System (FMS) with DME/DME and IRU position updating |
| /F | FMS with DME/DME position updating |
| /G | Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), including GPS or Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS), with en route and terminal capability. |
| /R | Required Navigational Performance (RNP). The aircraft meets the RNP type prescribed for the route segment(s), route(s) and/or area concerned. |
| Reduced Vertical Separation Minimum (RVSM). Prior to conducting RVSM operations within the U.S., the operator must obtain authorization from the FAA or from the responsible authority, as appropriate. | |
| /J | /E with RVSM |
| /K | /F with RVSM |
| /L | /G with RVSM |
| /Q | /R with RVSM |
| /W | RVSM |
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