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N-numbers freeing up soon

Every reserved N-number that isn't renewed gets released on its FAA purge date — thousands of tail numbers every month. Browse the calendar to see exactly which tails are scheduled to free up and when, so you can claim the one you want the day it opens.

From FAA data updated July 1, 2026.

Next up: 2,685 N-numbers in July 2026.

2026

July 2026
2,685 N-numbers
August 2026
4,525 N-numbers
September 2026
2,355 N-numbers
October 2026
3,206 N-numbers
November 2026
4,040 N-numbers
December 2026
2,898 N-numbers

2027

January 2027
3,013 N-numbers
February 2027
3,408 N-numbers
March 2027
3,541 N-numbers
April 2027
4,535 N-numbers
May 2027
4,021 N-numbers
June 2027
4,008 N-numbers
July 2027
3,468 N-numbers
August 2027
1,374 N-numbers
September 2027
735 N-numbers
October 2027
471 N-numbers
November 2027
652 N-numbers
December 2027
973 N-numbers

2028

January 2028
416 N-numbers
February 2028
591 N-numbers
March 2028
549 N-numbers
April 2028
572 N-numbers
May 2028
417 N-numbers
June 2028
332 N-numbers
July 2028
277 N-numbers
August 2028
282 N-numbers
September 2028
334 N-numbers
October 2028
382 N-numbers
November 2028
247 N-numbers
December 2028
349 N-numbers

2029

January 2029
278 N-numbers
February 2029
276 N-numbers
March 2029
251 N-numbers
April 2029
352 N-numbers
May 2029
409 N-numbers
June 2029
281 N-numbers
July 2029
260 N-numbers
August 2029
255 N-numbers
September 2029
264 N-numbers
October 2029
275 N-numbers
November 2029
267 N-numbers
December 2029
204 N-numbers

2030

January 2030
253 N-numbers
February 2030
230 N-numbers
March 2030
311 N-numbers
April 2030
200 N-numbers
May 2030
234 N-numbers
June 2030
182 N-numbers
July 2030
179 N-numbers
August 2030
283 N-numbers
September 2030
197 N-numbers
October 2030
207 N-numbers
November 2030
226 N-numbers
December 2030
269 N-numbers

2031

January 2031
234 N-numbers
February 2031
200 N-numbers
March 2031
247 N-numbers
April 2031
234 N-numbers
May 2031
300 N-numbers
June 2031
258 N-numbers

How purge dates work

The FAA's reserved list holds about 127,000 N-numbers: fee-paid reservations ($10 a year), manufacturer blocks, holds on recently cancelled tails, and in-process N-number changes. About half carry a purge date — the scheduled day the FAA releases the tail if the holder doesn't act. Reservations lapse more often than you'd think, so the purge date is the day to pounce. Holders can renew until the last moment, which is why we call these scheduled releases, not promises.

Have a specific tail in mind? Check it directly — you'll see whether it's available, assigned, or reserved, and its exact purge date if it has one.

Guides

Frequently asked questions

What does it mean when an N-number “frees up”?
Most reserved N-numbers carry a purge date — the day the FAA is scheduled to release the tail back to the public if the holder doesn't renew. Fee-paid reservations lapse when the $10 annual renewal isn't paid, cancelled tails come off hold, and expired N-number changes release. On the purge date, a non-renewed tail becomes available for anyone to reserve.
Is a purge date a guarantee the N-number becomes available?
No. The holder can renew right up to the purge date, and many do. Treat the purge date as the day to check: if the reservation wasn't renewed, the tail is yours to claim. Our availability checker shows the live verdict for any tail.
How do I claim an N-number once it frees up?
Reserve it with the FAA online or by mail for $10 per year — you don't need to own an aircraft. Popular tails get re-reserved fast, so check on the purge date itself.
Where does this data come from?
The FAA's daily Releasable Aircraft Database, which includes the full reserved N-number list with purge dates. We refresh it every day and stamp every page with the FAA data date.
How many N-numbers free up each month?
Typically two to four thousand. Most are lapsing fee-paid reservations; the rest are post-cancellation holds ending and in-process N-number changes that expired.