JO 7110.65 2-3-7

To identify aircraft piloted by solo USAF/USN undergraduate student pilots (who may occasionally request revised clearances because they normally are restricted to flight in VFR conditions), the aircraft identification in the flight plan must include the letter “Z” as a suffix. Do not use this suffix, however, in ground‐to‐air communication.

NOTE-

USAF solo students who have passed an instrument certification check may penetrate cloud layers in climb or descent only. Requests for revised clearances to avoid clouds in level flight can still be expected. This does not change the requirement to use the letter “Z” as a suffix to the aircraft identification.

REFERENCE-

FAA Order JO 7110.65, Para 2-4-20 , Aircraft Identification.

FAA Order JO 7610.14, Chapter 7, Section 2, USAF Undergraduate Flying Training (UFT)/Pilot Instructor Training (PIT)/Introduction To Fighter Fundamentals.