1945
Year
C-GCTF — 1945 Douglas C54E-DC
C-GCTF is a 1945 Douglas C54E-DC (4 engines) based in Hay River, Northwest Territories, listed on the Transport Canada Civil Aircraft Register (serial 27281).
Piston twin
Category
Northwest Territories
Based
3
On CA register
The aircraft
Year built1945 · 81 years old
Airframe typeWhether Transport Canada classes it as an aeroplane, a helicopter, a glider, a balloon or a gyroplane.Aeroplane
Engine typeHow the engine makes power. Piston engines run on avgas like a car engine; turboprops and jets burn turbine fuel, cost far more to overhaul, and are usually reserved for bigger or faster aircraft.Piston
Engines4
Max take-off weightMaximum take-off weight: the heaviest the aircraft may legally be when it starts its take-off roll, including fuel, people and baggage. It's the number that decides what licence and ratings you need, and what it costs to park.33,475 kg · 73,800 lb
Where it's based
BasedThe city or airport Transport Canada holds as the aircraft's base. Where the field holds a four-letter code like CYXE, that's the airport's ICAO identifier.Hay River, Northwest Territories
Transport Canada officeThe Transport Canada regional office that administers this registration. It follows the owner's address, so it isn't always the nearest office to where the aircraft actually sits.Dorval
Identity
Serial numberThe manufacturer's own number for this individual airframe, stamped on a plate. Unlike the registration, it never changes — it identifies the aircraft across every country it's ever been registered in.27281
ManufacturerThe full legal name of the company that built it, which is often not the name on the tail. A Cessna 172 built in 2022 was made by Textron Aviation.Douglas Aircraft Co
Built inWhere the aircraft was manufactured. Most of Canada's fleet was built in the United States.U.S.A.
ICAO 24-bit addressA unique 24-bit number your transponder broadcasts with every Mode S and ADS-B message — flight trackers key on it rather than the tail number. Canada's block runs C00000 to C3FFFF, which is why Canadian aircraft nearly all start C0 to C3. Transport Canada assigns it against the registration, so it changes if the aircraft is re-registered.C04BE4
Registration
Registration typePrivate, Commercial or State. Commercial means the registration permits use for hire or reward — charter, flight training, aerial work. It describes the registration, not who owns the aircraft.Commercial
AirworthinessThe standard certificate: the aircraft conforms to its approved design and is maintained by a licensed engineer. No restrictions beyond the type's own, and it's what buyers and lenders expect to see.Certificate of Airworthiness
Basis of registrationThe rule the aircraft is registered under. Most are registered against a type certificate, meaning they're a factory design approved by the regulator; amateur-built and ultralight aircraft come in under their own standards.CAR Standard 507.02, 507.03 - Type Certificate
Type certificateThe approval number for the aircraft's design, issued to the manufacturer. Every aircraft built to that approved design shares it, so it's a good way to confirm exactly which variant you're looking at.A762
Registered sinceWhen the current registration took effect. A recent date usually means the aircraft changed hands or was re-registered — it is not the date it was built.23 May 1996
Imported to CanadaWhen the aircraft was first brought onto the Canadian register from abroad. Only recorded for imported aircraft, which is about a third of the fleet.16 September 1982
Where C-GCTF is, and how to track it
C-GCTF transmits ADS-B under the 24-bit address C04BE4. Trackers key on that address rather than the tail number, so it finds the aircraft even on flights flown under a different callsign. Transport Canada assigns the address against the registration, so it changes if the aircraft is re-registered.
Most private aircraft are on the ground most of the time — if a tracker shows nothing, it is very likely parked rather than missing.
How rare is C-GCTF?
The Douglas C54E-DC is very rare in Canada — there are 3 registered on the Transport Canada Civil Aircraft Register — see every one.
Own this aircraft?
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Canadian Civil Aircraft Register, current to July 27, 2026. Aircraft data reproduced and distributed with the permission of the Government of Canada. MarketPlane.ca is not affiliated with Transport Canada.