Something i want to get off my chest.....

CaptainSkidmark

IM not singling out any one in particular here but its something that really gets up my goat!

Why when people refer to Airports they dont call them by name they call them by code? Its really annoying for people like me who dont have a airport code look up app built into my brain.

I even remember someone referring to cork as EICK, now they both have 4 letters........

I do apologize if ye think im having a go at ye but it really is annoying

cyrusdvirus

Used bother me a bit, not so much anymore though. BUT i hear where you're coming from Cap'n.

mailforkev

Surely it's ok when it shortens the name a good bit and it's airports everyone knows anyway, JFK or LAX for example.

Obviously if someone was talking about Dublin Airport as DUB I would find it a little strange.

CaptainSkidmark

ah yesh LAX and JFK are a given but there is lots others that are ridiculous

drdeadlift

Its crazy how quick you learn 3&letter codes,it become second nature to use them after a while,but i know where you are coming from

CaptainSkidmark

yeah i know but its annoying having to go looking them up every time one appears

jimbis

Yeah its a bit annoying when reading a thread and you have to look up what airport its referring too, But i suppose thats the best way to learn really.

diverdriver

Once you work in the business you get used to using acronyms. So if I flew FR out of DUB to LGW. It's easier to type. On the other hand on the flight plan we flew from EIDW to EGKK. You should see the weather at EGKK: 021320Z 16005KT 9000 -RA BKN030 10/08 Q0997 RERA. The WX is better at EIDW though:021330Z 12007KT 9999 FEW004 SCT030 BKN060 09/08 Q0989 NOSIG as you can clearly see.

Don't worry you'll soon pick it up:P

As for the weather codes, I find it easier and quicker to assimilate the information in code form than in plain English. Once you get used to it, it's easier to read.

cyrusdvirus

that's the point diver.......not all of us work in the business. Some of us, (Me, for example) have an interest in aviation, and big things that drill holes in the sky, but i wouldn't have a clue where FANN is.

My interest, unfortunately will only ever be one of the adjustable weight containers in the back of the aircraft cos of eyesight issues.

*Kol*

I was guilty of it in my last post in the photo thred. FAMM is Mmabatho International Airport (MBD/FAMM).

The 3 letter identifier are easier to decypher if you dont know them. The 4 letter ones can be a mystery.

tricky D

This is the nature of many professions. They use esoteric terminologies for 2 reasons: a more precise, easier and apt method of explaining or describing or communicating things and secondly to protect the profession from the unqualified. Both are mainly positives. Imho, I'd prefer a bit less of the esoteric terms and more decoded descriptions for the lay person used here.

Davidth88

I can sort of understand where the OP is coming from .

I am not used to the 4 letter ICAO ( International Civil Aviation Organization) codes and find them really confusing.

I do by and large understand the 3 letter IATA (International Air Transport Association) codes but of course smaller airfields don't have that.

highlydebased

the IATA codes are primarily for pax and airport operations. ATC and crew deal primarily with ICAO codes (EINN. EIDW, EDDF,EGLL etc)

Steyr

CaptainSkidmark wrote: »

Why when people refer to Airports they dont call them by name they call them by code? Its really annoying for people like me who dont have a airport code look up app built into my brain.

Confusion stops here:http://www.flyinginirelandmagazine.com/main/content/view/16/40/
:cool:

pclancy

Aviation must be second to IT in terms of 4 letter acronyms.

My favorite is TWAIN.

"Technology without an interesting name"

APM

CaptainSkidmark wrote: »

IM not singling out any one in particular here but its something that really gets up my goat!

Why when people refer to Airports they dont call them by name they call them by code? Its really annoying for people like me who dont have a airport code look up app built into my brain.

Its terrible that you don't have access to google :-)

hibby

Many licensed airfields are referred to by several names. Examples would be Athboy/Ballyboy; Connemara/Inverin/Minna. This is sometimes a good reason to use the 4-letter IATA codes (EIMH, EICA), if you have a reasonable expectation that the person you are talking to is familiar with the codes.

Manic Moran

pclancy wrote: »

Aviation must be second to IT in terms of 4 letter acronyms.

My favorite is TWAIN.

"Technology without an interesting name"

That's 5 letters.

NTM

Dacian

Manic Moran wrote: »

That's 5 letters.

Doesn't that make it an ETLA, Extended Three Letter Acronym?

APM wrote: »

Its terrible that you don't have access to google :-)

The OP has a point, no need to sarky.

A lot of people know the 3 letter codes, as below ORD and LHR are familar. However I have very little idea of the 4 letter codes. I know Ireland has EIxx, and the US has K before the 3 lettter code, thats about it really.

alpha2zulu

Dacian wrote: »

The OP has a point, no need to sarky.

True, but I'm sure in other specialised forums wheather it be Military or Legal or Engineering or whatever your going to have some short hand terms used. Dont see why many posts should be dummed down for the sake of a minority.

Typeing Chicago O Hare instead of ORD or London Heathrow instead of LHR is just a bit of a waste of time in my book.

peter1892

The ICAO & IATA codes have been in use for years, I guess it's something of an assumption that people with an interest (or a job) in aviation know what they are.

IMO they're certainly preferable to the 'txt speak' used by young wans, i h8 wen dey strt using dat on d net. TLA's ftw! :P

Enigma'

Typeing Chicago O Hare instead of ORD or London Heathrow instead of LHR is just a bit of a waste of time in my book.

Exactly. It becomes a habit after a while anyway. There was a good article in Cara a few months back listing some of the more obscure/amusing ones such as MAD, YAY, SEX, SUX, FAT, PUS, DOH, BOO.

Some might ask why the IATA code for Cork isn't COR, well it was presumably already taken by Cordoba, Argentina. ORK was probably the next best thing. Sometimes I wonder if Dubai are a little pi$$ed off that they cant use the DUB code for their great airport, instead their stuck with the pretty random DXB. Ah well:D

Tea 1000

Enigma' wrote: »

Exactly. It becomes a habit after a while anyway. There was a good article in Cara a few months back listing some of the more obscure/amusing ones such as MAD, YAY, SEX, SUX, FAT, PUS, DOH, BOO.

Some might ask why the IATA code for Cork isn't COR, well it was presumably already taken by Cordoba, Argentina. ORK was probably the next best thing. Sometimes I wonder if Dubai are a little pi$$ed off that they cant use the DUB code for their great airport, instead their stuck with the pretty random DXB. Ah well:D

Isn't EIDW code for Dublin though? That's confusing! Probably comes from Collinstown name, but picking a letter out of the middle is unintuitive. Then there's SXL for Sligo!
I prefer to read the real name unless it's one of the known ones though.

Enigma'

Isn't EIDW code for Dublin though?

EIDW is the ICAO code for Dublin and DUB is the IATA code.

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I wonder if Dubai are a little pi$$ed off that they cant use the DUB code for their great airport, instead their stuck with the pretty random DXB.

Feck em.

Dublin Airport has been around much longer than their airport.