I agree with WorkingHard. Annoyingly there seems to be a 'train-spotter' element to private flying. Although I've not noticed it too much in the outside world....only in here. I wonder why. :rolleyes:

Well, yes, T is one of those, but the rest are as geographically diverse as Perranporth (P), Fairoaks (F) and Oxford Kiddlington (K), rather putting in doubt that you can tell the area from the third letter. I was only pulling FFF's leg, though. He is mostly right.

TP, TF and TK were all built as Fighter command bases in the early years of the war. I wonder if T stood for airfields originally built for military use then handed over to the civvies. But then Biggin would be TB, not KB. Fascinating subject. Quite riveting. Thanks, WorkingHard for starting the thread and bringing our attention to it.

Oh, yeah so I see! :rolleyes: :p :p

Timothy

I can't help thinking that maybe I'm not the only one on the receiving end of Timothy's sense of humour on this thread :D

FFF
----------------

Well, if you didn't laugh:D , you'd cry!:{

:ugh:

Timothy

The answer to the original question of why codes ... simple really, the shortest way to indicate an airfield even for those who don't know the area. And, of course, it fits into flightplan forms nice and easily.

Quite right, you need a sense of humour in this life but it seems sadly lacking in some. If you want to use ICAO codes then that is your right and choice and whilst I think it isoft out of place I would defend to the end your right to use them. So those who think I wish to dictate how you express anything think again. Some will like it others will ignore it.

Then there is the clarity issue when reporting airfield of departure and destination. Try pronuncing Reims as a French aviator would.

Much easier is LIMA FOX(trot)QUEBEC ALFA, and it is also clear which Reims airfield is actually your destination.

WorkingHard
-------- Quote --------
..... So why the hell do people use designated codes instead on recognisable names?
Perversity? Trying to sound "professional"? ....
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Posts: 230 | From: UK |
---- End quote -------

I see you are "From: UK". Did you hesitate for a second in writing "UK" rather than "United Kingdom"? Probably not.

I am not a professional pilot, but I suspect most professionals do not hesitate to use codes for the same reason. :D

http://home.infionline.net/~pickyperkins/pi.gif

I'd have thought in these days of GPS the knowledge of ICAO's would be of positive benefit if you're trying to program the bloody thing!

However, I too know them from my previous career in Flight Ops. It's rather like the phonetic alphabet, most people in Aviation know it (even if they've not needed to learn it for flying) - if you hear them often enough you remember them.

ISTR that there was an article in Pilot years ago about the coding - the only thing I can remember is Llanbedr as EGOD - the writer wondered if there was a connection with the local church!?

LL - London
BB- Birmingham
CC - Er, well Manchester...
GP - Running out of ideas now.

There was once a logic to it, based on a mix of "regional" codes for civilian ones, and "type" for military ones.

The "hub" of each civilian group had the "two letters" version - AA for Belfast, BB for BBrum, CC for that place I don't fly to, LL for LLunnun, FF for cardiFF, KK for gatwiKK etc. The satellite fields then started at xA and worked up.

T was FIRs and such, and airfields that didn't fit the system.

E is new, and is the Scottish islands (mostly).

I think the pattern got lost as codes were allocated "on request" - hence Sx is Stansted and East Anglia, except for Sheff City that wanted EGSC.

Bit esoteric, really.

AerBabe

"No, but I have some on my pyjamas."

Do you wear your pyjamas in the plane?
;)

Come on, this is a family forum, no place for that kind of fantasy. :O

It is cblinton, not bclinton, isn't it :p

Timothy

EVO
Sorry Evo - you lose this one i think, under its civilian code EGUS is EGH F, the first code is Government so it normally has a U or V as its third letter.

;)

(Edited and note made to learn to spell:8 )

Oh well, some you win, some you 'loose' :) serves me right for trying to be a smart@rse ... i'll leave that to Timothy ;) :O

Keef has the history essentially correct.

The groupings were to do with the airfields Parent AFTN Station. Not all places were, or indeed are, connected to the AFTN (Aeronautical Fixed Telecommunications Network) so several geographical "parent" stations with new fangled things like on line TTY were established to deal with Flight Plan Messages, Class 1 NOTAMS etc.

Comms not being what they are today, several airfeilds didn't "fit" the system. These parentless stations were all lumped in with FIR desigantors (for example EGTE), the station being EGTT (LONDON FIR)

Oh, for EVO.. EGUF (RAE Farnborough) became EGLF in it's civilian guise.

hmmm... I'll get me anorak....

Rgds BEX

Luton use to be EGLN, linked by AFTN to Heathrow. Then the Croydon Communications Centre opened (EGGG) so Luton became EGGW. I went to Croydon CC in the early 70s; it was full of, er, teleprinters . . . . .

Similarly Elstree use to be EGLE and became EGTR.


It always amuses me hearing people complain about codes. Use 'em, you'll soon learn 'em.

Like METAR 'Why can't METARs be in plain language?' I thought they already were! :D :D :D :D


Anoraks R Us

A heavy burden to bear on my own...recruits always welcome.

I'm sorry, but this is the kind of thread that cries out to be laughed at. I'll stop if you like :p

Timothy

You could always do what we do, and remember them by silly names!

i.e.

EGMC - Southend (Mussels and Cockles)
EGPF - Glasgow (Paisley F***ers)... or Pick a Fight!
EGDL - RAF Lyenham (Des Lyneham)
EGHI - Southampton (Hampshire International)
EGHR - Goodwood (Horse racing)

etc etc

No way!



I wear my nightie - that has wings on the chest. :E

Reasons i prefer to use codes
1. they fit into the logbook columns easily, try putting Nottingham International London East Midlands Airport of Derbyshire in Leicestershire in your logbook.:}
2. Airfields in the Uk have become obsessed with 'rebranding ' , i don't believe codes change very often.
3. if you are a regular user of notams, flight plans, metars, tafs, GPS, etc you'll be wondering what the point of this thread is. There lots of airports around the world with the same name or similar sounding names
BTW What exactly is wrong with being 'professional'?
Capt M