Forum:Global and regional issues/The two systems of airport codes

Forums → Global and regional issues → Global and regional issues/The two systems of airport codes

Since we're starting afresh with the new wiki, one of the things I would like to bring up is the two systems of airport codes that we have (WAAT and ANACA). I understand that in the real world we have IATA and ICAO that both have listings of codes (not to mention internal codes used in larger jurisdictions like France, Russia, and the US). Looking at the history of how these codes developed, my feeling is that it happened more through bureaucratic means with a small intent to create regional divisions. My feeling is that, for much of what we do, the systems are basically redundant. Yes, I recognize that their usages in the real world are slightly distinct, but this is only because organizations have kept them that way. They didn't have to evolve into distinct entities.

Do we really need to copy the real-world parallel here? I'm open to ideas as to why we could or should, but I'm wondering if a four-letter system based on regionality (as an example) might have developed naturally early on. The three-letter code grants us over 17,000 options globally; doing a four-letter code grants those 17,000 options for each region. This means we're unlikely to run out anytime soon on either system.

Thus, my proposal is two-fold: if there is a desire for a regionally-oriented airport code, then we should default to the four-letter code altogether; if there is not, then we default to the three-letter code. I personally don't care which way we go, but I don't believe it is necessary to have two systems in place.

Thanks, everyone for your feedback! If there's a consensus starting to form below, we'll proceed accordingly. — Alessa _(talk) 17:35, 23 November 2021 (UTC)

I'm a little torn here. It does seem somewhat logical that the four-letter codes would be the standard if only one is chosen as it allows for a larger overall number and has fewer conflicts. On the other hand though, I've always felt like the four-letter systems, at least as we have them set up right now, don't really work nearly as well for quickly recognizable individual branding/airport identity as the three-letter ones.

Just using mine as an example, Quentinsburgh Sean Bond International Airport in 3 letter is SBD- pretty straightforward. But in 4 letters its MFSB, where it's like "region M in a country that starts with F- oh Freedemia, guessing the SB means Sean Bond". Jhuandan's even more explicitly like this because the 3-letter code effectively is the city abbreviation- JHD. But the 4 letter code would be something like MFJH or MFJD which to me means nothing.

Maybe I'm just used to the way it is in the US where the three letters are standard for everything from airports to Amtrak stations, but I don't see the current 4 letter code system being as intuitive from the passenger or branding sides, even if they work better from a logistical behind the scenes standpoint for airport administrators or OGF convenience. --Ernestpkirby (talk) 17:52, 23 November 2021 (UTC)