How Do Airport Codes Even Work? (FAA, ICAO, IATA)

We spent hours learning how these codes work so that you don't have to!
/ pilotinstituteairplanes
~
Not sure where to start for your pilot's license? Check out our FREE guide: pilotinstitute.com/course/ult...
Get your Private Pilot's License today: pilotinstitute.com/course/par...
Already got your PPL? Go for instrument: pilotinstitute.com/course/ins...
Check out our list of pilot must-haves: www.amazon.com/shop/pilotinst...
Build your own sim: www.amazon.com/shop/pilotinst...

[@PilotInstituteAirplanes]

What's your home airport code? ↓

[@jesseekkerd]

FACT !

[@JohannBeishline]

KSDL

BJX (Mexico) 😂

[@martygenska8117]

KHEG

[@stargategio]

KMCO

[@trukrerette]

Here's an interesting trivia fact: At all of the hundreds of airports in the USA that actually have an IATA airport code, the FAA location identifier is always exactly the same with only the following 15 exceptions: BVU=BLD, FHR=FRD, GPI=FCA, HEF=MNZ, HXD=HHH, IWA=AZA, JQF=USA, NYL=YUM, SAW=MQT, SGJ=UST, UNV=SCE, GRO=ROP, GSN=SPN, TNI=TIQ, and AVA=NRR. Beyond these 15, all of the rest are identical. For example: JFK=JFK, LAX=LAX, ORD=ORD, ATL=ATL, MIA=MIA, DFW=DFW, BOS=BOS, IAD=IAD, SFO=SFO, DEN=DEN, etc.

[@martygenska8117]

That was really good information; you should add that to your PPL course. I always wondered about this. I routinely fly from KHEG (Herlong) to 24J (Suwannee Country). Other nearby airports like Keystone (42J) and Palatka (28J) always made me wonder what the real difference was.