If you are standing in the Orlando airport in a pilot uniform long enough, you will inevitably get asked about the airport code. Why is the airport code MCO?
The area where the Orlando International Airport is located used to be the McCoy Airforce Base. The base was named for Colonel Michael Norman Wright McCoy.
Why not ORL? There is a different airport near downtown Orlando with the 3 letter code ORL. This was the first commercial airport serving Central Florida and is is now the Orlando Executive Airport.
How do airports get their 3 letter codes?
Airport codes generally represent the name of the airport or city where they are located. For example, MIA equals Miami, or SAN equals San Diego.
A trade association maintains three-letter airport codes. Airlines and airports are members of the International Air Transport Association or IATA. In addition to codes, IATA maintains a whole library of aviation technical standards and programs for airlines.
Is your Airport Special?
Check out this post on Special Pilot Qualification Airports.
Why do airports also have 4 letter codes?
Four letter codes are managed by the International Civil Aviation Organization or ICAO. Most airports in the World have a 4-letter code in addition to their 3-letter code. For example, airports in the Continental United States start with a “K.” Using the MCO example above, the ICAO code for Orlando International would be KMCO.
What is the difference between IATA and ICAO?
Confused yet? IATA is a trade association focused on airline operations. ICAO is an organization formed by international treaties and is focused on all civil aviation and navigation. Airlines are members of IATA, whereas States (Countries) are members of ICAO.
This means that 4-digit airport codes are “official” or regulatory. Pilots typically use the 4-letter code in their log books and other official paperwork.
Airports with Seemingly Strange Codes
In addition to MCO mentioned earlier in this post, below are a few airports I have flown to recently with the airlines. They are strange or seemingly don’t reflect the cities they serve. Do you have any peculiar codes? Please leave them in the comments.
BNA
Nashville International Airport, Nashville, Tennessee. The code “BNA” comes from its original name, “Berry Field.”
FAT
Fresno Yosemite International Airport, Fresno California. The airport was formerly named Fresno Air Terminal hence the code.
GEG
Spokane International Airport, Spokane, Washington. It is known as Geiger Army Airfield after Major Harold Geiger, an aviation pioneer.
MCI
Kansas City International Airport, Kansas City Missouri. Named for an airline that served the Mid Continent Oil Fields.
MDT
Harrisburg International Airport, Middletown, Pennsylvania. As soon as I looked up the address the reason for the code became obvious; Middletown.
MSY
Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport, Kenner, Jefferson Parish, Louisiana. This airport was planned because the New Orleans Lakefront Airport (code NEW), airport was deemed too small. The MSY airport was named after aviator John Moisant whom crashed his plane into a field near where the new airport is located.
ORD
Chicago O’Hare International Airport, Chicago, Illinois. It received its code from its original name Orchard Field Airport.
PHF
Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport, Newport News, Virginia. It code stems from its initial name of Patrick Henry Airport.
RSW
Southwest Florida International Airport, Lee County, Florida. This airport serves Southwest Florida, and is just south of the city of Fort Myers. The airports code stands for Regional Southwest.
SDF
Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport, Louisville, Kentucky. It was named Standiford Field for Dr. Elisha David Standiford who owned the land where the airport is located.
SMF
Sacramento International Airport, Sacramento, California. Its code comes from its initial name Sacramento Metropolitan Field. There is already and SAC airport. It is the Sacramento Executive Airport.
Airports Nick Named by Pilots
I have heard the following list of nicknames over the years. The list is humorous. In other words, if you live in New York, don’t be mad that everyone hates your airport.
| Nick Name | Code | Location |
| Banana | BNA | Nashville, TN |
| Bee Wee | BWI | Baltimore, MD |
| Charlie South | CHS | Charleston, SC |
| Charlie West | CRW | Charleston, WV |
| Deportland or Portlandia | PDX | Portland, OR |
| Everyone Can Party | ECP | Panama City, FL |
| Fayettenam | FAY | Fayetteville, NC |
| Filthadelphia | PHL | Philadelphia, PA |
| Lagarbage | LGA | New York’s Laguardia |
| Lalaland | LAX | Los Angeles, CA |
| Liquordale | FLL | Fort Lauderdale, FL |
| Lost Wages | LAS | Las Vegas, NV |
| San Di-ah-go | SAN | San Diego, CA (thanks Ron Burgundy) |
| Teterhole | TEB | Teterboro, NJ |
| Wallyworld | MCO | Orlando, FL |
| Walmart | XNA | Bentonville, AR |
| White Stains | HPN | Westchester County, NY |
My Flying News 
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