What is the first letter of the Airport abrevity code (Or airport identifier, not sure what you call it)?Example being, what is the K in KLAX? Or the Y in YMAU? etc... etc...Silly question I know, but I want to know :(Thanks,

The first letter of the ICAO code is the continent. K is north america E is Europe and so onedit, although lower europe is L like LFPG and LPMA the second letter normally relates to the country

Good entry in Google Dan - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ICAO_airport_codeAnd also a good read for US - http://www.skygod.com/asstd/abc.htmlNow know why it's called KORD.John Ellison

Thanks guys, I actually did a lazy search earlier and didn't yield much, probably since I was looking up the two terms I mentioned above.The pic on the wiki link is sweet! I'll have to bookmark that one, thanks John.I've always understood the remaining 3 letters, well at least in the USA, but the K sure didn't make much sense to me :(

Unlike in other countries, USA airports ICAO codes are the same IATA codes with a beginning K.IATA & ICAOChicago O'Hare - ORD & KORDNewark - EWR & KEWRLos Angeles - LAX & KLAXDenver - DEN & KDENEtc, etc..Outside USA, the codes are totally different:Heathrow - LHR & EGLLDe Gaulle - CDG & LFPGFiumicino - FCO & LIRFMalpensa - MXP & LIMC...........

I think they are forced to be different because of the use of the second letter to designate country. US doesn't need to do that because rather than multiple countries in a grouping, we are lucky to have multiple first letters available for our states and territories i.e. K T and P.

Unlike in other countries, USA airports ICAO codes are the same IATA codes with a beginning K.

A few things: Greenland has its own code (:(. What, they need their own letter for the 3 airports they have there? (Ok, I'm kidding, but talk about a lot of empty space. )I thought there were a handful of US airports where the ICAO and IATA codes were slightly different (none of the really big ones), but I can't think of any off the top of my head. And, likewise, I thought there were a handful of non-U.S. ones that were the same. Not really critical, just sort of trivia.

The 737 Management Reference Guide website (http://www.b737mrg.net/downloads.html) contains a bunch of nifty reference guides at the bottom of the page. These include the ICAO two-letter country codes, a spreadsheet of full ICAO airport identifiers, a list of country-specific aircraft registration codes, and a host of other useful tools, all free for download.

but I can't think of any off the top of my head

There are two in my US Collection of SIDSTARS: TJSJ is SJU (San Juan PR) and PHOG is OGG ( Maui HI)

Yeah a lot of the Hawaii ones are different.

Alaska uses, the 'P' prefix as well.Regards.Ernie.