4 ms·

I’d argue if it was to be redone from scratch, we’d settle for hierarchical codes with country namespaces. Probably something like us.lax, fr.cdg, ko.inc, or a

I’d argue if it was to be redone from scratch, we’d settle for hierarchical codes with country namespaces. Probably something like us.lax, fr.cdg, ko.inc, or a combination of country + number HK02, GB231 etc. Simple system get approved when there’s low friction in the ruling comitee, as it was the case when few countries were involved in the first place. Once more that 50 members need to agree on something restricting to 3 letters doesn’t work anymore and it becomes compromised after compromises until there is a hack to let each country deal with its own mess.

macintux 4y ago
Country namespaces would violate the implied (or maybe explicit) idea that the codes never change.
- andromeduck 4y ago
  Maybe location hash? Something like what 5 words or plus codes.
- thriftwy 4y ago
  When Kazakhstan renamed its capital from Astana to Nursultan it also changed airport code from TSE to NQZ. Fun thing is that they have since renamed it back but the code is still NQZ. Why it was TSE before that is left as an excercise for the reader.
ziml77 4y ago
The downside to country codes is that countries can change (split, merge, or rename) even when the airports within them haven't. And the idea that the system would fall apart into one where each country manages their own codes doesn't make sense. As stated in the video, the 3 letter codes come from the IATA. Their members are airlines, not countries. They can assign codes in whatever way works for them to communicate with each other where passengers and their bags need to end up.
marcosdumay 4y ago
ICAO (the UN) set their codes this way. There are 4 letters, the first 2 are a country code. It doesn't work any better than the 3 letter codes you see on your ticket. It's just different.
gkedzierski 4y ago
Sounds good until you get to the edge cases. For instance, GVA is in two countries at the same time.
- tristor 4y ago
  > For instance, GVA is in two countries at the same time. Technically this isn't true. This stood out to me because I've been through GVA and its situation is unique enough I investigated it while I was there. GVA lies entirely within Swiss territory, in fact, it was rather a point to ensure that this was the case in the way territory lines were laid. It does span into two municipalities, however both are within Switzerland. What makes it unique is the edge of the airport aligns directly against the Swiss/French border, allowing direct access into the airport without needing to technically cross the border (because international airports treat areas past passport control and onto the tarmac as no-man's land). This is especially advantageous for freight, which is why GVA is considered an EU freight hub despite Switzerland not being an EU member state. So trucks delivering freight into France and other parts of the EU can drive directly into the GVA freight terminal from France, without needing to technically "cross the border", however the actual land they are on is within the territory of Switzerland.
selectodude 4y ago
ICAO code for Amsterdam Schipol is EHAM E - Europe H - Holland AM - AMsterdam
- raverbashing 4y ago
  E is not Europe, it's "Northern Europe" and EH is Netherlands. LHR is EGLL for example Southern airports in Europe use the L prefix like LFPG (CDG)
kijeda 4y ago
Your first suggestion almost perfectly articulated UNLOCODEs, e.g. "US LAX" https://service.unece.org/trade/locode/usk.htm https://service.unece.org/trade/locode/usk.htm
ncpa-cpl 4y ago
> Probably something like us.lax, fr.cdg, ko.inc, or a combination of country + number HK02, GB231 etc. This naming system has been for such a long time that I woud'nt be surprised if any minor change breaks something somewhere. Probably some old school database that can only handle three letters, uppercase and no punctuation characters. Or perhaps a modern app that depends on json generated by parsing txt output from a terminal. Or even a barcode format that can't handle any more characters.

macintux 4y ago

Country namespaces would violate the implied (or maybe explicit) idea that the codes never change.

andromeduck 4y ago
Maybe location hash? Something like what 5 words or plus codes.
thriftwy 4y ago
When Kazakhstan renamed its capital from Astana to Nursultan it also changed airport code from TSE to NQZ. Fun thing is that they have since renamed it back but the code is still NQZ. Why it was TSE before that is left as an excercise for the reader.

ziml77 4y ago

The downside to country codes is that countries can change (split, merge, or rename) even when the airports within them haven't. And the idea that the system would fall apart into one where each country manages their own codes doesn't make sense. As stated in the video, the 3 letter codes come from the IATA. Their members are airlines, not countries. They can assign codes in whatever way works for them to communicate with each other where passengers and their bags need to end up.

marcosdumay 4y ago

ICAO (the UN) set their codes this way. There are 4 letters, the first 2 are a country code. It doesn't work any better than the 3 letter codes you see on your ticket. It's just different.

gkedzierski 4y ago

Sounds good until you get to the edge cases. For instance, GVA is in two countries at the same time.

tristor 4y ago
> For instance, GVA is in two countries at the same time. Technically this isn't true. This stood out to me because I've been through GVA and its situation is unique enough I investigated it while I was there. GVA lies entirely within Swiss territory, in fact, it was rather a point to ensure that this was the case in the way territory lines were laid. It does span into two municipalities, however both are within Switzerland. What makes it unique is the edge of the airport aligns directly against the Swiss/French border, allowing direct access into the airport without needing to technically cross the border (because international airports treat areas past passport control and onto the tarmac as no-man's land). This is especially advantageous for freight, which is why GVA is considered an EU freight hub despite Switzerland not being an EU member state. So trucks delivering freight into France and other parts of the EU can drive directly into the GVA freight terminal from France, without needing to technically "cross the border", however the actual land they are on is within the territory of Switzerland.

selectodude 4y ago

ICAO code for Amsterdam Schipol is EHAM E - Europe H - Holland AM - AMsterdam

raverbashing 4y ago
E is not Europe, it's "Northern Europe" and EH is Netherlands. LHR is EGLL for example Southern airports in Europe use the L prefix like LFPG (CDG)

kijeda 4y ago

Your first suggestion almost perfectly articulated UNLOCODEs, e.g. "US LAX" https://service.unece.org/trade/locode/usk.htm https://service.unece.org/trade/locode/usk.htm

ncpa-cpl 4y ago

> Probably something like us.lax, fr.cdg, ko.inc, or a combination of country + number HK02, GB231 etc. This naming system has been for such a long time that I woud'nt be surprised if any minor change breaks something somewhere. Probably some old school database that can only handle three letters, uppercase and no punctuation characters. Or perhaps a modern app that depends on json generated by parsing txt output from a terminal. Or even a barcode format that can't handle any more characters.