airport codes in airline database

[dark_reaper]

Just how often do airlines update their airport codes?

I just dealt with a airline recently and they are using a wrong airport code on the flight release, they were using KNZC when they should be using KVQQ. Is that legal? I am just curious cause I have pilots ask me about it.

 

[F9DXER]

If it is a joint militay/civil airlfield it may have 2 designations to denote which side a flight is going to.

Yuma Az use to have two. NYL for military and Yum for civil. It officially change to NYL about 3 years ago.

Honolulu has two PHNL for civil and PHIK for military.

Not sure which military facility it use to be as the online AFD doenst list NZC.

 

[McCrosky]

According to my jepps, the airport is listed as KVQQ/NZC. According to Wikipedia.. it holds three identifiers, ICAO (KVQQ), IATA (NZC), and FAA (VQQ). Years ago, I remember being confused sending a flight to Cecil because of the identifier issue. It's the only place in the US I've ever seen that had a an ICAO identifier that was just K+the IATA identifier. Some kind of hold over from being Naval Air Station Cecil. (Trivia, in the US, almost all airports with a KNxx ID is or was a Naval/Marine Corps air station.. of course there are exceptions).

As to the legality... *shrug*, not sure where it falls.

 

[dark_reaper]

I just tell the pilots when they take off on 26, make a left and they cannot miss the field. I know VQQ used to be military, but that was a long time ago. I am just curious , so next time a pilot ask me, then I will know.

 

[PlaneFan82]

There are a few civilian airports that have different IATA/ICAO codes.
FCA/KGPI Kalispell, MT
MQT/KSAW (Marquette, Michigan)
SSM/KCIU (Sault Ste, Marie,MI)
In the case of HNL/HIK, since it is the same airfield, you pull WX for HNL, and use NOTAMS for BOTH HIK and HNL. There a quite a few airport with varying ICAO/IATA codes, and airlines DO keep them up to date. The only time you will not find IATA codes or TAF/NOTAM codes are for many military bases in the middle east.