V-Flyer

Question from older son (8 going on 100) about airport codes.

He understands where LHR, NCL, MAN and LGW (for example) come from but has to ask the question why is LAX, LAX... (I'm presuming it was because there was already another LA airport code in existence...)

I do have to ask the question why is Durham Tees-Valley (formerly Teesside) MME (which caused all sorts of problems at a JFK check in one day...)

Anyone shed any light or point me to a discussion elsewhere?

Thanks!!

M

Hi Mandy

This http://www.skygod.com/asstd/abc.html will help with the LAX question. As for MME, Wiki says it was an RAF station up to 1964, called Middleton St George since 1941 (before that Goosepool) and then opened as a civil airport in 1966. I still can't work out MME from Middleton though - maybe Middleton, Middlesbrough, England?
Regards
R3dV

I am from Stockton and part of Teesside Airport (I refuse to call it that OTHER name!) is within the borough boundaries.

Indeed 5 local authorities are major shareholders.

Teesside was once a staging post for transatlantic flights too.

Teesside started out as an RAF airbase - RAF Middleton St George - so I think thats where the MME designation came from.

RedVee wrote:Hi Mandy

This http://www.skygod.com/asstd/abc.html will help with the LAX question. As for MME, Wiki says it was an RAF station up to 1964, called Middleton St George since 1941 (before that Goosepool) and then opened as a civil airport in 1966. I still can't work out MME from Middleton though - maybe Middleton, Middlesbrough, England?
Regards
R3dV

Very interesting, always wondered why Canadian airports were prefixed with "Y".

Redvee,
Thanks for that very quick answer - I'll print it out for him (and for me!)

Tonty,

I am from Stockton and part of Teesside Airport (I refuse to call it that OTHER name!) is within the borough boundaries.

When I first heard the DTV monicker - I thought what another airport in the area? I live up the road (ie A1) from Stockton. I've flown from Teeside a few times - down to London - which alas they don't serve anymore if I'm correct...

Mandy Hall wrote:Tonty,

I am from Stockton and part of Teesside Airport (I refuse to call it that OTHER name!) is within the borough boundaries.

When I first heard the DTV monicker - I thought what another airport in the area? I live up the road (ie A1) from Stockton. I've flown from Teeside a few times - down to London - which alas they don't serve anymore if I'm correct...

Yes BMI (LHR) and BMI Baby (LGW) pulled out a couple of years ago - a great shame. There was a recent start up to fly to LCY but I read that the owners were arrested for fraud before a flight had even taken off !

RedVee wrote:Hi Mandy

This http://www.skygod.com/asstd/abc.html will help with the LAX question. As for MME, Wiki says it was an RAF station up to 1964, called Middleton St George since 1941 (before that Goosepool) and then opened as a civil airport in 1966. I still can't work out MME from Middleton though - maybe Middleton, Middlesbrough, England?
Regards
R3dV

thanks for that i have wondered for quite a while why Orlando is MCO

Chris

Because it's Orlando McCoy.

clarkeysntfc wrote:Because it's Orlando McCoy.

Or as in the article that RedVee linked to and Chris was referring to, it is the code for the old McCOy Air Force Base.