The ICAO airport code or location indicator is a four-letter code designating aerodromes around the world. These codes, as defined by the International Civil Aviation Organization and published quarterly in ICAO Document 7910: Location Indicators , are used by air traffic control and airline operations such as flight planning . ICAO codes are also used to identify other aviation facilities such as weather stations , international flight service stations or area control centers , whether or not they are located at airports. Flight information regions are also identified by a unique ICAO-code.
41-712: Kasumigaura Air Field ( 霞ヶ浦飛行場 , Kasumigaura Hikōjō , ICAO : RJAK ) is a military aerodrome of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force Camp Kasumigaura ( 霞ヶ浦駐屯地 , Kasumigaura Chūtonchi ) , 2.7 NM (5.0 km; 3.1 mi) south of Tsuchiura in Ibaraki Prefecture , Japan . The base was established in 1921 as the Imperial Japanese Navy Aeronautical Technology and Training Center (海軍航空技術講習所). After
82-524: A Japanese-built Vickers SS-3 ; both of these airships left service around 1924. Kasumigaura later hosted three Fujikura airships and one Nobile airship between 1927 and 1932, at which point the Navy ceased airship operations and dismantled its fleet. The U.S. military took over the base in 1945 and handed it over to the Japanese defense ministry in 1953. Since then it has been used as a supply depot and as
123-594: A NAAFI Bar, a Costa Coffee café, hairdressers, a medical centre, and an education centre on the base. BFBS Radio also maintains a live local station on the site. There is also a complex that includes a small shop which is owned and run by the Falkland Islands Company . The station provides a base for air-defence and transport operations in the south Atlantic and is home to No. 905 Expeditionary Air Wing , part of British Forces South Atlantic Islands . The wing comprises two RAF flights, which operate
164-574: A consortium of British civil engineering and construction firms Mowlem , John Laing Group and Amey plc . At the construction stage the airfield was called the Falkland Island Strategic Airfield or FISA and was designed to accommodate military as well as civil wide-body aircraft , enabling efficiencies in the running costs and time taken to support the Falklands garrison. The construction and shipping of materials to
205-565: A range of aircraft: Additionally, the civilian firm, Bristow Helicopters (BIH), operates two Sikorsky S-92 for personnel and equipment transport and also flies two AgustaWestland AW189s for search and rescue operations. The British Army maintains a garrison on the Falkland Islands based at Mount Pleasant. It includes a roulement infantry company, an air defence surface-to-air missile unit, an Explosive Ordinance Disposal detachment, engineers and supporting elements. There
246-438: A training base for helicopter pilots and mechanics, with approximately 2,000 personnel stationed on base. This article about a Japanese airport is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . This Ibaraki Prefecture location article is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . ICAO airport code The recommendations for ICAO airport codes were adopted on 24 March 1959, and came into force on 1 October
287-643: Is a Royal Air Force station in the British Overseas Territory of the Falkland Islands . The airfield goes by the motto of "Defend the right" (while the motto of the islands is "Desire the right") and is part of the British Forces South Atlantic Islands (BFSAI). Home to between 1,000 and 2,000 British military personnel, it is about 33 miles (53 km) southwest of Stanley , the capital of
328-480: Is a pseudo-code, used in flight plans for aerodromes with no ICAO code assigned. ICAO codes are sometimes updated. Johannesburg Airport in Johannesburg , South Africa, for instance, was formerly known as Jan Smuts International Airport, with code FAJS. When the airport was renamed O. R. Tambo International Airport, its ICAO code was updated to FAOR. Some airports have two ICAO codes, usually when an airport
369-598: Is also a Joint Communications Unit (JCU) providing the electronic warfare and command and control systems for the Royal Navy , British Army and Royal Air Force . Units based at Mount Pleasant Complex. Royal Air Force British Army Royal Navy (Operating from Mare Harbour facilities five miles from the Mount Pleasant complex) Using the IATA airport code MPN , Mount Pleasant Complex also acts as
410-751: Is shared by civilian and military users. Frankfurt Airport in Frankfurt , Germany, for instance, has been assigned ICAO code EDDF while Rhein-Main Air Base was assigned ICAO code EDAF until its closure. Sion Airport in Switzerland has code LSGS while its military facilities have the ICAO code LSMS. Brussels Airport in Brussels , Belgium, has the ICAO code EBBR for its civilian facilities, and Melsbroek Air Base has been assigned ICAO code EBMB, even though
451-791: The Eurofighter Typhoon FGR4 in the quick reaction alert (QRA) role, at a cost of £1.56 million. To accommodate the Typhoon, a further £416,000 was spent on infrastructure improvements to the airfield. As of 2024, the Tranche 1 variant of the Typhoon is deployed in the islands. As part of the RAF's wider upgrade of their Hercules, the C3 variant of No. 1312 Flight was replaced with a C-130J C5 in April 2010. A Lockheed TriStar K1 took over
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#1732779954797492-606: The Jezero Crater on Mars is assigned the special ICAO code JZRO. Codes beginning with I (Ixx and Ixxx) are often used for navigational aids such as radio beacons, while the Q code is reserved for international radiocommunications and non-geographical special use. In Russia , Latin letter X, or its Morse / Baudot Cyrillic equivalent Ь , are used to designate government, military, and experimental aviation airfields in internal airfield codes similar in structure and purpose to ICAO codes but not used internationally. ZZZZ
533-409: The Falkland Islands' only international airport, along with its military role. Flights open to civilian passengers are operated twice each week. The Hercules C-130 Transport Force operating out of RAF Lyneham supplied a direct non-stop service from RAF Lyneham via Ascension, Wideawake Airfield . From Ascension the flight was direct involving in-flight refuelling from a C-130 tanker. The flight duration
574-487: The Falklands was expected to cost approximately £190 million. Additional costs included the provision of a road between Stanley and Mount Pleasant and the installation of communication and navigation aids, bringing the overall cost to approximately £215m. Construction began in Autumn 1983 and the new runway was expected to be available for use by April 1985, with the wider airfield complete by February 1986. RAF Mount Pleasant
615-453: The Falklands, on the island of East Falkland . The world's longest corridor, 2,600 feet (800 m) long, links the barracks, messes, and recreational and welfare areas of the station, and was nicknamed the " Death Star Corridor" by personnel due to its drab and foreboding ambience, before it was re-designed, re-painted, and re-named "Millennium Corridor". Mount Pleasant was opened by Prince Andrew on 12 May 1985, becoming fully operational
656-670: The First World War Japan, which had fought with the allies, received the German airship hangar from Jüterbog airbase as part of its war reparations, and the hangar was installed at Kasumigaura air base. On 19 August 1929, the airship LZ-17 Graf Zeppelin stopped at Kasumigaura for several days while on its round-the-world trip . The Zeppelin visit made Tsuchiura famous throughout Japan for its potato-based curry . The IJN ordered an Astra-Torres airship from France in 1922 and stationed it at Kasumigaura from 1923, alongside
697-546: The ICAO code indicate the country; the remaining letters identify the airport. ICAO codes are used partly for geographical context. For example, the ICAO code for Heathrow International Airport in London, is EGLL, with its first letters reflecting that it is based in the United Kingdom . On the other hand, IATA codes do not provide geographic reference. For example, LHR, representing Heathrow, does not enable one to deduce
738-553: The Royal Air Force by a civilian airline, Flyglobespan . Since the airline's bankruptcy in 2009, the flights have been operated by Air Tahiti Nui , Titan Airways , Air Seychelles and Hi Fly . The service is now operated by AirTanker using Airbus Voyager aircraft. Up to 2022, they flew to and from RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, with a refuelling stop at Cape Verde because the runway at RAF Ascension Island
779-536: The United Kingdom, but nearby civilian Port Stanley Airport is assigned SFAL, consistent with South America . Saint Pierre and Miquelon is controlled by France, and airports there are assigned LFxx as though they were in Europe. Kosovo is assigned the code BKxx grouping it with Greenland and Iceland rather than its geographical neighbors which have Lxxx (described below). Jerusalem International Airport
820-645: The air-to-air refuelling role from the VC10 K4 in October 2013, when the latter was withdrawn from RAF service. The TriStar itself was soon replaced, in February 2014, by an Airbus A330 Voyager KC3 . Chinook helicopters provided heavy-lift support until they were withdrawn in 2006. In 2015, the Chinooks were redeployed to Mount Pleasant. A flight of Westland Sea King helicopters for support and search and rescue
861-490: The end of the hostilities in 1982. During the Falklands War when the islands were occupied by Argentine military forces, British aircraft were sent to disable the runway with RAF Strike Command Vulcan bombers ( Operation Black Buck ) and Royal Navy Sea Harriers . The first two Black Buck missions were flown under tactics to make it reasonably probable at least one of twenty-one 1,000-pound bombs dropped would hit
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#1732779954797902-460: The flight's Phantoms were replaced when four Panavia Tornado F3 arrived in the Falklands in July 1992. No. 1312 Flight's Hercules C1K were withdrawn in April 1996, with the flight gaining a Vickers VC10 K4 for air-to-air refuelling and C-130 Hercules C3 in the transport role. In September 2009, the Falklands' air-defence capability was enhanced when No. 1435 Flight's Tornado F3s were replaced by
943-483: The following year. The station was constructed as part of British efforts to strengthen the defence of the Falkland Islands following the Falklands War . It remains the newest purpose-built RAF station and replaced previous RAF facilities at Port Stanley Airport . RAF Mount Pleasant is the newest permanent airfield in the Royal Air Force . The RAF previously had a small airfield at Port Stanley Airport after
984-659: The former No. 1310 Flight , operating the Boeing Chinook HC1 and No. 1564 Flight , operating the Westland Sea King HAR3 . Later in 1986, two Lockheed C-130 Hercules C1K of No. 1312 Flight , operating in the air-to-air refuelling role, moved to Mount Pleasant to support the Phantoms. Responsibility for the air-defence and of the Falklands and the Phantoms of No. 23 Squadron were transferred to No. 1435 Flight on 1 November 1988. Subsequently,
1025-484: The islands with its squadron of Sea Harriers until the local airfield was prepared for jet aircraft. HMS Hermes was the first to take guard duty, whilst HMS Invincible went north to change a main engine at sea. Invincible then returned to relieve Hermes which urgently needed to return to the UK for boiler cleaning. Invincible returned until she was relieved by the newly built HMS Illustrious , which
1066-566: The last day of the campaign. The second Black Buck mission failed to hit the runway. No Argentine aircraft were moved north to defend Buenos Aires. At the end of hostilities, the runway was fully repaired by British military engineers. After the surrender of the Argentine ground forces on the islands, the British still faced the problem of potential Argentine air attacks from Argentina, so an aircraft carrier had to remain on station to guard
1107-539: The location of the airport LHV with any greater certainty; it is William T. Piper Memorial Airport in Lock Haven, Pennsylvania in the United States . There are a few exceptions to the regional structure of the ICAO code that have been historically for political or administrative reasons. RAF Mount Pleasant air base in the Falkland Islands , for instance, is assigned the ICAO code EGYP as though it were in
1148-563: The military presence in the Falklands. However, the temporary military airfield at RAF Stanley was restricted by the length and strength of its runway. Therefore, in June 1983, the British Government announced that a new military airfield would be constructed at Mount Pleasant, the option being considered to be more cost effective and straightforward than upgrading RAF Stanley. It would also allow RAF Stanley to remain operational whilst
1189-441: The name of the airport or the city it serves, while ICAO codes are distributed by region and country. Far more aerodromes (in the broad sense) have ICAO codes than IATA codes, which are sometimes assigned to railway stations as well. The selection of ICAO codes is partly delegated to authorities in each country, while IATA codes, which have no geographic structure, must be decided centrally by IATA. The first one or two letters of
1230-441: The new airfield was constructed. The Ministry of Defence reached a voluntary agreement to purchase 8,300 acres (3,400 ha) of farmland for £55,000, with severance compensation assessed at £100,000. To allow existing agricultural operations to continue, Mount Pleasant House and other farm facilities were relocated at a cost of £83,877. The airfield at Mount Pleasant was constructed by Mowlem-Laing Amey Roadstone Construction,
1271-510: The same year. ICAO codes are separate and different from IATA codes , the latter of which have three letters and are generally used for airline timetables , reservations, and baggage tags. For example, the IATA code for London 's Heathrow Airport is LHR and its ICAO code is EGLL. IATA codes are commonly seen by passengers and the general public on flight-tracking services such as FlightAware . In general IATA codes are usually derived from
Kasumigaura Air Field - Misplaced Pages Continue
1312-653: The style LFddnn , where dd indicates the department while nn is a sequential counter. The French Federation of Ultralight Motorized Gliders was formally named the keeper of these codes. Aerodrome de Torreilles in France, for instance, has code LF6651. In Antarctica many aerodromes have pseudo ICAO-codes with AT and two digits, while others have proper codes from countries performing air control such as NZ for New Zealand . RAF Mount Pleasant RAF Mount Pleasant ( IATA : MPN , ICAO : EGYP ) (also known as Mount Pleasant Airport , Mount Pleasant Complex or MPA )
1353-412: The target. On the first mission one 1,000-pound (450 kg) bomb hit the edge of the runway. The damage was easily repaired by Argentine engineers. C-130 Hercules transport aircraft were able to bring in supplies and take out casualties until the end of the conflict using one side of the runway. Pucará , Fokkers and Aermacchi AM-339 fast-jet fighters also operated from the runway from the first until
1394-476: The two airports share runways and ground and air control facilities. In small countries like Belgium or the Netherlands, almost all aerodromes have an ICAO code. For larger countries like the UK or Germany this is not feasible, given the limited number of letter codes. Some countries have addressed this issue by introducing a scheme of sub-ICAO aerodrome codes; France, for example, assigns pseudo ICAO codes in
1435-691: Was assigned both LLJR (its Israeli persona) as well as OJJR (its Jordanian persona), but the airport itself fell into disuse. In the contiguous United States and Canada, many airports have ICAO codes that are simply copies of their three-letter IATA codes, with the geographical prefix added on (e.g., YEG and CYEG both refer to Edmonton International Airport , while IAD and KIAD both refer to Washington Dulles International Airport ). This similarity does not extend to Alaska (PAxx), Hawaii (PHxx), or U.S. territories. Kahului Airport on Maui , for instance, has an IATA code of OGG and an ICAO code of PHOG. ICAO airport codes do not begin with I or J or X or Q, though
1476-578: Was closed. With the opening of one side of the runway at Ascension in 2022, normal flights could resume. Repairs to both sides of the runway at Ascension Island were fully completed in Spring of 2023. On 2 March 2012, the Argentinian President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner called for Aerolíneas Argentinas flights to Buenos Aires to replace LATAM Airlines flights to Chile . The idea of flights to Argentina
1517-684: Was located at Mount Pleasant from November 2007 until April 2016. Prince William served as a Sea King pilot on the station for six weeks during February and March 2012. As of 1 April 2016, with the retirement of Westland Sea King the Islands' search and rescue function has been replaced by a commercial organisation, AAR, subcontracting the services to British International Helicopters for 10 years using two new AgustaWestland AW189s . 1312 Flight's Lockheed Martin C-130 Hercules, used for transport, search and rescue , and maritime patrol ,
1558-478: Was opened by Prince Andrew (who saw active duty during the Falklands War while serving in the Fleet Air Arm ) on 12 May 1985 and became fully operational on 1 May 1986. Mount Pleasant's first flying unit, No. 23 Squadron , equipped with four McDonnell Douglas Phantom FGR.2 , arrived from RAF Stanley on 21 April 1986. The Phantoms were joined by No. 78 Squadron on 22 May 1986, which was reformed from
1599-537: Was quickly rushed south and commissioned during the journey. Once the Port Stanley runway was available for jets, Illustrious was relieved by 23 Squadron operating the F-4 Phantom FGR.2 . Initially stationed at RAF Stanley , the unit moved to Mount Pleasant upon its opening. In order to deter further Argentine aggression or invasion attempts, the British Government considered it necessary to enhance
1640-405: Was replaced with an Airbus A400M Atlas C1 in April 2018. Mount Pleasant Complex has a wide range of social and sporting facilities including a gym, swimming pool, golf course, diving centre, kart racing , Laser Quest , library, cinema, bowling, climbing wall, and indoor and outdoor sports pitches. As of August 2010, it has the only cricket ground in the Falklands. There are two NAAFI shops,
1681-579: Was usually about 12 hours down and 13 hours back. The last scheduled flight in the world involving in-flight refuelling was carried out by a crew of 24 Squadron in C-130 XV291 during the period 18–23 March 1989. This was the 650th and last of its type carried out by RAF Lyneham C-130s. Flights were then operated directly by the RAF using the Lockheed TriStars of 216 Squadron . Starting in autumn 2008, these flights were operated on behalf of