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A Location Identifier takes the place of the name and the location of an airport, navigation aid, weather station, and manned air traffic control facility in air traffic control, telecommunications, computer programming, weather reports, and related services.

The Federal Aviation Administration assigns three-letter identifiers (except those beginning with the letters N, W, Y, and Z), three and four character identifiers, and five-letter name codes for the United States and its jurisdictions.

The Department of the Navy assigns three-letter identifiers beginning with the letter N for the exclusive use of that Department.

Transport Canada assigns two, three, and four character identifiers, including three letter identifiers beginning with letters Y and Z, for its areas of jurisdiction.

The Federal Communications Commission assigns blocks of identifiers beginning with K and W for its area of responsibility. The block beginning with letter Q is under international telecommunications jurisdiction and is used by FAA Technical Operations to capture National Airspace equipment not published in this order.

The National Weather Service assigns four-letter, one-number identifiers for certain weather requirements.

The United States Air Force Weather Agency (AFWA), acting on behalf of all the military services, assigns special use four letter “KQXX” identifiers for use by deployed units supporting real world contingencies; deployed/in-garrison unites providing support during exercises; and units that have requested, but not yet received a permanent location identifier.

Three-letter identifiers are assigned as radio call signs to aeronautical navigation aids; to airports with a manned air traffic control facility or navigational aid within airport boundary; to airports that receive scheduled route air carrier or military airlift service, and to airports designated by the United States Customs Service as Airports of Entry. Some of these identifiers are assigned to certain aviation weather reporting stations.

Most one-number, two-letter identifiers have been assigned to aviation weather reporting and observation stations and special-use locations. Some of these identifiers may be assigned to public-use landing facilities within the United States and its jurisdictions, which do not meet the requirements for identifiers in the three-letter series. In this identifier series, the number is always in the first position of the three-character combination.

Most one-letter, two-number identifiers are assigned to public-use landing facilities within the United States and its jurisdictions, which do not meet the requirements for identifiers in the three-letter series. Some of these identifiers are also assigned to aviation weather reporting stations.

• One-letter, two-number identifiers are keyed by the alphabetical letter. The letter may appear in the first, middle or last position in the combination of three characters. When the letter signifies an Air Traffic Control Center's area, the assignment will not change if the Center's boundaries are realigned.

• Identifiers in this series, which could conflict with the Victor, Jet or colored airway numbers are not assigned.

Two-letter, two-number identifiers are assigned to private-use landing facilities in the United States and its jurisdictions which do not meet the requirements for three-character assignments. They are keyed by the two-letter Post Office or supplemental abbreviation of the state with which they are associated. The two letter code appears in the first two, middle, or last two positions of the four character code.

A single five-letter pronounceable combination serves as the fix name, assigned identifier and computer code. If a new fix is to be collocated with an existing navigation aid, Instrument Landing System marker, waypoint, or other type fix, the original name or name-code applies to both.

Weather Offices and Stations, may be assigned in any of the series of Location Identifiers, depending upon type or combination of Station. Generally, a Weather Service Office at an Airport is given a three-letter identifier. AMOS equipment may be polled with any combination of three-character identifiers. Some types of aviation weather reporting stations are listed with two-number, one-letter identifiers.

• Location Identifiers FAAO 7350.7 - Federal Aviation Administration document describing the assignment of Location Identifiers; revised and published every 112 days