Have you ever encountered mysterious letter combinations while playing flight simulator games or researching aviation data? These codes serve as airports' identification cards—universal markers recognized throughout the global aviation industry. Today, we examine the ICAO code for Bourges Airport in France, offering insights into this regional aviation hub.
The Significance of Airport Codes: ICAO vs. IATA
Before exploring Bourges Airport specifically, it's essential to understand the two primary types of airport codes:
- ICAO Code: Assigned by the International Civil Aviation Organization, these four-letter combinations serve professional aviation purposes including flight planning and air traffic control. The first two letters typically denote the country or region (LF indicates France), while the latter two identify specific airports.
- IATA Code: These three-letter codes, assigned by the International Air Transport Association, facilitate passenger services like ticket booking and baggage handling. They're more commonly recognized by the general public.
While Bourges Airport's IATA code is BOU, our focus remains on its ICAO designation: LFLD.
Bourges Airport Profile
Located in France's Centre-Val de Loire region within the Cher department, Bourges Airport serves as an important regional facility. Though smaller than Paris's Charles de Gaulle Airport, it plays a vital role in France's aviation network.
Key operational details include:
- Elevation: 529 feet (approximately 161 meters)—a critical factor affecting aircraft performance during takeoff and landing
- Geographic Coordinates: 47° 3' 29.17" N latitude, 2° 22' 13.01" E longitude—essential for navigation and positioning
Operational Focus
Bourges Airport primarily serves general aviation, business flights, and pilot training programs. While lacking commercial airline service, it contributes significantly to regional economic development and aviation education. Many pilots receive training here before joining France's—and the world's—aviation workforce.
Locating ICAO Codes
Several methods exist for identifying ICAO codes for other airports:
- Specialized aviation code lookup websites
- Professional aviation databases containing comprehensive airport information
- Flight simulation software with integrated airport directories
- Wikipedia entries, which frequently include ICAO designations
ICAO codes represent fundamental components of aviation infrastructure—unique identifiers enabling global air traffic coordination. Understanding Bourges Airport's LFLD designation provides not only specific knowledge about this facility but also broader insight into aviation's systematic organization.