ATC often simply doesn´t know anything about "real" airfield names. So an option to have ICAO identifiers instead/in addition would be highly recommended.


regards

-mike@EDTG

I would say that most airfields (by number) in Europe do not have an identifier of any kind. Identifiers other than ICAO are rarely used, so everything without an ICAO identifier has no identifier.

Well, in Austria, Hungary, Croatia, Slovenia I don't know any airfield without an identifier. Italy has a large number of small UL fields but they do have an ID, if the Avioportolano Flight Guide is anything to go by.

I do see your problem, though. However, I suggest that the user should have the option either to display full names (for all fields) or IDs (with no IDs showing for airfields that simply don't have one). In the latter case, you could always get the full name by getting the Information on the airfield from within SD.

As it stands now, there are big parts of the world where the map is cluttered by airfield names which nobody uses, and no way to get at the airport IDs for most of the smaller airfields (and they DO have IDs in the US) that are used ubiquitously.

-- Chris.

All airfields in Germany & Switzerland, except for glider/UL fields do have ICAO identifiers - same in France (ULM fields do have identifiers too)

Actually, if no ID available, I would simply display the airfield symbol without a name on the map. If you display the full name, this -- very small -- airfield will draw disproportionate attention due to the long caption attached to it. If you need to know what airfield this is, there ought to be two options available:

1) Switch to displaying full names instad of only IDs,

2) Pull up the information window of that airfield, which will show you everything you want to know.

-- Chris.

P.S.: I sare your impression that most all airfields in Europe (except, maybe, private grass runways in someone's backyard) have an ID. But Tim is probably going to prove us wrong