An aviation callsign is the identification code used for radio communications, timetables, tickets, and cargo receipts. IATA codes, which have two characters, ICAO codes, which have three characters, and ICAO telephone designators are the three main categories of codes. As a developer, it is essential that you incorporate this information, as it is vital to the aeronautical ecosystem. We recommend doing so with an Aviation Callsign API.
Aviation Callsign: Main Categories
IATA Airline Call Sign
IATA airline callsigns (in English: IATA reservation codes) are two-character codes assigned by IATA to all airlines in the world. These codes have the format xx(a), that is, two alphanumeric characters —letters or figures— followed by an optional letter. However, this last letter has never been assigned to any callsign, so in practice, all codes are two characters long.
Callsigns are sometimes duplicated so that two of the same are assigned to different regional airlines whose destinations are not likely to overlap. These duplicates are denoted in the IATA literature with an asterisk (*).
Airline Network Indicator OACI
The OACI has assigned a code known as the “OACI Indicative of Aerolineas” to international aviation authorities, aircraft operators, and other service providers. So, contrary to the IATA codes (see higher), these indicators are exclusive to each operator.
The OACI’s indicatives began to be assigned in 1947 and initially consisted of two characters, being identical to the IATA’s. Due to the growing number of airlines, the three-character system was introduced at the beginning of the 1980s, and it became the official standard in November 1987.
Designer for the telephone OACI
The majority of airlines use a signal that is mentioned during radio conversations. Typically, it corresponds to the operator’s name and cannot be confused with indicators used by other operators. At the very least in English, French, Spanish, or Russian, it should be easy to pronounce and phonically correct.
Our suggestion is Flightlabs
There are many reasons to use Flightlabs as your source for flight data APIs. First and foremost, the data is reliable and accurate. Due to the fact that this API keeps track of all the major airlines across the world, you can be confident that you’re getting the most up-to-date information available.
Along with accuracy, Flightlabs offers a few unique features that you won’t find with other suppliers. By using their extensive filtering options, you can easily customize the data you receive and make sure that you only get the information that is essential for your business. For forecasting and analytics, they also provide historical flight data, which is quite beneficial.
To get data on Aviation Callsign you can use the Flightlabs‘ endpoint “global airlines”, here’s an example of the API’s response you will get:
{
"success": true,
"data": [
{
"ageFleet": 10.9,
"airlineId": 1,
"callsign": "AMERICAN",
"codeHub": "DFW",
"codeIataAirline": "AA",
"codeIcaoAirline": "AAL",
"codeIso2Country": "US",
"founding": 1934,
"iataPrefixAccounting": "1",
"nameAirline": "American Airlines",
"nameCountry": "United States",
"sizeAirline": 963,
"statusAirline": "active",
"type": "scheduled",
},
[...]
]
}How to use Flightlabs
- Make an account on Flightlabs. Then either choose the endpoint you need.
- Call the API after putting the required values. An individual API key is available on your account dashboard.
- After that, simply click “run,” and you’re done! You’ll see the API response on your screen. You can decide on a programming language as well.
Want to learn more about this? Go check to Get The Most Out Of Your Airport Data With APIs
Also published on Medium.