Definition
A character set made up of the letters of the alphabet (A–Z) and the numerals (0–9), sometimes including basic punctuation or special characters, used to label, identify, or display information on aircraft systems, instruments, charts, and documentation.
Plain English
Letters and numbers used together to mark, name, or display things — for example, the mix of letters and digits on a registration tag, a part number, or a cockpit display.
Context Anchor
Seen on aircraft drawings, wiring diagrams, inspection panels, component labels, maintenance manuals, and parts lists.
Derivation
From 'alphabetic' (letters of the alphabet) combined with 'numeric' (numbers). The blended word simply means 'letters and numbers together.'
Why Pilots Care
Correctly reading these labels helps prevent confusion between similar parts, panels, switches, or maintenance references.
Analogy
It is like an apartment number such as “B12.” The letter and number together point to one exact place, not just a general area.
Intuition Check
Do not assume “symbol” means only a picture or special mark here. In this use, a letter, a number, or a letter-number code can be the symbol.
Example Sentence 1
The technician verified that the alphanumeric symbols on the part tag matched the part number listed in the maintenance manual.
Example Sentence 2
Maintenance records must include all alphanumeric symbols from removed parts for traceability.