Definition
KORD is the four-letter ICAO airport identifier for Chicago O'Hare International Airport in Illinois, USA. The leading 'K' designates an airport in the contiguous United States under the ICAO identifier system, and 'ORD' is the airport's three-letter IATA/FAA code. KORD is used in flight plans, ATC computer systems, charts, and international flight planning documentation.
Plain English
It's the four-letter code for Chicago O'Hare Airport. The 'K' tells you it's a U.S. airport, and 'ORD' is O'Hare's familiar three-letter code.
Context Anchor
Seen on instrument procedure charts, airport information pages, flight plans, weather reports, and navigation displays when the airport being identified is Chicago O’Hare.
Derivation
Under ICAO conventions, every airport has a four-letter location identifier. Airports in the contiguous United States are prefixed with 'K', so the FAA's three-letter 'ORD' becomes 'KORD' for international and ICAO-format use. 'ORD' itself comes from Orchard Field, the airport's original name before it was renamed for naval aviator Edward 'Butch' O'Hare.
Why Pilots Care
Using the correct identifier ensures the right airport is selected in navigation systems and ATC clearances.
Intuition Check
KORD is not a runway, route, or procedure name. It is the airport identifier for Chicago O’Hare International Airport.
Example Sentence 1
The crew filed their IFR flight plan from KMKE to KORD with an expected arrival in Chicago at 1830Z.