Definition
A three-character code, usually letters, assigned to an airport, navigation aid, or fix and used to identify it on charts, in flight plans, and in air traffic communications. For airports, this is the FAA location identifier (for example, LAX for Los Angeles International or JFK for John F. Kennedy International).
Plain English
A short three-letter code that names a specific airport or navigation point, used as a quick label everyone in aviation recognizes.
Context Anchor
Seen on instrument procedure charts, en route charts, and in avionics when a procedure or navigation aid is identified by a short code instead of its full name.
Derivation
Identifier comes from identify, meaning to recognize or point out exactly what something is. In aviation, the identifier is the short code that points to one exact facility or navigation reference.
Why Pilots Care
It gives pilots and controllers a fast, standardized way to name locations, reducing miscommunication during planning and flight.
Intuition Check
Do not assume the three letters are just an abbreviation of a nearby city name. In this context, they are an assigned aviation code that must match the chart or avionics entry exactly.
Example Sentence 1
She filed her flight plan from PAO to SBA, using the three-letter identifier for each airport.
Example Sentence 2
ATC cleared the aircraft direct to the three-letter identifier of the initial approach fix.