Airfield names instead of iata/icao codes PLEASE PLEASE!!!!

[Key]

Hmmm. Personally I am NOT in favour of implementing automatic scripts to make up for the lack of attention or even co-operation by forum members. And who is going to maintain that list for this forum (it's not a copy-paste from existing db's!), check if correct codes are used et cetera? Not me
Using standard formats works in other forums too, and what can be more easy than using plain text? I will add the preferred form to the forum rules.

Erik

[Iwan Bogels]

This works, just tested it. I am not sure whether this leads to even more "errors" than we are already experiencing recently... so Hans needs to assess whether it is a viable option.

But; it works and I like the suggestion!

Hi Stefan,

Let's hope it turns out to be a viable option. Then you only need to discuss the right way of presenting the new standard. To me it would be something like "Amsterdam-Schiphol (EHAM)". Be careful with IATA-codes (like AMS), as these codes might trigger computer generated corrections that are not supposed to take place. For instance, if you automatically change "AMS" into "Amsterdam-Schiphol (EHAM)", the software will change this sentence:

"We drove to the port of Amsterdam to see the ship with the helicopter"

into

"We drove to the port of Amsterdam-Schiphol (EHAM)terdam to see the ship with the helicopter"

So ICAO-codes only (just ban these IATA codes.... )

Cheers,
Iwan

[USAFE]

lol. But good point Iwan!

[Iwan Bogels]

And who is going to maintain that list for this forum (it's not a copy-paste from existing db's!), check if correct codes are used et cetera? Not me
Using standard formats works in other forums too, and what can be more easy than using plain text? I will add the preferred form to the forum rules.

Hi Erik,

I offered you my help on this subject. Please read back to see it....

It's nice if you will add the preferred form to the forum rules, but who is going to make sure that people stick to it ? You ?? Don't think so.....

Dozens of messages have been posted on this matter, but apparently this doesn't help. So I think it's time for some action to change the attitude here, or just let it go it's own way, despite what people want.

Once again, I raise my finger to help out....

Cheers,
Iwan

[Stranger]

Keep in mind that this could lead to unchanged auto-edits

For example something spotted at Odessa could be automatically changed to OdStockholm (Arlanda) because the software sees ESSA and thinks ' Stockholm'.

[SPL]

Why don't we make it a RULE. If people don't listen to the rule, the moderators can delete the post?
I think everybody will learn very quick then!


Groeten Martijn

[Key]

Chaps, once again, it isn't that simple. Stranger gives a good example, we can all think of other ones. If we do this

way of presenting the new standard. To me it would be something like "Amsterdam-Schiphol (EHAM)".

and someone duefully uses that agreed form as topic title, the script would change it into Amsterdam-Schiphol (Amsterdam-Schiphol (EHAM)).

Automatic replacement is not viable here. Moreover, it would be a bad move to implement automation with all its side-effects just because 'the community' cannot agree on a standard. We should realise all those people posting with just codes in the subjects apparently like that...
We have proven in the past people are willing to adapt to many standars on this board. There is not always so much dust blowing up, but I can tell you 'silent diplomacy' has yielded excellent results.

I am reluctant to impose a rule on topic titling. As it is, we have more rules than most of us like. And we are certainly not going to lock or even delete topics because of 'wrong' titles. We never did that anywhere on the board, we have policies on this and stick to them. We will discuss this among the moderators. For the time, we stick to the request as it is in the Forum rules now. For comparison: standard topic titling in Spotting forums is a request too, not a rule. And it works fine there (even so well it blew over to this area ).


Erik

[SPL]

I am reluctant to impose a rule on topic titling. Erik

Erik,

I agree with you that we don't need a thousand rules, but how hard can it be? The request of names in the topic title hasn't been asked just ones. And also it's not one person who's complaining. Lots of times and lots of different people did the request. Even in the topic's itself it was asked, but even then it was not done...


Groeten Martijn

[McLanahan]

Uhm, since our hobby concerns aviation and aviation language consists for more than 50% of abbreviations in one way or another, I don't see the problem with using ICAO/IATA codes. Besides, most of the time it concerns airfields we all (should) know by now and otherwise go to the Scramble Locations database and learn something new. That's what it's there for!

Time for a little nap in UUWW / VKO

[Iwan Bogels]

Uhm, since our hobby concerns aviation and aviation language consists for more than 50% of abbreviations in one way or another, I don't see the problem with using ICAO/IATA codes. Besides, most of the time it concerns airfields we all (should) know by now and otherwise go to the Scramble Locations database and learn something new. That's what it's there for!

Time for a little nap in UUWW / VKO

Dear McLanahan,

Why should all 500+ readers visit a website and convert the codes if the original writer could just type 10 - 20 characters more to let everybody know in the first place. Stop creating puzzles and waisting peoples time with unnecessary things, especially since so many people almost beg others to use the full name in the title....

Is it that much to ask ??

Cheers,
Iwan

[ehusmann]

Uhm, since our hobby concerns aviation and aviation language consists for more than 50% of abbreviations in one way or another, I don't see the problem with using ICAO/IATA codes. Besides, most of the time it concerns airfields we all (should) know by now and otherwise go to the Scramble Locations database and learn something new. That's what it's there for!

Time for a little nap in UUWW / VKO

With all due respect to the poster, this is exactly the type of reaction you get EVERYTIME you politely ask someone to include the full name in the topic (title). So I do not agree with Key on the point that it is working very well.

Erwin

[Key]

Erwin, what I meant is: the request if now official. Along with some active corrections from our side (airfield names are now included in the most current page of topics here) this has proven to work well in Spotting forums. Good examples create good follow-up.

Stop creating puzzles

- and not just here!

Erik

[Andras]

Ok, for the people that do not know all ICAO codes... (Me, and i'm ex airforce.. :-S) Is it ok if i write " Mig-29 crash @ Papa Airbase, Hungary"

(Don't google, it's an example..)

[Key]

" Mig-29 crash @ Papa Airbase, Hungary"
(Don't google, it's an example..)

Absolutely! There is no requirement whatsoever to include ICAO codes into topic titles in the Photo forum. That is a practice for the Spotting forums. The only request is to make topic titles here that do not just exist of codes and dates.

The opinion part, as opposed to 'what we are going to do', is now here.

Erik