"Steven P. McNicoll" wrote:

"Jeff Saylor" wrote in message
...

But my point is, what is the compelling reason to change now?


Does there have to be a compelling reason? Criteria for identifiers have
been established, many identifiers are being changed because they don't fit
the criteria. I think that's all there is to it.


Some non collocated VORs have had their ID changed from the
same as the nearby airport (e.g. Williamsport, Pa), some have not
(e.g. Manchester, Nh; Pottstown, Pa).


Yes, I believe I mentioned that. It appears the VORs that are fairly close
to the airports have been left alone while those that are further away have
been changed. The cutoff appears to be five miles.

I looked at a number of airports that have common identifiers with VORs, or did
in the past and compared whether the VOR had its identifier changed or not. I
couldn't find any definate criteria, some VORs had been changed that are closer
to airports than VORs that had not been changed. Curiously, I couldn't find
where the replacement VOR identifiers came from; they must have been randomly
generated.

Airport / VOR distance
KMHT / MHT VOR 4.8 mi not changed
KABE / FJC VOR 4.5 mi changed
KAVP / LVZ VOR 4.2 mi changed (high terrain)
KLNS / LRP VOR 0.0 mi changed ON FIELD
KLEB / LEB VOR 5.0 mi not changed (high terrain)
KMPV / MPV VOR 8.6 mi not changed (Montpelier, VT)
KROA / ROA VOR 4.7 mi
[KROA also has ODR VOR on field!]
KAGC / AGC VOR 6.8 mi not changed
KHLG / HLG VOR 6.2 mi not changed
KTCL / LDK VOR 4.4 mi ID *and* name changed 9/2003
"The fact that the VORTAC and the airport are not
co-located has led to confusion among users. To
eliminate this confusion, the Tuscaloosa VORTAC will
be renamed ``Crimson VORTAC,'' and will be assigned a
new location identifier ``LDK.''" (lack of low level
radar coverage a factor) Docket No. 02-ASO-24
KMGM / MGM VOR 6.0 mi not changed
KCHA / GQO VOR 5.1 mi ID *and* name changed
Chattanooga VOR changed to Choo Choo to avoid confusion



Perhaps the relatively recent K prefix for lower 48 airports has
rendered the changes unnecessary.


There's nothing recent about that K.

I don't remember it being used before the mid 90s or so. When did the ICAO K
prefix begin to appear in front of FAA continental USA 3 letter ID's?