Globe Cargo

"This is pure curiosity here, but I have noticed that Polar uses fairly uniform and logical codes and identifiers. I.E. its flight numbers are always listed as PO128,PO148 etc, and their aircraft tail numbers always end in PA. However Atals seesm a lot more confusing in thsi regard. Sometimes I see flight numbers listed as GTI and other times as 5Y. Also their tail numbers are alwasy MC. I am just curious what if anything are the meanings behind GTI, 5Y, and MC?"

I can help out partially here. Each airline has a two sets of identifiers; one is a three-letter ICAO(?) code and one is a two letter IATA code. For Polar they are PAC and PO. For Atlas they are GTI and 5Y. So that explains part of the question. The tail number I have no clue. Anyone who knows? I thought tailnumbera in the US were assigned upon registration (like car license plates) but you can get "vanity" tail numbers... Is this the case for Polar? I have a complete(?) list of airline identifiers btw if someone is interested. Don't recall where I got it from. I used to use it while controlling on VATSIM until I realized that a) a lot of the airlines on VATSIM don't correspond to real-world airlines and b) a lot of pilots have no clue what the correct identifier is.

a bit of history on 505...she's been owned by a few companies beforehand by the looks of it...maybe Craig has more info on her...i believe and Craig correct me if i'm wrong ...the "MC" stands for MAC flightlease company...Atlas has done business with them in the past i believe .: N505MC - Boeing 747-2D3B - Atlas Air :. Registration N505MC View more images of N505MC Serial 21251 Line Number 296 First Flight 12.10.76 Delivery Date 02.10.04 Model 747-2D3B Airline Atlas Air Status Active All Registrations JY-AFA Alia Royal Jord F-GFUK UTA N506DC UTA rr F-GFUK UTA rr F-GFUK Aeromaritime F-GFUK Air France N505MC AeL N505MC Atlas Air N505MC Polar Air Cargo slsd N505MC Atlas Air Comments sFRA bcs no tit td

"Here's my best guess- The Polar flights are scheduled and the flight numbers "make sense" because Polar can make them anything they want. Atlas flight numbers are based on what kind of charter it is, who is the charterer, etc. military flights will look one way Emirates will have a different set of flight numbers, Qantas, ANZ etc. The MC on the end is for Michael Chowdry who founded Atlas. Michael died a couple of years ago when his Czech made fighter trainer crashed out in Colorado. PA is obviously for Polar Air. The old -200's FT tail numbers are from the days when those freighters flew for Flying Tigers. The 3 letter code of GTI is ICAO - International Civil Aeronautics Organization The 2 letter code of 5Y is IATA - International Association of Travel Agents Same thing a ORD - IATA- and KORD - ICAO. Baggage tags and travel agents use IATA. Pilots, controllers, and dispatchers use ICAO."

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"dave colavecchio" wrote:The MC on the end is for Michael Chowdry who founded Atlas. Michael died a couple of years ago when his Czech made fighter trainer crashed out in Colorado.

Thanks Dave i didn't know that little bit of history...learn something new everyday.... "