Did you know that in Alief, Texas, there once stood an airport called Andrau Airpark? This now-defunct airfield carried the International Air Transport Association (IATA) code AAP , the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) code KAAP , and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) identifier AAP . Though the airport closed its doors in 1998, its codes remain preserved in aviation databases, silent witnesses to its former glory.
A Ghost in the System
Andrau Airpark was located near Alief, Texas. While its precise geographic coordinates currently appear as 0° 0' 0.00" N and 0° 0' 0.00" E in some records — typically indicating missing or unrecorded data — this anomaly likely resulted from maintenance updates after the airport's closure. The preservation of airport codes long after decommissioning serves an important archival purpose, allowing for historical reference and aviation data analysis.
Decoding the Identifiers
The triple designation of IATA, ICAO, and FAA codes reveals Andrau Airpark's significance in its operational days. IATA codes primarily facilitate passenger services like ticketing and baggage handling, while ICAO codes serve as critical communication tools for pilots and air traffic controllers. FAA codes function as domestic identifiers within the United States. That Andrau Airpark maintained all three designations confirms its status as a fully operational facility serving both commercial and general aviation needs.
Though the physical airport has vanished, studying such "ghost airports" provides valuable insight into aviation history's evolving landscape. Each airport code carries its own narrative, preserving regional aviation heritage that might otherwise fade from memory.