An ICAO aircraft type code (or type designator) is a short 2–4 character code that identifies a specific aircraft model. It’s assigned by the International Civil Aviation Organization and used in flight plans, air traffic control, and on flight trackers.
Examples:
- A320 — Airbus A320
- B738 — Boeing 737-800
- B77W — Boeing 777-300ER
- A388 — Airbus A380-800
How to read the code
There’s no single rigid formula, but most codes follow recognisable patterns:
- The first letter often points to the manufacturer family —
Afor Airbus,Bfor Boeing. - The following characters encode the model and sometimes the variant.
B738is the -800 version of the 737;B739is the -900. - Some codes get creative when digits run out. The 777-300ER is B77W, not “B773”, because the straightforward codes were already taken by earlier variants.
So the code is compact and unambiguous for computers and controllers — but not always obvious to read at a glance, which is exactly why a wiki helps.
ICAO code vs. IATA code
You may also see IATA aircraft codes, which serve a similar purpose but for the commercial/booking side of the industry. They can differ from the ICAO code:
- Boeing 777-300ER — ICAO
B77W, IATA77W - Airbus A320 — ICAO
A320, IATA320
ICAO codes are the ones you’ll typically see in air traffic and on tracking data; IATA codes show up more on tickets and schedules.
Where you’ll see it
On the FlyOverhead radar, each aircraft’s type is derived from its ICAO code broadcast over ADS-B. Tap a flight and you’ll see the model — and if it’s one of the aircraft we’ve written up, you can jump straight to its aircraft guide for specs and spotting tips.