As planes from as far as Cancún near the end of their flight to Pittsburgh, the black and gold often help guide them to the Steel City. Literally.
The airspace across America is filled with more than 37,000 waypoints, a kind of invisible landmark thousands of feet in the sky, which pilots string together to form a flight path between airports. Each waypoint has specific geographic coordinates assigned to it, as well as a name that’s five letters long.
Think of it as a fancier way of saying you’d make a turn by the GetGo in Lawrenceville to get onto the 40th Street Bridge, or swap between lanes on the Boulevard of the Allies as you pass by UPMC Mercy hospital.
For example, a United Airlines flight from Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport that landed Sunday evening passed by waypoints named BBLAK (black), GOLDH (gold), GUINZ (Penguins) and CYDNY (Sidney Crosby).
A flight on Southwest Airlines from Chicago’s Midway International Airport made a turn toward Pittsburgh at a waypoint named YINZZ. The route for passengers traveling from Boston on a JetBlue Airways flight included checking off waypoints called HAYNZ (likely for former Steelers player Verron Haynes) and MYRON (of Terrible Towel fame).
Some of the other sports-themed waypoints are named for HEINZ, the STILR(s) and the TERBL TOWEL (plus the aforementioned creator, MYRON COPPE). There’s an all-star lineup of Penguins players, including LEMEW, FLURY and MLKIN. The former Pirates player WIILE STARG(ell) is also honored.
Other waypoints could be the answers to local trivia questions. Pittsburgh has three RIVRZ, and the PROGY has a sizable presence. It’s also the city where the first commercial RADYO station got on the air and the rapper WHIZZ Khalifa went to high school.
Spokespeople from the Penguins and Steelers did not respond to requests for comment. Pirates spokesperson Brian Warecki said in a statement that “it is an honor to be recognized in such a unique way.”
“We believe it speaks to the fact that Pirates are an important part of the fabric of our city and this community, and have been for more than 135 years,” he said.
Pittsburgh is far from the only city that has put a local spin on its aviation waypoints.
Detroit has (Stevie) WONDR and MOTWN. Cleveland has the DAWGS, along with homages to top players (Lou) GROZA and (Jerry) SHERK. Where else would you go for a coffee and doughnut in Boston than DUNKK? And what would Philly be without its CHEAZ STAYK?
The Federal Aviation Administration, which regulates the nation’s skies, said in a statement that it frequently honors or recognizes prominent people, sports teams and local landmarks by naming navigation points after them. The only core requirement is that each point has a “single five-letter pronounceable name.”
“Other areas of the country may feature sport names, like GOALL, FTBAL and COACH, to name a few,” the agency said. “Fixes can also be named for people, or given generic names, like LIZZY or JAZMN. Even cartoon characters get in on the fun, like POPYE, MINEE, BUGGZ and BUNIE.”
Jon, a copy editor and reporter at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, is currently on strike and working as a co-editor of the Pittsburgh Union Progress. Reach him at jmoss@unionprogress.com.
