Orlando International Airport 's officially accepted IATA code is MCO. Despite this, there is a common confusion; people frequently refer to it by its initials, OIA. MCO derives from the airport's former name, McCoy Air Force Base, which was decommissioned in 1975 and transformed into the civilian airport known today.
The airport was originally Pinecastle Army Airfield, a US military airfield. In 1958, the airfield was renamed McCoy Air Force Base in honor of a former pilot, Colonel Michael Norman Wright McCoy, who was killed during a bombing and navigation competition. Now that the airport has been renamed again to Orlando International Airport, the IATA code has remained MCO to continue honoring Colonel McCoy.
The history of Pinecastle Army Airfield In the early 1940s, Pinecastle Army Airfield was constructed to serve the US military. During World War II and the Korean War, the airfield provided crucial support and resources. As the years progressed, in the 1960s, both civilian and military flights began operations.
The conclusion of the Vietnam War was a new era for the facility. The Air Force base was officially decommissioned, leading to a significant reduction in military base operations. This period of transformation paved the way for the airfield's next chapter.
In 1976, the airfield gained international operation and was renamed Orlando International Airport. The early 1980s saw a further evolution of the airport’s focus. By 1981, a strategic decision was made to p.
