The three-letter designations given by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) are a core part of each airport's identity. While the codes can also be given to train and ferry terminals or metropolitan areas with more than one airport, they often become synonymous with the airport. According to the IATA, the process of selecting a new code is to start with the first three letters of the location's name. If unavailable, an unassigned combination can be used, preferably beginning with the first letter of the location's name. The applicant may also suggest IATA-preferred codes, leading to interesting combinations. Often, the requested code is an acronym for a proper name, as is the case with New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK). Other times, it has nothing to do with the city or airport in question and is just enjoyable. Concord-Padgett Regional Airport near Charlotte, North Carolina, uses the patriotic IAT