On: Delta flight lands in Charlotte without front land...

[bombcar]

They are from the radio call signs - K or W is the first for almost all of them.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Broadcast_call_signs

[DonHopkins → bombcar]

The other thing that might not be obvious to non-residents is that K is for West of the Mississippi, and W is for East.

It must be weird to live near the Mississippi and get a mix of K and W station call signs!

[sokoloff → DonHopkins]

I knew this was the general rule, but also knew about KDKA-Pittsburgh (a very old station, east of the Mississippi). In looking into why that one got a K, I found this that might be interesting to people reading this far down this subthread: https://archive.is/HpUc3

[tzs → sokoloff]

For a W west of the Mississippi a good example is WACO in Waco, Texas, which is also one of only 3 stations whose callsign is the name of their city. (The other two are WARE in Ware, Massachusetts, and WISE in Wise, Virginia).

[bombcar → DonHopkins]

W is for East. What a country!

[irrational → bombcar]

Originally W was supposed to be for the West side, but there was a bureaucratic screw up and they were switched.

As for why K and W, nobody is sure why those two letters, but it might be related to Morse code.

[selimthegrim → DonHopkins]

Can confirm in New Orleans WYLD has their transmitter in Algiers on the west side of the river and I’m sure that situation applies to other stations can’t recall any Ks around here

[polpo → DonHopkins]

In St. Louis most stations are K but there are a few Ws.