VATUSA Controller tip of the week - Beacon Codes

[Jeff Turner]

From the Todd Cox ATC training cl[Mod - Happy Thoughts]... It's actually interesting information... Especially since the USA staff has been working a changes to the VATUSA beacon codes... Thanks Todd...

 

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http://jproc.ca/sari/sariff.html <http://jproc.ca/sari/sariff.html>

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_traffic_control_radar_beacon_system

 

 

 

 

FAR 91.215 Transponder Requirements

 

(a) All airspace: U.S.-registered civil aircraft. For operations not conducted under part 121 or 135 of this chapter, ATC transponder equipment installed must meet the performance and environmental requirements of any cl[Mod - Happy Thoughts] of TSO-C74b (Mode A) or any cl[Mod - Happy Thoughts] of TSO-C74c (Mode A with altitude reporting capability) as appropriate, or the appropriate cl[Mod - Happy Thoughts] of TSO-C112 (Mode S).

 

(b) All airspace. Unless otherwise authorized or directed by ATC, no person may operate an aircraft in the airspace described in paragraphs (b)(1) through (b)(5) of this section, unless that aircraft is equipped with an operable coded radar beacon transponder having either Mode 3/A 4096 code capability, replying to Mode 3/A interrogations with the code specified by ATC, or a Mode S capability, replying to Mode 3/A interrogations with the code specified by ATC and intermode and Mode S interrogations in accordance with the applicable provisions specified in TSO C-112, and that aircraft is equipped with automatic pressure altitude reporting equipment having a Mode C capability that automatically replies to Mode C interrogations by transmitting pressure altitude information in 100-foot increments. This requirement applies-

 

(1) All aircraft. In Cl[Mod - Happy Thoughts] A, Cl[Mod - Happy Thoughts] B, and Cl[Mod - Happy Thoughts] C airspace areas;

 

(2) All aircraft. In all airspace within 30 nautical miles of an airport listed in appendix D, section 1 of this part from the surface upward to 10,000 feet MSL;

 

---------------------- MODES ----------------

 

MODE 1 - military usage

MODE 2 - military usage

MODE 3 - military usage

MODE A - Civil usage

Civil MODE A is identical to military MODE 3.

 

MODE 3/A basic 4,096 code equipment

MODE 3/B not used

MODE 3/C altitude encoder equipment

MODE 4 - military usage

 

 

MODE 3/A

CODE 1200 through code 1267 are VFR with the vast majority of aircraft simply using 1200.

 

Codes 1270 through 1277 are allocated to Govt. agencies for use as a ground/surface based alignment of radar systems. These reply on the [Mod - Happy Thoughts]igned discrete code 3/A and a special 3/C return not [Mod - Happy Thoughts]ociated with the elevation of the target.

 

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Radar Beacon Phraseology:

 

Air traffic controllers, both civil and military, will use the following phraseology when referring to operation of the Air Traffic Control Radar Beacon System (ATCRBS). Instructions by ATC refer only to MODE 3/A or MODE C operation and do not affect the operation of the transponder on other MODE's.

 

1. SQUAWK (number): Operate radar beacon transponder on designated code in MODE 3/A.

2. IDENT: Engage the "IDENT" feature (military I/P) of the transponder.

3. SQUAWK (number) and IDENT: Operate transponder on specified code in MODE 3/A and engage the "IDENT" (military I/P) feature.

4. SQUAWK STANDBY: Switch transponder to standby position.

5. SQUAWK LOW/NORMAL: Operate transponder on low or normal sensitivity as specified. Transponder is operated in "NORMAL" position unless ATC specifies "LOW" ("ON" is used instead of "NORMAL" as a master control label on some types of transponders.) 6. SQUAWK ALTITUDE: Activate MODE C with automatic altitude reporting.

7. STOP ALTITUDE SQUAWK: Turn off altitude reporting switch and continue transmitting MODE C framing pulses. If your equipment does not have this capability, turn off MODE C.

8. STOP SQUAWK (mode in use): Switch off specified mode. (Used for military aircraft when the controller is unaware of military service requirements for the aircraft to continue operation on another MODE.) 9. STOP SQUAWK: Switch off transponder.

10. SQUAWK MAYDAY: Operate transponder in the emergency position (MODE A Code 7700 for civil transponder. MODE 3 Code 7700 and emergency feature for military transponder.) 11. SQUAWK VFR: Operate radar beacon transponder on code 1200 in the MODE 3/A, or other appropriate VFR code.

[Ethan Klapper 884347]

Interesting Post, Jeff! Thanks!

[Aaron Doyer 834365]

I have a feeling I'm gonna be explaining "Squawk altitude" for awhile.

[Marvin Thompson 810254]

I have a feeling I'm gonna be explaining "Squawk altitude" for awhile.

 

 

If you don't ask, you won't have a problem. lol

 

Marv

[Terry Kocher 919807]

Yea, I use Squawk mode C when I want an aircrafts transponder to start to transmit, simply because a majority of the pilots are not r/w and wouldn't know what Squawk Altitude meant, still when I get the r/w pilots on freq, I always use squawk altitude.

[Brandon Grchan 925585]

Yea, I use Squawk mode C when I want an aircrafts transponder to start to transmit, simply because a majority of the pilots are not r/w and wouldn't know what Squawk Altitude meant, still when I get the r/w pilots on freq, I always use squawk altitude.

 

If you dont say squawk altitude next time I fly....well you know. 10:30 flight to knoxville.