Originally Posted by
darkbarly
These days such idents result in a frenzy of sensational and inaccurate reporting by the media.
Transponders are complicated pieces of equipment I appreciate but wondered if there is any way to inhibit the public tracking of an aircraft once the crew select 77, or 76 etc. By this I mean ATC would still see it on secondary/MLAT etc. but the selection of this specific code renders ordinary or non-regulated voyeur tracking inoperative? A discrete conspicuity code if you will.
As a transport industry we do not want to discourage customers from flying who simply do not appreciate the difference between the number of events v the rate (of airborne issues that err on the side of caution). Yes, things go wrong but not to the extent abusive sources declare for no other reason than to profit from clickbait.
Technically, can it be done?
Technically, anything can be done if you throw enough money at something. Whether it would be cost-effective, or indeed whether there would be any point at all, is a different question.
Why not spend a fraction of the cost to educate the media that the vast majority of 7700 squawks are plain old medical emergencies. Move along, nothing to see here.