Originally Posted by shifter86
Jeez Shifter...
The article you quote says...
- How did the admittedly incompetent pilot hijackers turn off the transponders of all the aircraft? A procedure, according to professionals that we have talked to, is often beyond the capability of even the most experienced commercial pilots?
Which "Professionals" has the writer spoken with? Turning a transponder on/off or changing the squawk is no more complicated than changing the channel or switching your car radio on or off.
If there really are "professional" pilots out there who find that task difficult we really are all in big trouble!
Basic PPL stuff involves putting the box onto stand-by, tuning in the assigned 4-digit squawk, switching the box to "on" or "alt" (with altitude info encoded for the controller to see) and watching the little green light on the box light up everytime ATC ping you with radar. Switching it off? Simple... turn the switch from Alt or On to off.
It's garbage quotes like that which make any tangeable stuff you say pale into insignificance which is a shame!