Looks like a landslide vote here for selecting standby - it's a pity there's no formal instruction that you can stick in front of some of the "old wives" - maybe we can help with that as we're looking for ideas from you guys to help reduce airspace infringements. Not quite the same subject, but close!
"When to use Mode C?" has given us lots of comment from pilots & controllers - the answer has to be: always unless you're in the circuit or you're told to switch it off by ATC.
TCAS might be your final savour - if your mode C is off then the automatic anti collision function cannot give the TCAS equipped pilot avoiding action. And it doesn't need an ATC radar to make it function, it's a stand alone piece of kit which just needs 2 mode Cs to produce a safe result!
By the way, if you do blunder into controlled airspace, I suspect the boys in blue are less likely to be sympathetic if your mode C was OFF, causing more traffic disruption etc.
Why not have a look at "Your Say" on
www.flyontrack.co.uk and give us your thoughts.....