Quick question re:emergency squawks

[andyb79]

Got a question from my college coyrse that i cant seem to find a specific answer for.

What exactly happens on your displays when 7700,7600 or 7500 are dialled into a transponder?
Obviously you are alerted to this but how is it done. does the screen just display an emergency label next to the A/C or is it specific to the code dialled in?
Does it change colour (im guessing it would but would they become the same colour?)
Is there an audiable warning?
and finally how do these notifications vary between different manufacturers ATC equipment?

Cheers in advance
Andy

[benedictus]

It depends on the display that is being used, some change colour and flash, others just flash.

On my radar display the ssr flashes and the code converts to SOS, RTFAIL, HIJACK.

[M609]

Our system changes label colour to red (from white), the callsign is retained (if relevant), and a "star" flashed around the SSR/MSSR/PSR track in red, with a "HI", "CF" or "EM" next to it. An audio alarm allso sound, it can be silenced with pressing the F9 key.

All this naturally override any altitude or position filtesr you may have running on the console.

:sad:

[eyeinthesky]

As well as the above, they ring an audible alarm in the D&D cell in West Drayton.

Also, some systems will retain the code/callsign conversion with 7700/7600 etc, some won't. That's why I believe it is unnecessary to ask an aircraft with a 'Medical Emergency' who has flown the last 300nm past 4 suitable airfields to squawk 7700 on his way into Heathrow (unless the medical emergency is one of the flight crew)! But the 'Do it by Numbers' members of my profession do not make the distinction or give it any thought.

[andyb79]

Cheers guys. Didnt have a clue that it would show up automatically at West Drayton, suppose it makes sense though.

[tobzalp]

7800 is transponder failure. Not many know that. You're welcome.

[andyb79]

Excuse my ignorance but what’s the point in putting a code in a failed transponder? Wouldn’t you just be better turning it to mode A or off depending on the whether it was faulty or completely failed?

[Swift]

andyb79 - don't worry, if you can enter the number 8 into your transponder then there is definitely something wrong with it!
;)

[Gonzo]

tobzalp,

You're nearly getting as funny as Jerricho! :ok:

[andyb79]

Good point, Guess im a little slower this morning than i first thought:O

[nginear]

Didn't think that you could put the number 8 into a transponder.

[A good headin]

Army Air Corps pilots usually fall for that old trick of squawking 8/9 digits.

Andyb79 we get you to Squawk 0000 to indicate transponder failure following a recycle instruction. If a corrupt code still exists, the you would normally be instructed to switch off the transponder. However, where approved by local procedures and provided the Mode C has been verified, the corrupt code may be retained to assist identification and tracking. Associated ATS units are to be informed of the retention of corrupt data. With a corrupt Mode C if independent switching of Mode C is not possible you would be instructed to select Mode 3/A code 0000 to indicate a transponder malfunction.

Hope that helps from the military side.

[Lon More]

nginear if you use a big enough hammer you can get anything into a transponder

[Jerricho]

No he's not

(Nice picture Gonze :ok: )

[Gonzo]

I said nearly .

I consider it rather quaint that you believe it to be a compliment. :p

[Jerricho]

Nah mate.

I was insinuating he was funnier :p

[Gonzo]

Touche!

That fresh Canadian air seems to be improving your mind.......

[BigginAgain]

Getting back to the thread (though I love the piccie Gonzo) ... if memory serves, our yellow plot (circle or shield depending on whether the plot is SR+SSR or SSR only) changes colour to red and starts flashing, and a tiny red 'E' appears to the upper right of the plot and remains there until the plot history decays to nothing.

It also sets off an alarm on certain of our consoles.

This is an AD system, though it is also used to provide the full range of ATC services. It has come on line in the last 12 months.

BA

[BwatchGRUNT]

what's this term medical emergency by the way??? its a pan a mayday or its nowt but an attempt to get to ones original destination first. medical emergency but I'll fly past lots of suitable airports is obviously not an emergency in the first place

[Jerricho]

its a pan a mayday or its nowt

..........in the UK. It's funny, but I've experienced requests for priority here in the 'Peg that never involve either phrase, yet the seas part. Take the situation of a "minimum fuel" call by a Canadian pilot. I'm sure if a Uk controller heard it there would be a majorly different reaction to that in Canada (where it is a legitimate r/t call without invoking an emergency)

[E-n-i-g-m-a-8-3]

what's this term medical emergency by the way??? its a pan a mayday or its nowt but an attempt to get to ones original destination first. medical emergency but I'll fly past lots of suitable airports is obviously not an emergency in the first place

Maybe there is a medical emergency on board which requires the urgent assistance of somebody on the ground at the original destination, and the pilot is just declaring the 'medical emergency' so as to have priority over other traffic in the vicinity...

[MrBernoulli]

I guess you call the Pan first and then when asked about the nature of the emergency you declare it as medical. That way ATC know you're aircraft is technically OK but you require assistance for an expeditious approach, and to be met by medical services.