Transponder code when parked

[Airbus Unplugged]

Hello people. Can't get a straight answer out of our lot. When parked and shutting down, before setting STBY do you want '1000' or '2000' set for the surface movement radar?

AIP says 2000, what do you say?

[Dan Dare]

Q) EGTT/QFGXX/IV/M/A/000/999/5109N00011W005
FROM: 08/04/17 09:54 TO: 08/08/29 09:00 EST
E) GATWICK AIRPORT IS EQUIPPED WITH AN ADVANCED SURFACE MOVEMENT RADAR UTILISING MODE-S. 1. AIRCRAFT OPERATORS INTENDING TO USE LONDON GATWICK AIRPORT SHOULD ENSURE THAT MODE S TRANSPONDERS ARE ABLE TO OPERATE WHEN THE AIRCRAFT IS ON THE GROUND. 2. FLIGHT CREW SHOULD SELECT XPNDR OR THE EQUIVALENT ACCORDING TO SPECIFIC INSTALLATION, AUTO IF AVAILABLE, NOT OFF OR STANDBY, AND THE ASSIGNED MODE A CODE: FROM THE REQUEST FOR PUSH BACK OR TAXI, WHICHEVER IS EARLIER AFTER LANDING, CONTINOUSLY UNTIL THE AIRCRAFT IS FULLY PARKED ON STAND. 3. AFTER PARKING THE MODE A CODE 2000 MUST BE SET BEFORE SELECTING OFF OR STANDBY. 4. FLIGHT CREW OF AIRCRAFT EQUIPPED WITH MODE S HAVING AN AIRCRAFT IDENTIFICATION FEATURE SHOULD ALSO SET THE AIRCRAFT IDENTIFICATION. THIS SETTING IS THE AIRCRAFT IDENTIFICATION SPECIFIED IN ITEM 7 OF THE ICAO ATC FLIGHT PLAN. THE AIRCRAFT IDENTIFICATION SHOULD BE ENTERED FROM THE REQUEST FOR PUSHBACK OR TAXI, WHICHEVER IS EARLIER, THROUGH THE FMS OR THE TRANSPONDER CONTROL PANEL. AD 2-EGKK 2.20 GROUND MOVEMENT REFERS.

[BOAC]

Interesting question - I have just come back 'on line' after a few weeks and am now occasionally finding 1000 set when I 'climb in'. You always knew that if it was the last ATC code it was just 'Mr Cock-up':), but where has this 1000 come from?

[Denti]

Interesting indeed. We used to switch to 2000 when taxying off the runway except on those (still rare) airports where they require to use last assigned code until parked. Changed to allways keep last assigned code until parked and during preflight preparation for the next sector select 0000 until a new squawk is assigned with the next clearance.

We do not switch to off or standby though, the transponder remains in AUTO at all times.

[tubby linton]

The Notam did say about a month ago use code 1000,it has since beenchanged to the more appropriate 2000.When I asked LGW ground about this radar system I was told that it is on trial and observation use only at the moment.

[TopBunk]

At LHR we have been setting 1000 after shutdown for a couple of years. Apparently this new LGW AIS item to set 2000 is at odds with NATS procedures and moves are afoot to rationalise to a common standard.

An example of the left hand not knowing what the right hand is doing.

In the meantime the advice is for us to set 1000 except at LGW, where you set 2000 until this is resolved.

[King Muppet]

Think it's been 2000 at LHR for quite some time now. Check the AIP/Aerad/Jepp - it's all there.

Apparently the setting of 2000 is an ICAO recommendation (sorry, don't have a specific reference right now); our company changed from '1000' to '2000' to meet this in September 2007. It was certainly in the AIP by this stage.

[Spitoon]

As I understand the history of this (in very broad terms). a few years back Eurocontrol was setting some rules for tx'der ops on the ground to support A-SMGCS use. For whatever reason, they chose 1000 for the mode A on the ground. parked up etc. and publicised this widely. When it went to ICAO they decided that 2000 was the code that should be used.

Hence the change at those few airports that have had A-SMGCS for a while and previously were promoting Eurocontrol's rules.

Off the top of my head I think the ICAO reference is Doc 8168 and maybe Doc 7030 too.

[A7700]

Hi,

Eurocontrol have not choosen 1000 but this code, under the ORCAM code organisation for Europe, was in the list of those available for any local or regional specific needs. It was choosen by both technical groups from EGLL and LFPG for the early test of XPDR on the ground within the A-SMGCS trials.

It happens that the EUROCONTROL MODE S Unit has requested the A-SMGCS unit to move to "another code number", 1000 having a specific usage in a mode S environement. After 2 meetings th ORCAM rep. push to use 2000 which is in line with his former use "... A/C waiting to receive a discrete xpdr code".

The only problem is that in some countries 2000 is not filtered at all and can create a mess on the screen...