Radio Frequency / Squawk Code

[Mike Tee]

Morning All,

please can anyone tell me if it is possible to identify which agency an aircraft is under the control of (in radio contact with) by it's squawk code as shown on Flight Radar 24.

Thank You.

[TwoFiftyBelowTen]

No. Squawk code doesn't depend on location (doesn't usually change throughout the flight). Refer elsewhere to sector boundaries.

[wiggy]

(doesn't usually change throughout the flight).

I'd suggest it almost certainly does on the longer sectors, but not at every sector boundary.

[TwoFiftyBelowTen]

Don't know what you mean there....The "squawk code" (the ADSB identification) would only change if it was incorrectly entered by the flight crew in the first place and they were alerted to the error and asked to fix it. It's the radio frequency that might change a couple of times across a single longer sector

[Mike Tee]

Thanks for the quick replies guys but I do know that squawk codes are changed frequently during a flight. (a typical 1 hour flight from MME to AMS can involve 4 changes of squawk code). Usually a new code is given to the aircraft by the controlling agency which allows the next agency to identify that particular flight before accepting the handover.
The reason for my initial request is to identify a controlling agency, and hence the radio frequency from the squawk code.

[Talkdownman]

If it's a flight under ORCAM (Originating Region Code Assignment Method) procedures it will very likely 'wear' the one SSR code for the entire flight

[Lord Spandex Masher]

Squawk codes are occasionally changed during a flight. For instance returning to the UK from Europe we get a squawk change before we talk to London Mil and then another before we talk to NCL. Quite often over Germany we are asked to squawk 1000.

NCL local squawk always seems to start with 37 but I don't know if that is the same for all UK airfields or specific to the Toon.

[Toadpool]

In class G airspace knowing who is providing a service to a particular aircraft is very useful. Most units that operate outside the protection of controlled airspace have their own allocated block of squawks, which can be found here; http://www.ead.eurocontrol.int/eadbasic/pamslight-C0C5D9839AA389661763EBB75B574471/7FE5QZZF3FXUS/EN/AIP/ENR/EG_ENR_1_6_en_2015-05-28.pdf (scroll to page ENR 1.6-8).
Flights that remain within controlled airspace may well retain one code for the duration of the flight, but as they are remaining within a known traffic environment the controlling authority is known, as the airspace will be allocated to a known agency.

[HEATHROW DIRECTOR]

<<"squawk code" (the ADSB identification) >>

A squawk code has nothing to do with ADSB ident. Plenty of aircraft which do not have ADSB capability are equipped with transponders.

[wiggy]

I guess the answer to this depends on the context the OP is interested in and what is meant by "longer sectors"....:E.

It's not unusual to have to change squawk half a dozen times (or more) on some of our longer sectors, and it's nothing to do with finger problems...:ooh:.

[Lord Spandex Masher]

Ah but it's what you do with it not how long it is. Isn't long haul hours of boredom....in the bunk ;)

[wiggy]

Isn't long haul hours of boredom....in the bunk

Sadly sometimes there isn't a bunk, other than that :ooh:..:sad:

And anyhow there's always another frequency and squawk change just around the corner...problem is that corner's often over a 1000 miles away :}

[Mike Tee]

Once again, thanks for the replies chaps. However looks that I,m no further foward as is does seem that it's not possible to identify a current agency / radio frequency from a squawk code. Incidently for those in the, "they keep the same squawk code camp", just this morning the KLM 16X (MME - AMS) Transmitted three different codes before it had reached the Ottringham VOR a distance of about 80 miles and this is the norm.

[kcockayne]

Was the KLM constantly in Controlled Airspace, or was it transferring between civil & military ATC ?
If it was working the military at any point it may well have had the code changed.
Otherwise, the ORCAM code allocation ought to provide a discrete code for the a/c. But, with so many a/c flying about & the shortage of Mode A codes (4096 available), it can happen that duplication of codes occurs & someone has to change the squawk to avoid confusion.
I would say that the only time that you can tell which Agency (ATC) is controlling the a/c from the code is when the code is first allocated & the a/c is still within its area. Even in this case, it may be impossible to decipher which frequency that the a/c is working eg. The one that issued the squawk, or the one that it has since been transferred to (without a change of squawk).

[Lord Spandex Masher]

It would've have gone from MME to London Mil and then Scottish or Amsterdam more than likely.

[Toadpool]

Try the UK code allocation plan. This is available on the AIS web site here;

http://www.nats-uk.ead-it.com/public/index.php%3Foption=com_content&task=blogcategory&id=4&Itemid=11.html

It seems the previous link I posted does not work, but you need section ENR 1.6, pages ENR 1.6-9. This will let you know which unit has been allocated the squawk, unless it is not unit specific.

As for the frequency, you'll need to lok this up in ENR 2. Sorry but this is a bit laborious.

[HookEcho]

I rarely have to change squawks (IFR), but it does happen.

One anecdote.
Flew a trip from South Carolina to Ohio on one code. Stayed for a week. When I picked up my clearance for the return trip it was the same code! Reached down to set the xponder and the code was still there. Told the controller, that's what I got flying in. He was also surprised. Should have went to Vegas instead :)

[west lakes]

Another site that may be of use

Squawk codes. (http://www.flightradars.eu/squawkcodes.html)

[Mike Tee]

Thanks Westlake, thats very handy. All I now need to do is print off the list, add frequencies next to appropriate codes as and when I hear then announced.

[kcockayne]

Not necessarily. All that the list does is show you which unit issued the code. The a/c may have kept that code after transfer to another unit (or not),& will most likely be speaking to another unit when you see it on FR24. If so, this gives no indication of which frequency is being used.
The only useful clue you are going to get from FR24 is the a/c's geographical position. If you know this & you have knowledge of which ATC unit would be controlling it, from the a/c's position; & you know which ATC sector will be controlling it, THEN you may be able to determine the radio frequency in use.
In any case, even if the a/c is still working the originating unit (which issued the code), the SSR code does not tell you which R/T frequency it is using.

[rolaaand]

Mike Tee. Durham and Newcastle traffic in and out via OTR will change squawk three times in quick succession. Outbounds will have a local squawk for Durham or Newcastle radar, then a Swanwick Military one to work them through the class G airspace, then the Orcam squawk when working Scottish. Vice versa for inbounds. It's so the relevant controllers have the squawk converting to the callsign on the radar screen.