Question to ATCO

[A-3TWENTY]

Is it true that when you atribute a transponder code starting with 7 other than the emergency ones it means amongst yourselves that this is a "dangerous" flight , like pilots with poor english , etc?

I`ve heard it the other day and fount it curious.

A320

[blissbak]

It's true, everybody squawking A7000 is dangerous

[Akhorahil]

No.
Codes are assigned mainly by "areas". Most of the tfc comming from Bordeaux has the same inicial number, as do the tfc from Lisboa and so on.

[Fesch]

Blissbak
but in reality I don't get to choose the transponder codes I assigne (most of the time), the system does it for me and they start with a 7 often enough.

[chevvron]

A320: whoever told you that was talking b0ll0x; codes starting 7 are frequently assigned by the computer at Swanwick.

[Talkdownman]

Originally Posted by chevvron

codes starting 7 are frequently assigned by the computer

....and 7701 is one such routine ORCAM SSR code. Care required with selection...

So, to answer OP's question: no, a transponder code starting with 7 other than the emergency codes does not mean "a dangerous flight , like pilots with poor english , etc"...

[Dan Dare]

You boring lot! Could have kept A320 dangling for a few days surely. Anyway the real secret code we assign to let all our ATCO colleagues know about the potentially dangerous flight is all 4096 of them

[A-3TWENTY]

Thanks Guys for the answers.

Are you guys from Europe? I forgot to say that I`ve heard it happens in Europe . My question came because I have a friend who flies for a chinese company and as we know their english is quite poor. And then he was saying that very often their are given codes starting with 7 because this is an unoficial way to let your coleagues ATCOs know a flight which requires special atention were on its way.

I heard that and didn`t believe that much because I had the idea codes were given by computers at Eurocontrol.

A320

[Frunobulax]

Sound like a good idea though

[chevvron]

Well these Chinese are pretty inscrutable so maybe they DO use this system in their own airspace!!

[cavver]

SSR codes in Europe are assigned according to EUR SSR Code Management Plan :
http://paris.icao.int/documents_open/download.php?maincategory=48&subcategory=127&file=EUR%20Doc% 20023%20(EN)%20-%20Edition%201,%20Amd%200.pdf

[blissbak]

Well, if this is true

"dangerous" flight , like pilots with poor english

and this as well

Well these Chinese are pretty inscrutable so maybe they DO use this system in their own airspace!!

The result is every single flight squwking 7XXX

[Talkdownman]

Originally Posted by EUROPEAN SECONDARY SURVEILLANCE RADAR (SSR) CODE MANAGEMENT PLAN

DEVELOPMENT OF AUTOMATED SSR CODE ASSGNEMENT SYSTEMS

Very pretty...but I do wish that ICAO would proof-read its official documentation before publication...

[eglnyt]

In the UK for the moment the computer at Swanwick assigns the SSR code according to the Uk SSR Code Assignment Plan. That plan is published in the UK Air Pilot ENR 1.6 available on line. In the not too distant future the code will be assigned by a computer in Europe.

[Woodwork]

If controllers are genuinely concerned they're dealing with a bit of a muppet, they'll coordinate that by voice line to the next agency. Coalface controllers - the ones you talk to - don't assign codes (at least, not for IFR scheduled flights), that's done well before you taxi in most ATC systems.

[eastern wiseguy]

Woodwork

Coalface controllers - the ones you talk to - don't assign codes (at least, not for IFR scheduled flights), that's done well before you taxi in most ATC systems.

That's true. All of our LOCAL codes are allocated by the controller....and EVERY ONE of them starts with SEVEN...oooerrrr

[Loki]

Woodwork.....yes, several times I've warned receiving sectors about some flights. Good practice I thought, but you have to be careful how you put it. Me to the TMA "watch out for this kraut, he's a bit of a pillock" may have been factually correct, especially as he undershot at his destination and removed some of the approach lights; but it doesn't look too good in print (R/T transcript) on the subsequent report!

[BravoMike]

We use an 8 to indicate dangerous pilots...
If he can put it in its xpdr, he's really dangerous

[Loki]

Did that once to an Aer Lingus as an April first gag....he read it back too! "Very funny ground" was the best he could come up with.

[chevvron]

I once allocated 0469 to an RAF Wessex helicopter. It was about 10 minutes before he told me he was unable to select it. I had visions of him sitting wrenching at the switch all that time!!