Ident!!
Thread Starter
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 103
Likes: 6
From: house
Ident!!
Hello ATC people,
Many moons ago a ATC person described what Squawking ident did on their radar screen. But being old I have forgotten . When we push Ident what exactly happens on you radar screen? I think I was told it shows as a highlighted pulse is that correct?. Thanks for your time if you answer any factual info.
Re Pete.
Many moons ago a ATC person described what Squawking ident did on their radar screen. But being old I have forgotten . When we push Ident what exactly happens on you radar screen? I think I was told it shows as a highlighted pulse is that correct?. Thanks for your time if you answer any factual info.
Re Pete.
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 353
Likes: 4
From: Around
It'll depend entirely on the radar display software in use at any particular facility, but every system I've used has displayed an Ident as a flashing ring (for a few seconds) around the SSR position symbol associated with the aircraft.
Joined: Nov 2005
Aviation Qualifications: PPL
Posts: 12,456
Likes: 368
From: Wildest Surrey
You'll have to make allowances for TDM, he's only used to a 424 tube nowadays; probably having a flashback to his time at Lindholme; happens to him occasionally.
Last edited by chevvron; 21st September 2012 at 10:02.
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 98
Likes: 0
From: FL410
It is interesting that a read back is considered of any use.
"G-XXXX, ident"
G-XXXX pilot presses little button and ATC gets what it requested.
Maybe I am thick, but what possible usefulness is the read-back?
In most places, pushing the button is adequate, while some controllers insist on the read back, even while they see their particular software system's reaction to the request being complied with.
"G-XXXX, ident"
G-XXXX pilot presses little button and ATC gets what it requested.
Maybe I am thick, but what possible usefulness is the read-back?
In most places, pushing the button is adequate, while some controllers insist on the read back, even while they see their particular software system's reaction to the request being complied with.
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 340
Likes: 0
From: Midlands
Just a guess but I would imagine that the readback makes sure the controller knows that it is the correct aircraft that is Identing and not someone who has misheard the instruction.
For example if G-ABCD starts talking but G-WXYZ comes on frequency & interrupts it is entirely possible that G-CD could be asked to Ident but as G-YZ didnt realise G-CD is talking they might wrongly interpret the instruction as being for them and Ident. If theres no readback ATC would then accidentally believe that the RADAR trace for G-YZ is G-CD
For example if G-ABCD starts talking but G-WXYZ comes on frequency & interrupts it is entirely possible that G-CD could be asked to Ident but as G-YZ didnt realise G-CD is talking they might wrongly interpret the instruction as being for them and Ident. If theres no readback ATC would then accidentally believe that the RADAR trace for G-YZ is G-CD
Last edited by Burnie5204; 23rd September 2012 at 17:34.
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,901
Likes: 1
From: On the wireless...
Originally Posted by mushroom69
what possible usefulness is the read-back?
Non-readback (and unsolicited idents for that matter...
) is of no use at all. Non-readback is also laziness, time wasting and discourteous. If the correct phraseology cannot be remembered (Wilco) I'd rather have a "coming down" or a "flash" or a "there you go" or a "Howzat" than nothing at all.
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 560
Likes: 0
From: in a TCU
If the correct phraseology cannot be remembered (Wilco) I'd rather have a "coming down" or a "flash" or a "there you go" or a "Howzat" than nothing at all