Squawk 7000
 

Hi all,
It used to be that whenever I would leave a LARS or FIS basic service switching to another frequency the controller used to say "Squawk 7000". In the last year or so they seem to have switched to saying "Squawk on security" (or that's what I think they're saying). What does this new Squawk on security mean? It doesn't really matter to me because I just press VFR on my transponder which switches is to 7000 anyway but I wanted to understand in case I'm not missing anything. Can anyone clarify?

It’s “conspicuity”. 7000.

Thanks! Seems like an odd phrase to use but at least I can read it back now.

Or 2000 if you are flying IFR, particularly important if you want to assist the CAA identify you infringing Class E airspace.

This helpful amendment to RTF with the easy to say word which just trips off the tongue is a readback item according to CAP413.

In the Summer, I was passed on by F'boro LARs going into EGLM. Told me to squawk conspicuity.

Well, I couldn't say the bloomin' word and after 2 failed attempts over the busy freq. blurted out "7000 bye".

Easier just to abbreviate it to ‘squawk conspic’. Likewise ‘freek change’ for frequency change (although I recently heard a controller say ‘QSY’, which isn’t in CAP 413).

Yes, we still say 'QSY en-route'. Showing our age.

I usually reply with either "squawking 7000" or "squawking 2000", seems to be fine.

G

I find it abominable that they would lack the imagination to select such an intimidating form of communication that encompasses such a diabolical multisyllabic term. The articulation and enunciation of overcomplicated terminology is clearly inaccessible to all but the most eloquent. The verbalisation and pronunciation of such a sophisticated word causes undeniable animosity.

Yeh, right, 'Adley. What you said. Me too ! 'Oo dreamed up conspikewiti any road ? I can' even spell it ! :ugh:

Hadley

Thats easy for you to say! :rolleyes:

T18

In the US they just tell you to "squawk VFR" (that's 1200 over there).

On a related topic, has anyone ever been asked to "strangle the parrot"?

No, but my son has threatened to strangle our very loud canary.

My stock reply is often "Roger, going en route".

Not quite, spatston. "Squawk" however came from the association with "Parrot", didn't it, which was the original NATO codename for IFF (Identification Friend or Foe ) Mk1 equipment. This basically didn't have the 4094 selectable codes of the later IFFs. The only facilities were "High", "Low", "Emerg". and "OFF".
If one was asked to Squawk "High", this stronger signal gave a form of "Ident" that we now know so well. The "Low" selection was made for normal radar tracking.
Don't think I ever heard "strangle " before......

After a discussion with the controller, who was originally from the US, along the lines of "say again" a few times ending in "what?" as were were clearly off of standard phraseology they explained to the Brit in their circuit "Squawk standby"

4094? That's two less than everyone else's... ;)

8x8x8x8=?

Brits are indeed getting lower and lower on the scale of intellectual capacity, ever closer to their US'an big brother. Would Brexit be cause or effect, I wonder?

Could it be that, out of the theoretical 4096, two can not be selected? Or, if they could be selected, they'd make no sense? 0000 and 7777, perhaps?

My flight instructor (way back in 1977) made sure that I never squawked 0000, a military drone intercept code, nor 7777, a DOD interceptor code for aircraft on active air-defense missions and operating without ATC clearance.

I never got shot at, I think.

- Ed

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....254c4bfd00.png
Credit SkyDemon

Thanks for your support, Jan, but ST is correct with a total of 4096. Old age and dementia are obviously creeping up on me ! :ouch:

That's because most of the USA is Class E airspace where IFR flight is mandatory and hence an individual code is allocated..

Used to be used where the ATC unit involved did not have labels on its radar display, just an extra 'blip' along with the primary blip.

The code 'Alpha 00' (aka 0000) was commonly used in some areas when identifying traffic operating in the airspace above FL245 when I was controlling civil traffic at Northern Radar (RAF Lindholme) up until mid 1973.

Staxton Wold is a radar station 'somewhere in England' and if I told you about it I'd have to kill you.:mad:

Stationary transponder testing has been taking place in the Scottish Western Isles for months.

Was also tested many years ago at (I think) RAF Halton.

IFR isn't mandatory it's mixed IFR/ VFR ( that's why it is recommended to continue the "see and avoid policy).

Now the purpose of class E is, at certain minimums, to have everyone on IFR below those minimums.
I forgot to say but, 1200 is the VFR squawk

I'm confused, what does strangle the parrot mean 🦜?

Squawk standby - because the early IFF kit was code name "Parrot"

A bit like "kill the rabbit" :ok:

many thanks ETOPS

And they have the nerve to criticize our phraseology! And we even gave up our "taxi into position and hold".... saying "conspicuity" sounds like trouble....Muppettry of the finest kind.