Russian operator in UK?
 

Just a bit puzzled by a 429 , G-HPIN, squawking a Russian operator's Callsign. KNM08. Anyone know why?

FYI, G-HPIN is operated by GB Helicopters. Their callsigns are 'Kingdom XX', normally abbreviated to KDM08 etc. I suspect that KNM08 was just a typo when inputting the callsign into the transponder.

Didn't think Homeserve had moved to Sukhoi. Just a touch of finger trouble then.

'Into the transponder?' Code/callsign conversion is not done that way.

Really?

It certainly seems to be in the helicopters that I fly.

I pulled the Mode S transponder from my previous aircraft and put it into my current one.. Changed the Hex code and entered the registration as callsign. I could have used any callsign. It took a couple of minutes. Took it up and called a local LARS to test. All good. Job done.

You probably mean "Code/registration conversion is not done that way".

Typo's in the mode-S callsign, happen regularly and are corrected on the fly by the crew whenever requested by ATC.
(and using the registration as callsign is more common in the GA world)

Um... Yes it is.

The transponder on the machine I fly has pilot changeable inputs for registration and callsign / flt number.

OH

I was thinking ATC transponders. ATC units having SSR displays can enter their own callsigns independently of mode S inputs because not all ATC units have access to Mode S and this means duplicated callsigns can be displayed either on radar displays or other surveillance displays as in the examples at #1 and #2.
How this is resolved I haven't a clue.

GB Helicopters has used KNM “Kingdom” since at least May 2013

see https://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publ...section_1.html

I stand corrected :O

24 bit address and resultant hex code is not a typical "user configuration" but Flight ID is by the operator. How the Flight ID is then interpreted can lead to mismatch by certain platforms.