Question: Squitter and Mode 'S' usage?
 

Paris CDG uses the "Squitter" tracking secondary radar which uses an aeroplane's Mode S squawk to track its movements on the ground.

When are you supposed to have Mode S switched on? Is it chock to chock (for example on pushback), or only when taxiing? And does it matter if the xpdr is set to TA or TA/RA (with RA obviously inhibited on the ground!)

Also does anybody know if squitter is going into service at AMS Schiphol any time soon?

Guess it depends on the a/c system.

HKG is doing a trial with this at the moment and our 'Busses can be seen on taxi in with the transponder set to stby and on taxy out with it set TA/RA. However the Jumbo cannot be seen with their kit in stby.

Our FHB changed on a revision over a year ago to add "Transponder - TA/RA" as part of the taxi checklist. Though RA is inhibited on the ground, TA works fine, and those airports with similar ground-movement radar are happy.