Transponder Codes..?

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Adanac
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Transponder Codes..?

Post by Adanac »

I was flying along today, minding my own buisness when ATC asked me to change my code. It got me thinking. Now I am not sure that this question will be answered. Why? Because the out come may stir the pot between ATC and Pilots, not to mention giving up what might be considered an industry secret. Oh well.. here is the question:

Is there a set of numbers that is reserved for "good" or "bad" flights? By this I mean if ATC happens to notice a crew that they have delt with before and have had either good or bad dealings with them. Kind of a heads up to the next controller who they get handed off to.

For eg. A code of '4535' would mean that this aircraft is considered 'on the ball' and very positive, where a code of '5020' would be considered pricks and expect a hard time with them.

Just a thought. Curious to see what kind of responces this post generates!

Thanks,

Adanac
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Braun
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Post by Braun »

Could it be that another a/c shared the same transponder code as you did?
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grimey
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Re: Transponder Codes..?

Post by grimey »

Adanac wrote: Is there a set of numbers that is reserved for "good" or "bad" flights?
You get 0666 alot, don't you?
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pokaroo
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Re: Transponder Codes..?

Post by pokaroo »

grimey wrote: You get 0666 alot, don't you?
That's funny, I've had aircraft refuse that code.

Codes are random, if we wanted to label you as something (good bad ugly) we have a remarks field on your data tag that we can add stuff to.
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zzjayca
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Post by zzjayca »

Most likely you and another a/c were on the same discreet code.

When a dual discreet happens, we have to change one a/c's code to get the computer system to assign the correct info to the radar targets.

Codes are generated by the computer system randomly to avoid this situation. However, if the aircraft have been assigned codes by two different centers, more than one a/c may get the same code. (especially if one computer system was Canadian and the other American) It doesn't cause a problem until both a/c are being tracked by the same computer system (usually when both a/c enter the same FIR).
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FREEFALL
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Re: Transponder Codes..?

Post by FREEFALL »

Adanac wrote:Is there a set of numbers that is reserved for "good" or "bad" flights? By this I mean if ATC happens to notice a crew that they have delt with before and have had either good or bad dealings with them. Kind of a heads up to the next controller who they get handed off to.
Are you for real?
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cyyz
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Post by cyyz »

The "bad person code" would be the hijack one(look it up).

The good ones are all the others, less the 2.
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Jerricho
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Post by Jerricho »

Seriously, if I want to see how smart you are:

"Squawk 2381 with Ident"
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goldeneagle
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Post by goldeneagle »

Jerricho wrote:Seriously, if I want to see how smart you are:

"Squawk 2381 with Ident"
And to really test how smart you are, why are there no numbers bigger than 7 on a transponder ?
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grimey
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Post by grimey »

goldeneagle wrote:
Jerricho wrote:Seriously, if I want to see how smart you are:

"Squawk 2381 with Ident"
And to really test how smart you are, why are there no numbers bigger than 7 on a transponder ?
Because with 4096 different squawk codes, it makes it just about impossible to enter a completely invalid code if you use 4 octal digits. It's also easier to do the electronics and software for it (or it was when SSRs first came into service, anyway).
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polythene_pam
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Post by polythene_pam »

You know, you might be on to something here....

Except, most controllers already know what to expect out of which aircraft... And if they don't recognise you, you're probably some private a/c or a yankee doctor, or at least unfamiliar with the area, so they'll be expecting the worst anyway.

Or you may have been switched to a religious controller who didn't like your 666 code (don't laugh, I've heard that it happens in some places)!
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Jerricho
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Post by Jerricho »

goldeneagle wrote:And to really test how smart you are, why are there no numbers bigger than 7 on a transponder ?
Coz Doc finds it hard to count to 8?
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