Mode C on ground?

[HAVIK]

Hi all,

I already learned a "bunch" as a new (European) member on Pilotedge.
I thank the various ATC controllers for there helpful assitance with my first flights here.

Here is another question I have:

Where can you find information on the charts that you need Mode C on the ground when eg. taxiing out to a runway?

Thanks for your replies!


Hans

Brugge,
BELGIUM

[Andrew Doubleday]

This will be marked on the taxi diagram (see areas circled in red). Nearly all major class B airports employee the use of ASDE-X in the U.S. (if not all) and a number of other fields are slated for upgrades to it:

[Orest Skrypuch]

Look for the ASDE-X surveillance note on the airport diagram, for example in the bottom right of the KORD airport plate, here ...

KORD airport plate

Although not simulated in FSX (X-plane yes/no?) Mode S transponders will correctly echo ground interrogations, even if still in "Ground" mode.

* Orest

P.S. Looks like Andrew was quicker on the draw, here.

[Keith Smith]

AIM now recommends mode c at all times when aircraft leaves the ramp, or something like that.

I can't post a reference from the phone, but I can look tomorrow unless someone beats me to it (which would be helpful!)

[Orest Skrypuch]

Keith is quite correct, and that is not unusual! Here is the reference ...

4-1-20 (a) 3. Civil and military transponders should be turned to the “on” or normal altitude reporting position prior to moving on the airport surface to ensure the aircraft is visible to ATC surveillance systems. IN ALL CASES, WHILE IN CONTROLLED AIRSPACE EACH PILOT OPERATING AN AIRCRAFT EQUIPPED WITH AN OPERABLE ATC TRANSPONDER MAINTAINED IN ACCORDANCE WITH 14 CFR SECTION 91.413 MUST OPERATE THE TRANSPONDER, INCLUDING MODE C IF INSTALLED, ON THE APPROPRIATE CODE OR AS ASSIGNED BY ATC. IN CLASS G AIRSPACE, THE TRANSPONDER SHOULD BE OPERATING WHILE AIRBORNE UNLESS OTHERWISE REQUESTED BY ATC.

* Orest

[Keith Smith]

Orest, you can thank Peter Grey for this reference. He made me aware of it when I met him in person a couple of weeks ago.

[NM Doug]

Interesting. I have an app for the iPad, PilotFAR-AIM. There seems to be a bug in the "Help Desk" tab of mine, so I can't tell definitively which version of the AIM it has, but its version of 4-1-20 (a) 3. starts off with:

"Civil and military transponders should be adjusted to the "on" or normal operating position..."

What Orest quoted, and what I see at http://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publicat ... m0401.html (dated 2/9/12), starts off with:

"Civil and military transponders should be adjusted to the "on" or normal altitude reporting position..."

- Doug

[Peter Grey]

This is a brand new thing, the 2/9/12 version of the AIM is the first with the Mode C on the ground request. If your app doesn't have the absolute newest AIM version it won't have it (which is the source of the confusion).

[NM Doug]

Very good to have this heads up - thanks!

Doug

[Sabre]

Wilco, I thought it was just local to PE when told 'Mode C On' by the Ground.

Sabre.