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Can you get flight following without transponder?
Sure, flight following service without a transponder is possible, if ATC has good primary radar. But good primary radar is most often found where transponders are required, the core airports in Class B or Class C airspace. ARSRs used by ARTCCs that have primary radar generally don’t show primary targets very well.
Do all aircraft need a transponder?
Transponders exist in essentially all air vehicles (including, for example, not only airplanes, but helicopters, blimps, etc.), and some of those, especially in the military, operate in special modes that “regular,” small airplanes do not have.
How high up does airspace go?
Airspace profile. Class A airspace is generally the airspace from 18,000 feet mean sea level (MSL) up to and including flight level (FL) 600, including the airspace overlying the waters within 12 nautical miles (NM) of the coast of the 48 contiguous states and Alaska.
When do you not need a transponder in the US?
In the US if you are flying in Class G airspace or Class E below 10,000 feet you are not required to have a transponder. In this case you would tell ATC that you do not have a transponder but if that were the case I would doubt the controller would want to do flight following as they won’t have your altitude information.
How to talk to air traffic control ( ATC )?
This item has been added to your Favorites. Talking to air traffic control is something most student and new pilots dread, however fear not! This guide will explain the basics of talking to ATC. Step one is realizing that ATC isn’t trying to get you in trouble, and they’re willing to help you if you just simply ask.
What happens to an aircraft if its transponder fails?
If an aircraft’s transponder fails, though, then ATC is reduced to tracking it via “primary” radar returns (literally bouncing radio waves off of it and seeing where they’re reflecting from)… but stealth aircraft are specifically built so that they can’t be picked up by most primary radars (at least without a lot of trouble).
Can a transceiver be used for ATC communication?
You can also listen to ATC communications at your leisure with a handheld transceiver or aviation band receiver. Regardless of how you listen in, when you hear a new phrase on the frequency, make note of it and look it up when you get home.