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Aviation transponder interrogation modes

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of the aircraft and/or the aircraft's permanent ICAO 24-bit address (which is represented for human interface purposes as six hexadecimal characters.) One of the hidden features of Mode S transponders is that they are backwards compatible; an aircraft equipped with a Mode S transponder can still be
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systems. A TCAS-equipped aircraft must have a Mode S transponder, but not all Mode S transponders include TCAS. Likewise, a Mode S transponder is required to implement 1090ES extended squitter ADS-B Out, but there are other ways to implement ADS-B Out (in the U.S. and China.) The format of Mode S
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response, which is then referred to as Mode C operation. Pressure altitude is obtained from an altitude encoder, either a separate self-contained unit mounted in the aircraft or an integral part of the transponder. The altitude information is passed to the transponder using a modified form of the
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In its simplest form, a "Mode" or interrogation type is generally determined by pulse spacing between two or more interrogation pulses. Various modes exist from Mode 1 to 5 for military use, to Mode A, B, C and D, and Mode S for civilian use.
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Another mode called Mode S (Select) is designed to help avoiding overinterrogation of the transponder (having many radars in busy areas) and to allow automatic collision avoidance. Mode S transponders are compatible with Mode A and Mode C
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Provides a 4-digit octal identification code for the aircraft, set in the cockpit but assigned by the air traffic controller. Mode 3/A is often combined with Mode C to provide altitude information as well.
229:"). This is referred to as "Mode 3A" or more commonly, Mode A. A separate type of response called "Ident" can be initiated from the airplane by pressing a button on the transponder control panel. 439: 328:
Mode S equipped aircraft are assigned a unique ICAO 24-bit address or (informally) Mode-S "hex code" upon national registration and this address becomes a part of the aircraft's
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Mode A and C responses are used to help air traffic controllers identify a particular aircraft's position and altitude on a radar screen, in order to maintain separation.
438:; it was further refined in 2012. Countries implementing ADS-B can require the use of either the extended squitter mode of a suitably-equipped Mode S transponder, or the 471: 634: 463: 339:
There are 16,777,214 (2-2) unique ICAO 24-bit addresses (hex codes) available. The ICAO 24-bit address can be represented in three digital formats:
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and is usually combined with Mode 3/A to provide a combination of a 4-digit octal code and altitude as Mode 3 A/C, often referred to as Mode A and C
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used to send replies to Mode A or C interrogations. This feature can be activated by a specific type of interrogation sequence called inter-mode.
687: 754:(in Minutes from The Third Meeting of the Automatic Dependent Surveillance – Broadcast (ADS-B) Study and Implementation Task Force (ADS-B TF/3)) 454:
and its atmosphere. The difference between these two vectors is the wind acting on the aircraft. Deriving winds (and temperatures from the
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Eurocontrol – Aeronautical Information Circular (AIC) – ICAO 24-Bit Aircraft Addresses and Aircraft Identification Reporting
729:"The Third Meeting of Automatic Dependent Surveillance – Broadcast (ADS-B) Study and Implementation Task Force (ADS-B TF/3)" 279: 479: 351:. These addresses are used to provide a unique identity normally allocated to an individual aircraft or registration. 158:
Provides multiple information formats to a selective interrogation. Each aircraft is assigned a fixed 24-bit address.
596: 555: 172:, whereas Mode S is implemented as a standalone backwards-compatible protocol. ADS-B can operate using Mode S-ES or 268: 956: 951: 638: 612: 98:
Provides 4-digit octal unit code (set on ground for fighters, can be changed in flight by transport aircraft)
946: 820:"High-resolution wind and temperature observations from aircraft tracked by Mode-S air traffic control radar" 568: 961: 495: 417: 304: 275: 225:
When the transponder receives an interrogation request, it broadcasts the configured transponder code (or "
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are actively developing an expanded capability including data from every continent other than Antarctica.
550:, pages 238–239. Aviation Publishers Co. Limited, Ottawa Ontario, Twenty Seventh Revised Edition, 1996. 316: 478:. Over the UK the number of aircraft observations has increased from approximately 7500 per day from 792: 765: 586: 355: 333: 751: 728: 867:"A Network of Mode-S Receivers for Routine Acquisition of Aircraft-Derived Meteorological Data" 59: 43: 17: 434:
In 2009 the ICAO published an "extended" form of Mode S with more message formats to use with
374:(Note: occasionally, spaces are added for visual clarity, thus 1010 1100 1000 0010 1110 1100 { 359: 348: 329: 450:
Mode-S data has the potential to contain the aircraft's movement vectors in relation to the
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Upon interrogation, Mode S transponders transmit information about the aircraft to the
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These are all the same 24-bit address of the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft, represented in
896: 847: 798: 771: 677: 592: 551: 238: 119: 46:, which is used to determine detailed information from a suitably equipped aircraft. 886: 839: 226: 278:(SSR) systems. This is the type of transponder that is used for TCAS or ACAS II ( 177: 941: 169: 891: 866: 661: 935: 900: 851: 483: 459: 385: 247: 143: 42:(ADS-B) system. The reply format is usually referred to as a "code" from a 843: 726: 455: 375: 340: 819: 475: 378: 412:
code into the Mode S transponder. In this case, the capabilities of
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An issue with Mode S transponders arises when pilots enter the wrong
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ICAO Doc 9871, Technical Provisions for Mode S and Extended Squitter
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ICAO Doc 9871, Technical Provisions for Mode S and Extended Squitter
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As an example, following is the ICAO 24-bit address assigned to the
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Provides a 3-pulse reply, delay is based on the encrypted challenge
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are the standard formats of pulsed sequences from an interrogating
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to over 10 million per day. The Met Office together with KNMI and
591:(2nd ed.). International Civil Aviation Organization. 2004. 413: 613:"UK Civil Aviation Authority – "ICAO 24 bit Aircraft Addresses"" 523: 27:
Standard formats of pulsed sequences for aviation transponders
451: 435: 397: 382: 344: 312: 701: 797:(2nd ed.). International Civil Aviation Organization. 770:(1st ed.). International Civil Aviation Organization. 520: 308: 237:
A Mode A transponder code response can be augmented by a
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Provides 2-digit 5-bit mission code (cockpit selectable)
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International Civil Aviation Organization (March 2005).
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Secondary surveillance radar § Extended squitter
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Air traffic control radar beacon system § Mode S
915:"Expanding collection of weather data from aircraft" 403: 62:have been standardized for aviation transponders: 933: 575:. Air Force Institute of Technology. p. 10. 871:Journal of Atmospheric and Oceanic Technology 682:: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list ( 516: 514: 512: 510: 635:"Eurocontrol – "Mode S Technical Overview"" 213: 208: 197: 189: 917:(Press release). Met Office. 21 March 2023 720: 686:) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list ( 315:SSR system. This information includes the 269:Secondary surveillance radar § Mode S 40:Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast 890: 784: 757: 542: 540: 538: 536: 534: 532: 507: 291:messages is documented in ICAO Doc 9688, 286:broadcast, one means of participating in 660:Ralf D. Kloth, DL4TA, Ludwigsburg, D.E. 566: 164:Mode A and Mode C are implemented using 32:aviation transponder interrogation modes 817: 381:} and 001 101 110 100 000 100 110 101 { 311:receivers on board aircraft and to the 166:air traffic control radar beacon system 14: 934: 529: 323: 53: 864: 569:"Interoperable ADS-B Confidentiality" 445: 232: 187: 790: 763: 423: 662:"Aircraft on HFDL - ICAO 24 bit ID" 280:Airborne Collision Avoidance System 24: 588:Manual on Mode S Specific Services 462:) was developed simultaneously by 298: 293:Manual on Mode S Specific Services 25: 973: 637:. Eurocontrol.int. Archived from 372:Binary: 101011001000001011101100 907: 858: 824:Journal of Geophysical Research 811: 745: 404:Issues with Mode S transponders 205: 202: 194: 694: 653: 627: 605: 579: 560: 146:secured version of Mode S and 13: 1: 567:Burfeind, Brandon C. (2020). 501: 442:transponder on 978 MHz. 496:Identification friend or foe 276:Secondary Surveillance Radar 174:Universal Access Transceiver 36:Secondary Surveillance Radar 7: 615:. Caa.co.uk. 2 October 2007 489: 330:Certificate of Registration 10: 978: 427: 266: 260: 892:10.1175/JTECH-D-15-0184.1 398:different numeral systems 256: 220: 154: 102: 573:Theses and Dissertations 356:Shuttle Carrier Aircraft 334:Flight management system 118:Provides the aircraft's 60:communication protocols 957:Navigational equipment 952:Measuring instruments 865:Stone, E. K. (2016). 58:Several different RF 947:Microwave technology 844:10.1029/2010JD015264 818:de Haan, S. (2011). 962:Air traffic control 883:2016JAtOT..33..757S 836:2011JGRD..11610111D 702:"Aircraft Database" 366:Hexadecimal: AC82EC 324:ICAO 24-bit address 184: 54:Interrogation modes 548:From The Ground Up 446:Use in meteorology 233:Mode A with Mode C 183: 804:978-92-9249-042-3 777:978-92-9231-117-9 424:Extended squitter 420:can be degraded. 392:Decimal: 11305708 239:pressure altitude 218: 217: 162: 161: 144:cryptographically 120:pressure altitude 38:(SSR) or similar 16:(Redirected from 969: 927: 926: 924: 922: 911: 905: 904: 894: 862: 856: 855: 815: 809: 808: 788: 782: 781: 761: 755: 749: 743: 742: 740: 738: 733: 724: 718: 717: 715: 713: 708:. 11 August 2005 698: 692: 691: 681: 673: 671: 669: 657: 651: 650: 648: 646: 641:on 31 March 2013 631: 625: 624: 622: 620: 609: 603: 602: 583: 577: 576: 564: 558: 544: 527: 518: 185: 182: 65: 64: 21: 977: 976: 972: 971: 970: 968: 967: 966: 932: 931: 930: 920: 918: 913: 912: 908: 863: 859: 816: 812: 805: 789: 785: 778: 762: 758: 750: 746: 736: 734: 731: 725: 721: 711: 709: 700: 699: 695: 675: 674: 667: 665: 658: 654: 644: 642: 633: 632: 628: 618: 616: 611: 610: 606: 599: 585: 584: 580: 565: 561: 546:Peppler, I.L.: 545: 530: 519: 508: 504: 492: 464:Siebren de Haan 448: 432: 426: 410:flight identity 406: 369:Octal: 53101354 326: 301: 299:Mode S features 271: 265: 259: 235: 223: 178:transport layer 74: 69: 56: 28: 23: 22: 15: 12: 11: 5: 975: 965: 964: 959: 954: 949: 944: 929: 928: 906: 877:(4): 757–768. 857: 810: 803: 783: 776: 756: 744: 719: 693: 652: 626: 604: 597: 578: 559: 528: 505: 503: 500: 499: 498: 491: 488: 447: 444: 425: 422: 405: 402: 394: 393: 390: 370: 367: 325: 322: 300: 297: 258: 255: 234: 231: 222: 219: 216: 215: 211: 210: 207: 204: 200: 199: 196: 192: 191: 188: 170:physical layer 160: 159: 156: 152: 151: 140: 138: 134: 133: 130: 128: 124: 123: 116: 112: 111: 107: 104: 100: 99: 96: 94: 90: 89: 86: 84: 80: 79: 76: 71: 55: 52: 26: 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 974: 963: 960: 958: 955: 953: 950: 948: 945: 943: 940: 939: 937: 916: 910: 902: 898: 893: 888: 884: 880: 876: 872: 868: 861: 853: 849: 845: 841: 837: 833: 829: 825: 821: 814: 806: 800: 796: 795: 791:ICAO (2012). 787: 779: 773: 769: 768: 764:ICAO (2008). 760: 753: 748: 730: 723: 707: 706:Airframes.org 703: 697: 689: 685: 679: 663: 656: 640: 636: 630: 614: 608: 600: 598:92-9194-407-6 594: 590: 589: 582: 574: 570: 563: 557: 556:0-9690054-9-0 553: 549: 543: 541: 539: 537: 535: 533: 525: 522: 517: 515: 513: 511: 506: 497: 494: 493: 487: 485: 484:FlightRadar24 481: 477: 473: 469: 465: 461: 460:true airspeed 457: 453: 443: 441: 437: 431: 421: 419: 415: 411: 401: 400:(see above). 399: 391: 389: 387: 386:little endian 384: 380: 377: 371: 368: 365: 364: 363: 361: 357: 352: 350: 346: 342: 337: 335: 331: 321: 318: 314: 310: 306: 296: 294: 289: 285: 281: 277: 270: 264: 254: 251: 249: 245: 240: 230: 228: 212: 201: 193: 186: 181: 179: 175: 171: 167: 157: 153: 150:GPS position 149: 145: 141: 139: 136: 135: 131: 129: 126: 125: 121: 117: 114: 113: 108: 105: 101: 97: 95: 92: 91: 87: 85: 82: 81: 77: 72: 67: 66: 63: 61: 51: 47: 45: 41: 37: 33: 19: 919:. Retrieved 909: 874: 870: 860: 827: 823: 813: 793: 786: 766: 759: 747: 735:. Retrieved 722: 710:. Retrieved 705: 696: 666:. Retrieved 655: 643:. Retrieved 639:the original 629: 617:. Retrieved 607: 587: 581: 572: 562: 547: 472:Edmund Stone 449: 433: 407: 395: 373: 360:registration 353: 338: 327: 302: 292: 272: 252: 248:Gillham code 236: 224: 163: 78:Description 57: 48: 31: 29: 664:. Kloth.Net 456:Mach number 416:and Mode S 341:hexadecimal 307:system, to 227:squawk code 142:Provides a 44:transponder 936:Categories 712:7 February 668:7 February 645:7 February 619:7 February 502:References 476:Met Office 428:See also: 379:big endian 267:See also: 261:See also: 901:0739-0572 852:2169-897X 358:with the 317:call sign 246:called a 244:Gray code 242:modified 195:Mode S-ES 737:28 March 678:cite web 490:See also 362:N905NA: 284:squitter 73:Civilian 68:Military 921:5 April 879:Bibcode 832:Bibcode 830:(D10). 474:of the 466:of the 414:ACAS II 214:ATCRBS 209:Mode S 176:as its 168:as the 899:  850:  801:  774:  595:  554:  524:STANAG 349:binary 347:, and 257:Mode S 221:Mode A 206:Mode C 203:Mode A 190:ADS-B 18:Mode S 942:Radar 732:(PDF) 480:AMDAR 452:Earth 436:ADS-B 383:Octal 345:octal 313:ADS-B 288:ADS-B 148:ADS-B 923:2024 897:ISSN 848:ISSN 799:ISBN 772:ISBN 739:2008 714:2013 688:link 684:link 670:2013 647:2013 621:2013 593:ISBN 552:ISBN 526:4193 521:NATO 470:and 468:KNMI 458:and 309:TCAS 198:UAT 75:mode 70:mode 30:The 887:doi 840:doi 828:116 440:UAT 418:SSR 376:Hex 305:SSR 938:: 895:. 885:. 875:33 873:. 869:. 846:. 838:. 826:. 822:. 704:. 680:}} 676:{{ 571:. 531:^ 509:^ 388:}) 343:, 336:. 295:. 250:. 180:: 925:. 903:. 889:: 881:: 854:. 842:: 834:: 807:. 780:. 741:. 716:. 690:) 672:. 649:. 623:. 601:. 155:S 137:5 127:4 115:C 106:A 103:3 93:2 83:1 20:)

Index

Mode S
Secondary Surveillance Radar
Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast
transponder
communication protocols
pressure altitude
cryptographically
ADS-B
air traffic control radar beacon system
physical layer
Universal Access Transceiver
transport layer
squawk code
pressure altitude
Gray code
Gillham code
Air traffic control radar beacon system § Mode S
Secondary surveillance radar § Mode S
Secondary Surveillance Radar
Airborne Collision Avoidance System
squitter
ADS-B
SSR
TCAS
ADS-B
call sign
Certificate of Registration
Flight management system
hexadecimal
octal

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