You are on page 1of 2

Create account

Log in

Article Talk

Read Edit View history

Aviation transponder interrogation modes


From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Navigation Main page Contents Featured content Current events Random article Donate to Wikipedia Contents 1 Interrogation modes 1.1 Mode A and Mode C 1.2 Mode S Interaction Help About Wikipedia Community portal Recent changes Contact Wikipedia 1.2.1 Mode S features 1.2.1.1 ICAO 24-bit address 1.2.2 Issues with Mode S transponders 2 References

An aviation transponder interrogation mode is the format of a sequence of pulses from an interrogating SSR radar, or similar system, and reply format usually referred to as a "Code" from a transponder, used to determine detailed information from a suitably equipped aircraft. 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.

Interrogation modes
Several different RF communication protocols have been standardized for aviation transponders:

[edit]

Toolbox What links here Related changes Upload file Special pages Permanent link Page information Cite this page

Military Civilian Mode Mode 1 2 A 3 C

Description provides 2-digit 5-bit mission code (cockpit selectable).[1] provides 4-digit octal unit code (set on ground for fighters, can be changed in flight by transport aircraft).[1] provides a 4-digit octal identification code for the aircraft, assigned by the air traffic controller. Mode 3/A is often combined with Mode C to provide altitude information as well.[2] provides the aircraft's pressure altitude and is usually combined with Mode 3/A to provide a combination of a 4-digit octal code and altitude as Mode 3A/C, often referred to as Mode A and C.[2] provides a 3-pulse reply to crypto coded challenge.[1] provides a cryptographically secured version of Mode S and ADS-B GPS position.[1]

Print/export Create a book Download as PDF Printable version

4 5 S

provides multiple information formats to a selective interrogation. Each aircraft is assigned a fixed 24-bit address.[2] [edit]

Languages Franais

Mode A and Mode C

When the transponder receives a radar signal it sends back a transponder's squawk code. This is referred to as Mode 3A or more commonly Mode A. A transponder code can be paired with pressure altitude information, which is called Mode C.[2] Pressure altitude is obtained from an altitude encoder, a separate self-contained unit mounted in the aircraft. The altitude information is passed to the transponder using a modified form of the Gray code called a Gillham Code. Mode 3A and C are used to help air traffic controllers to identify the aircraft and to maintain separation.[2]

Mode S
See also: Air traffic control radar beacon system#Mode S

[edit]

Another mode called Mode S (Selective) 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 Modes A & C.[2] This is the type of transponder that makes the ACAS II (Airborne Collision Avoidance System) and the ADS-B (Automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast) systems function.

Mode S features
Upon interrogation, Mode S transponders transmit information about the aircraft to the Secondary Surveillance Radar (SSR) system, TCAS receivers on board aircraft and to the ADS-B SSR system. This information includes the call sign of the aircraft and/or the transponder's permanent ICAO 24-bit address in the form of a hex code. ICAO 24-bit address

[edit]

[edit]

All modern 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 Certificate of Registration. Normally, the address is never changed, however, the transponders are reprogrammable and, occasionally, are moved from one aircraft to another (presumably for operational or cost purposes), either by maintenance or by changing the appropriate entry in the aircraft's Flight management system. There are 16,777,214 (224-2) unique ICAO 24-bit addresses (hex codes) available.[3][4] The ICAO 24-bit address can be represented in three digital formats: hexadecimal, octal, and binary. These addresses are used to provide a unique identity normally allocated to an individual aircraft or registration. Example of an ICAO 24-bit address: Hexadecimal: AC82EC Decimal: 11305708

Generated with www.html-to-pdf.net

Page 1 / 2

Octal: 53101354 Binary: 101011001000001011101100 (Note: occasionally, spaces are added for visual clarity, thus 10101100 10000010 11101100) (These all correlate to the same aircraft registration, N905NA.)[5][6]

Issues with Mode S transponders

[edit]

One major issue with Mode S transponders is that pilots have frequently been entering the wrong flight identity into their Mode S transponders.[7] In this case, the capabilities of ACAS II and Mode S SSR can be degraded.[8]

References
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. ^ a b c d NATO STANAG 4193

[edit]

^ a b c d e f Peppler, I.L.: From The Ground Up, pages 238239. Aviation Publishers Co. Limited, Ottawa Ontario, Twenty Seventh Revised Edition, 1996. ISBN 0-9690054-9-0 ^ UK Civil Aviation Authority "ICAO 24 bit Aircraft Addresses" ^ Eurocontrol "Mode S Technical Overview" ^ http://www.kloth.net/radio/icao24lookup.php ^ http://www.airframes.org/ ^ International Civil Aviation Organization (March 2005). "The Third Meeting of Automatic Dependent Surveillance Broadcast (ADS-B) Study and Implementation Task Force (ADS-B TF/3)" (PDF). Retrieved 2008-03-28. ^ Eurocontrol Aeronautical Information Circular (AIC) ICAO 24-Bit Aircraft Addresses and Aircraft Identification Reporting (in Minutes from The Third Meeting of the Automatic Dependent Surveillance Broadcast (ADS-B) Study and Implementation Task Force (ADS-B TF/3))

Categories: Radar

Microwave technology

Measuring instruments Navigational equipment Air traffic control

This page was last modified on 5 December 2012 at 14:17. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License; additional terms may apply. See Terms of Use for details. Wikipediais a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization. Contact us Privacy policy About Wikipedia Disclaimers Mobile view

Generated with www.html-to-pdf.net

Page 2 / 2

You might also like