Squawk 7761

[ClipperLuna]

Had something happen in the Comanche today that made me pause to think--ATC gave me 7761 for my transponder. Just for occasions such as this, whenever I'm switching from 1200 to anything else, I put myself in the habit of tuning the last two digits first so it's never, even transiently, tuned to 7500, 7600, or 7700. Still it got me wondering, does it happen very often RW that someone squawks one of these by mistake?

[Piper_EEWL]

Thats good thinking! A couple of weeks ago a Lufthansa crew accidentally squawked 7500. It was big in the news here. So this can even happen to the pros.

[medx421]

Real life tuning from 1200, I change from right to left. Tuning back to 1200, I tune left to right. Accidents do happen out there occasionally though. I don't believe any FAA facilities issue any codes beginning with 75, 76, or 77 though for that very reason.

https://www.faa.gov/documentLibrary/med ... ations.pdf

Nick

[some1 - A2A]

IIRC the transponders have a short delay before they start to transmit the new code, so they don't switch while you still change the digits.

[Budlake]

I was taught long ago in my PPL days to switch the transponder off before changing the code for that very reason.
That advise has held me in good stead through my CPL days and now in to my virtual flying days.

[Lewis - A2A]

Yes a short delay is there to give enough time to change/tune things, its not an instant digital 0/1 yes/no thing but that delay isnt too big so you do need to pick any issues up quickly.

cheers,
Lewis