I’m not a pilot, but I’m hoping some flyers out there in FReeper-land can answer this question for me: Why is it necessary that a pilot or anyone else on board an airliner be able to shut down transponders or other on-board reporting systems? It seems it would be sensible to make it impossible to shut them down. Why does a pilot need the capability of shutting down these systems?
Why would a pilot need to shut off a transponder?
1. It is malfunctioning and sending out the wrong code.
2. It is malfunctioning and not properly encoding the altitude.
3. Is is malfunctioning to the point of creating a problem in the electrical system and possibly an electrical fire.
I can’t think of anything electrical on an aircraft (except the clock) that cannot be turned off with either a switch or a circuit breaker.
In addition to above, 777 carries two. Switch is 3 way. Trans 1, Off, Trans 2.
This according to a 777 driver. (Not me!)
I have flown very small planes. You turn on the transponder before you take off and turn it off again when you park.
I assume they don’t want every plane on the ground to show up in air traffic control.
You’d think they would automate that but on the other hand how would the system know you were really parked instead of just pausing on the ground to wait for another plane to pass in front of you? Or maybe pilots don’t trust automated systems?