# Airplane to ground communication question \[about Scorpion TV show\] **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 25, 2018, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airplane-to-ground-communication-question-about-scorpion-tv-show/809565 "2018-02-25T19:39:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Banksiaman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/banksiaman/32/3334_2.png) [@Banksiaman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banksiaman)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2018, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airplane-to-ground-communication-question-about-scorpion-tv-show/809565/1 "2018-02-25T19:39:55Z")
I just watched the first episode of Scorpion, a TV show centred around a group of highly intelligent misfits working for the US government. The episode is centred around the loss of all communication between the LA air traffic control system and aircraft in their network. Panic ensues, flights are delayed and, if not fixed, they may be stuck up there all night [sorry, couldn’t resist]. The Scorpions sorted it out with a mix of brain work, fast driving, earning the respect of the hot waitress with the gifted autistic son, stunts and implausible assumptions, but I got to wondering, there must be some default contingency measure to deal with collapse of electronic communications, at least in the commercial aviation world. As a non-genius I would have thought something like piles of burning tyres next to the runways, or getting a fighter plane to intercept and morse with its brake lights. Can’t be that hard, surely? ---
**Author:** ![watchwolf49](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e9c0ed/32.png) [@watchwolf49](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/watchwolf49)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2018, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airplane-to-ground-communication-question-about-scorpion-tv-show/809565/2 "2018-02-25T19:51:17Z")
From the Aeronautical Information Manual (USA): Spoiled for spaminess > [@](#): > > 4−2−13. Communications with Tower when Aircraft Transmitter or Receiver or Both are Inoperative > a. Arriving Aircraft. > > 1. Receiver inoperative. > (a) If you have reason to believe your receiver is inoperative, remain outside or above the Class D surface area until the direction and flow of traffic has been determined; then, advise the tower of your type aircraft, position, altitude, intention to land, and request that you be controlled with light signals. > REFERENCE− > AIM, Paragraph 4−3−13 , Traffic Control Light Signals > (b) When you are approximately 3 to 5 miles from the airport, advise the tower of your position and join the airport traffic pattern. From this point on, watch the tower for light signals. Thereafter, if a complete pattern is made, transmit your position downwind and/or turning base leg. > 2. Transmitter inoperative. Remain outside or above the Class D surface area until the direction and flow of traffic has been determined; then, join the airport traffic pattern. Monitor the primary local control frequency as depicted on Sectional Charts for landing or traffic information, and look for a light signal which may be addressed to your aircraft. During hours of daylight, acknowledge tower transmissions or light signals by rocking your wings. At night, acknowledge by blinking the landing or navigation lights. To acknowledge tower transmis- sions during daylight hours, hovering helicopters will turn in the direction of the controlling facility and flash the landing light. While in flight, helicopters should show their acknowledgement of receiving a transmission by making shallow banks in opposite directions. At night, helicopters will acknowledge receipt of transmissions by flashing either the landing or the search light. > 3. Transmitter and receiver inoperative. > Remain outside or above the Class D surface area until the direction and flow of traffic has been determined; then, join the airport traffic pattern and maintain visual contact with the tower to receive light signals. Acknowledge light signals as noted above. > b. Departing Aircraft. If you experience radio failure prior to leaving the parking area, make every effort to have the equipment repaired. If you are unable to have the malfunction repaired, call the tower by telephone and request authorization to depart without two-way radio communications. If tower authorization is granted, you will be given departure information and requested to monitor the tower frequency or watch for light signals as appropriate. During daylight hours, acknowledge tower transmissions or light signals by moving the ailerons or rudder. At night, acknowledge by blinking the landing or navigation lights. If radio malfunction > EasternStandardTime … CentralStandardTime … MountainStandardTime… PacificStandardTime … AlaskaStandardTime … HawaiiStandardTime … > Add 5 hours Add6hours Add 7 hours Add8hours Add9hours Add10hours > Radio Communications Phraseology > 4−2−7 > AIM > 10/12/17 > occurs after departing the parking area, watch the tower for light signals or monitor tower frequency. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2018, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airplane-to-ground-communication-question-about-scorpion-tv-show/809565/3 "2018-02-25T19:52:16Z")
_Scorpion_ didn’t stop when it reached the bottom of the barrel of stupid–it kept on digging and at this point is somewhere near the Mohorovičić discontinuity. ---
**Author:** ![Banksiaman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/banksiaman/32/3334_2.png) [@Banksiaman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banksiaman)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2018, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airplane-to-ground-communication-question-about-scorpion-tv-show/809565/4 "2018-02-25T20:22:05Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > _Scorpion_ didn’t stop when it reached the bottom of the barrel of stupid–it kept on digging and at this point is somewhere near the Mohorovičić discontinuity. I didn’t need a gang of misfit geniuses to work that would happen. And thanks v much \*\*watchwolf49 \*\*for sorting me out so promptly. ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2018, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airplane-to-ground-communication-question-about-scorpion-tv-show/809565/5 "2018-02-26T01:03:20Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > _Scorpion_ didn’t stop when it reached the bottom of the barrel of stupid–it kept on digging and at this point is somewhere near the Mohorovičić discontinuity. I suspect they don’t have the “required quantum advances in robotic and teleoperational technology” that Morgan Industries does to make that work. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2018, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airplane-to-ground-communication-question-about-scorpion-tv-show/809565/6 "2018-02-26T01:06:16Z")
I watched that first episode of that show when it first aired, and the whole plot line of connecting an Ethernet cable between the laptop computer in the car and the network switch or router in the passenger jet flying at a very low altitude above it, was so stupid that I never watched another episode. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2018, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airplane-to-ground-communication-question-about-scorpion-tv-show/809565/7 "2018-02-26T01:13:49Z")
How did they ‘lose all communication’? Aircraft radios are standard VHF, and you can listen to them with a $20 pocket radio. Communicating two ways just requires a portable VHF transciever, which are probably available all over the airport. For that matter, all the planes on the ground have radios capable of talking to the planes in the air. Failing all that, the pilot can just use his cell phone, or borrow one from the passengers. This was also a major flaw (among many) in Die Hard 2, which sounds like a very similar plot. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2018, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airplane-to-ground-communication-question-about-scorpion-tv-show/809565/8 "2018-02-26T01:26:25Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > I watched that first episode of that show when it first aired, and the whole plot line of connecting an Ethernet cable between the laptop computer in the car and the network switch or router in the passenger jet flying at a very low altitude above it, was so stupid that I never watched another episode. [The stupid, it burns](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=buHaKYL9Jhg). ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2018, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airplane-to-ground-communication-question-about-scorpion-tv-show/809565/9 "2018-02-26T01:38:14Z")
Thanks for the link and for confirming that scene was as stupid as I remembered. ---
**Author:** ![TonySinclair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/49beb7/32.png) [@TonySinclair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TonySinclair)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2018, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airplane-to-ground-communication-question-about-scorpion-tv-show/809565/10 "2018-02-26T01:39:07Z")
> [@Dr.Strangelove](#): > > [The stupid, it burns](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=buHaKYL9Jhg). OMFG. I finally understand how Trump won. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2018, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airplane-to-ground-communication-question-about-scorpion-tv-show/809565/11 "2018-02-26T02:10:22Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > I watched that first episode of that show when it first aired, and the whole plot line of connecting an Ethernet cable between the laptop computer in the car and the network switch or router in the passenger jet flying at a very low altitude above it, was so stupid that I never watched another episode. I also dropped out after the first episode, but I enjoyed reading snarky reviews of how horrible later episodes were. (I think possibly the recaps were on IO9/Gizmodo, but I’m not seeing them at the moment.) There is one particular episode where one of the group is testing something in a rocket on the launchpad. A storm comes up and the rocket is struck by lightning launching it into space. The lightning damages the parachute on the capsule so it won’t be able to land. And the guy is in orbit suffering from oxygen deprivation unable to be communicated with clearly. Eventually, they deorbit the capsule but since the parachute isn’t working, the guy has to jump out of it. One of his friends jumps out of a nearby plane sent to meet them to catch him and land them both with his parachute. He misses, and while the guy plummets towards the ocean, the team comes up with a Plan B where a nearby submarine explodes a missile underwater, aerating the water so that it is “soft” enough for the guy to fall on safely. [No, I’m not kidding](http://dualpixels.com/2016/10/13/blast-off-scorpion-it-isnt-the-fall-that-kills-you-review/). ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2018, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airplane-to-ground-communication-question-about-scorpion-tv-show/809565/12 "2018-02-26T02:17:48Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > [No, I’m not kidding](http://dualpixels.com/2016/10/13/blast-off-scorpion-it-isnt-the-fall-that-kills-you-review/). Did the later episodes also run out their budget? Because I’m pretty sure their capsule set is just a dentist’s office with some greebles on the walls. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2018, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airplane-to-ground-communication-question-about-scorpion-tv-show/809565/13 "2018-02-26T02:25:06Z")
By the way, apologies to the OP if my post sidetracked the thread. (But that show _really_ is stupid.) ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2018, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airplane-to-ground-communication-question-about-scorpion-tv-show/809565/14 "2018-02-26T02:32:19Z")
I don’t think it is a sidetrack at all. The point is that the show is so profoundly bad that you should never even suspect that anything on it might be in any way remotely accurate towards anything. ---
**Author:** ![Banksiaman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/banksiaman/32/3334_2.png) [@Banksiaman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banksiaman)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2018, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airplane-to-ground-communication-question-about-scorpion-tv-show/809565/15 "2018-02-26T04:02:31Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > By the way, apologies to the OP if my post sidetracked the thread. (But that show _really_ is stupid.) All is forgiven for you and all other contributors to this thread. A friend I told about the episode suggested they were probably all Mcguyver’s love-children courtesy of the many failed contraceptive devices he jury-rigged from shoe in-soles and dental floss. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2018, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airplane-to-ground-communication-question-about-scorpion-tv-show/809565/16 "2018-02-26T05:07:34Z")
I can’t stop watching that clip. It’s just so incredibly bad at every level. It may actually beat the infamous [two idiots, one keyboard](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u8qgehH3kEQ) scene, and definitely beats the [GUI interface using Visual Basic](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hkDD03yeLnU) scene. Since we’re still in GQ: - Why did they remove the roof while already moving, instead of before they took off? - Why does that plane have an ordinary ethernet switch hooked into their radio/avionics systems? - Why is there a hatch that goes from the cabin to the wheel well? - What kind of clothes starch and hairspray do they use to keep everything tidy in a 160 mph wind? - Why didn’t the guy just tie a wrench or something to the cord so he didn’t have to lower it by hand? - Why did they build the control tower so close to the runway that a wing could easily clip it? - Why did he skid to a stop sideways when cars brake much more effectively in a straight line? - Why did the guy in the _tower_ call out “mayday”? - Why is our band of misfits hanging out in a restaurant? (these are, of course, rhetorical questions…) ---
**Author:** ![GusNSpot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gusnspot/32/436_2.png) [@GusNSpot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GusNSpot)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2018, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airplane-to-ground-communication-question-about-scorpion-tv-show/809565/17 "2018-02-26T05:58:16Z")
When my snark get close to out of bounds I always try to remember they are making way more $$$ than I do. ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2018, 11:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airplane-to-ground-communication-question-about-scorpion-tv-show/809565/18 "2018-02-26T11:46:59Z")
> [@watchwolf49](#): > > From the Aeronautical Information Manual (USA): Spoiled for spaminess Cool! Is there another section that lays out what the light signals from the tower are? ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2018, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airplane-to-ground-communication-question-about-scorpion-tv-show/809565/19 "2018-02-26T14:30:32Z")
> [@DesertDog](#): > > Cool! Is there another section that lays out what the light signals from the tower are? [Aviation light signals](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aviation_light_signals) I’d list them, but I don’t know how to paste a table here. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2018, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airplane-to-ground-communication-question-about-scorpion-tv-show/809565/20 "2018-02-26T14:41:11Z")
> [@TonySinclair](#): > > OMFG. I finally understand how Trump won. **Moderator Note** Let’s avoid political jabs in General Questions. No warning issued, but don’t do this again. Colibri General Questions Moderator [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airplane-to-ground-communication-question-about-scorpion-tv-show/809565.md?page=2)