# Why can transponders be turned off? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 13, 2001, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-can-transponders-be-turned-off/81423 "2001-09-13T19:31:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![GargoyleWB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gargoylewb/32/199_2.png) [@GargoyleWB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GargoyleWB)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2001, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-can-transponders-be-turned-off/81423/21 "2001-09-15T02:53:25Z")
Sheesh, all this secrecy over transponder codes? This website is aimed at eliminating ignorance, not perpetuating it right? This is the same as saying “I could tell you the capital of Saskatchewan, but eyes reading this forum could misuse the information, besides it’s available for anyone to look up.” B) Rant completed. Forgive me. It is free information that any pilot should be willing to offer. Being a pilot, I shall. squak 7500 for a hijacking squak 7600 for radio/communication failure squak 7700 for general emergency/mayday ---
**Author:** ![Jois](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ea666f/32.png) [@Jois](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jois)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2001, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-can-transponders-be-turned-off/81423/22 "2001-09-15T04:24:42Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by mangeorge \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > Of course they wouldn’t have taken it lightly, but they would’ve done it. Interceptor jets were alerted and in flight, but they were too late to do anything. > > I’m not so sure. But we’re getting way off-topic here, **barbitu8**. > There would be many factors to consider. Flaming debris over heavily populated areas, for example? > Maybe another topic? Be my guest. 🙂 > Peace, > mangeorge \*\* Hi mangeorge, You know there are fighter jets flying the East Coast right now, don’t you? Who knows what they have permission to do or not do but they are the only airplane sound I’ve heard for a day or two. Jois ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2001, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-can-transponders-be-turned-off/81423/23 "2001-09-15T04:46:33Z")
Hi there, Jois. Of course I’m aware of that. There are fighters in the air pretty much _all_ the time. But we’re not talking about “Hey, that plane has been hijacked, Let’s shoot it down.” Ok, since there seem’s to be some interest, I’ll start another thread. As if there aren’t plenty on this general subject already. 😉 I shall call it ‘Logistics of shooting down a hijacked passenger jet’. Peace, mangeorge ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2001, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-can-transponders-be-turned-off/81423/24 "2001-09-15T12:45:01Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by GargoyleWB \* > > squak 7500 for a hijacking > squak 7600 for radio/communication failure > squak 7700 for general emergency/mayday \*\* And make sure you don’t inadvertently pass through any of those numbers while changing codes. That WILL be noticed. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2001, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-can-transponders-be-turned-off/81423/25 "2001-09-15T12:51:02Z")
And 7777 is a military code strictly forbidden to civilians, so avoid that one, too. Now all the groundlings are going to want to what the “squawk” part of that statement means. They’ll think the box makes bird noises or something. (I think the WWII vintage ones did - but they’re silent, now) ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Lao](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/2bfe46/32.png) [@Dr.Lao](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Lao)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2001, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-can-transponders-be-turned-off/81423/26 "2001-09-15T13:41:30Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Broomstick \* > \*\*Now all the groundlings are going to want to what the “squawk” part of that statement means. They’ll think the box makes bird noises or something. (I think the WWII vintage ones did - but they’re silent, now) \*\* The way I’ve heard it is that the first transponders in WWII were know colloquially as “parrots” because a parrot will repeat back anything you say to it. Anything these electronic parrots said was then referred to as a “squawk.” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-can-transponders-be-turned-off/81423.md?page=1)