If you are operating a glider equipped with a 4097 code radar beacon transponder and not in contact with an ATC facility, what is the transponder code you should be squawking?

Prepare for your Private Pilot Glider Test with flashcards and multiple choice questions, each featuring hints and explanations. Ready yourself for the main exam!

Multiple Choice

If you are operating a glider equipped with a 4097 code radar beacon transponder and not in contact with an ATC facility, what is the transponder code you should be squawking?

Explanation:
Transponder codes tell ATC and radar what your flight status is, including whether you have two-way radio contact. When a glider is operating without ATC contact, you use a code that indicates VFR flight in uncontrolled airspace and no radio contact. The published code for this situation is 1202, so you should switch to squawking 1202. The pre-set 4097 isn’t the standard code for routine VFR with no ATC contact, and other codes are used for different, more specific situations. Keeping to 1202 helps ensure you’re visible to radar and understood by controllers in the absence of radio communication.

Transponder codes tell ATC and radar what your flight status is, including whether you have two-way radio contact. When a glider is operating without ATC contact, you use a code that indicates VFR flight in uncontrolled airspace and no radio contact. The published code for this situation is 1202, so you should switch to squawking 1202. The pre-set 4097 isn’t the standard code for routine VFR with no ATC contact, and other codes are used for different, more specific situations. Keeping to 1202 helps ensure you’re visible to radar and understood by controllers in the absence of radio communication.

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