Aviation transponder interrogation

modes
The aviation transponder interrogation modes are the standard formats of
pulsed sequences from an interrogating Secondary Surveillance Radar (SSR) or
similar Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) system. The reply
format is usually referred to as a "code" from a transponder, which is used to
determine detailed information from a suitably equipped aircraft.

In its simplest form, a "Mode" or interrogation type is generally determined by

pulse spacing between two or more interrogation pulses. Various modes exist
from Mode 1 to 5 for military use, to Mode A, B, C and D, and Mode S for civilian
use.

Contents
Interrogation modes
Mode A
Mode A with Mode C
Mode S
Mode S features
ICAO 24-bit address
Issues with Mode S transponders
Extended squitter
References

Interrogation modes
Several different RF communication protocols have been standardized for
aviation transponders:

Military Civilian
Description
mode mode

1 Provides 2-digit 5-bit mission code (cockpit selectable)[1]

Provides 4-digit octal unit code (set on ground for fighters, can
2
be changed in flight by transport aircraft)[1]

Provides a 4-digit octal identification code for the aircraft, set in

the cockpit but assigned by the air traffic controller. Mode 3/A is
A
often combined with Mode C to provide altitude information as

3 well.[2]

Provides the aircraft's pressure altitude and is usually combined

C with Mode 3/A to provide a combination of a 4-digit octal code
and altitude as Mode 3 A/C, often referred to as Mode A and C[2]

Provides a 3-pulse reply, delay is based on the encrypted

4
challenge[1]

Provides a cryptographically secured version of Mode S and

5
ADS-B GPS position[1]

Provides multiple information formats to a selective interrogation.

S
Each aircraft is assigned a fixed 24-bit address.[2]

Mode A

When the transponder receives an interrogation request, it broadcasts the

configured transponder code (or "squawk code"). This is referred to as "Mode
3A" or more commonly, Mode A. A separate type of response called "Ident" can
be initiated from the airplane by pressing a button on the transponder control
panel.

Mode A with Mode C

A Mode A transponder code response can be augmented by a pressure altitude

response, which is then referred to as Mode C operation.[2] Pressure altitude is
obtained from an altitude encoder, either a separate self-contained unit
mounted in the aircraft or an integral part of the transponder. The altitude
information is passed to the transponder using a modified form of the modified
Gray code called a Gillham code.

Mode A and C responses are used to help air traffic controllers identify a
particular aircraft's position and altitude on a radar screen, in order to maintain
separation.[2]

Mode S

See also: Air traffic control radar beacon system § Mode S

See also: Secondary surveillance radar § Mode S

Another mode called Mode S (Select) is designed to help avoiding

overinterrogation of the transponder (having many radars in busy areas) and to
allow automatic collision avoidance. Mode S transponders are compatible with
Mode A and Mode C Secondary Surveillance Radar (SSR) systems.[2] This is the
type of transponder that is used for TCAS or ACAS II (Airborne Collision
Avoidance System) functions, and is required to implement the extended
squitter broadcast, one means of participating in ADS-B systems. A TCAS-
equipped aircraft must have a Mode S transponder, but not all Mode S
transponders include TCAS. Likewise, a Mode S transponder is required to
implement 1090ES extended squitter ADS-B Out, but there are other ways to
implement ADS-B Out (in the U.S. and China.) The format of Mode S messages
is documented in ICAO Doc 9688, Manual on Mode S Specific Services.[3]

Mode S features

Upon interrogation, Mode S transponders transmit information about the aircraft

to the SSR system, to TCAS receivers on board aircraft and to the ADS-B SSR
system. This information includes the call sign of the aircraft and/or the aircraft's
permanent ICAO 24-bit address (which is represented for human interface
purposes as six hexadecimal characters.) One of the hidden features of Mode S
transponders is that they are backwards compatible; an aircraft equipped with a
Mode S transponder can still be used to send replies to Mode A or C
interrogations. This feature can be activated by a specific type of interrogation
sequence called inter-mode.[citation needed]

ICAO 24-bit address

Mode S equipped aircraft are assigned a unique ICAO 24-bit address or

(informally) Mode-S "hex code" upon national registration and this address
becomes a part of the aircraft's Certificate of Registration. Normally, the
address is never changed, however, the transponders are reprogrammable and,
occasionally, are moved from one aircraft to another (presumably for operational
or cost purposes), either by maintenance or by changing the appropriate entry
in the aircraft's Flight management system.

There are 16,777,214 (224-2) unique ICAO 24-bit addresses (hex codes)
available.[4][5] The ICAO 24-bit address can be represented in three digital
formats: hexadecimal, octal, and binary. These addresses are used to provide a
unique identity normally allocated to an individual aircraft or registration.

As an example, following is the ICAO 24-bit address assigned to the Shuttle

Carrier Aircraft with the registration N905NA:[6][7]

Hexadecimal: AC82EC
Octal: 53101354
Binary: 101011001000001011101100 (Note: occasionally, spaces are added
for visual clarity, thus 1010 1100 1000 0010 1110 1100 {Hex little endian}
and 001 101 110 100 000 100 110 101 {Octal big endian})
Decimal: 11305708

These are all the same 24-bit address of the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft,
represented in different numeral systems (see above).

Issues with Mode S transponders

An issue with Mode S transponders arises when pilots enter the wrong flight
identity code into the Mode S transponder. [8] In this case, the capabilities of
ACAS II and Mode S SSR can be degraded.[9]

Extended squitter

See also: Secondary surveillance radar § Extended squitter

In 2009 the ICAO published an "extended" form of Mode S with more message
formats to use with ADS-B;[10] it was further refined in 2012.[11] Countries
implementing ADS-B can require the use of either the extended squitter mode
of a suitably-equipped Mode S transponder, or the UAT transponder on 978
MHz.

References
f. ^ a b c d NATO STANAG 4193
h. ^ a b c d e f Peppler, I.L.: From The Ground Up, pages 238–239. Aviation
Publishers Co. Limited, Ottawa Ontario, Twenty Seventh Revised Edition,
1996. ISBN 0-9690054-9-0
j. Manual on Mode S Specific Services (2nd ed.). International Civil Aviation
Organization. 2004. ISBN 92-9194-407-6.
k. "UK Civil Aviation Authority – "ICAO 24 bit Aircraft Addresses"". Caa.co.uk.
2007-10-02. Retrieved 2013-02-07.
l. "Eurocontrol – "Mode S Technical Overview"". Eurocontrol.int. Archived
from the original on 2013-03-31. Retrieved 2013-02-07.
m. Ralf D. Kloth, DL4TA, Ludwigsburg, DE. "Aircraft on HFDL - ICAO 24 bit
ID". Kloth.Net. Retrieved 2013-02-07.CS1 maint: Multiple names: authors
list (link)
n. "Aircraft Database". Airframes.org. 2005-08-11. Retrieved 2013-02-07.
o. International Civil Aviation Organization (March 2005). "The Third Meeting
of Automatic Dependent Surveillance – Broadcast (ADS-B) Study and
Implementation Task Force (ADS-B TF/3)" (PDF). Retrieved 2008-03-28.
p. Eurocontrol – Aeronautical Information Circular (AIC) – ICAO 24-Bit Aircraft
Addresses and Aircraft Identification Reporting (in Minutes from The Third
Meeting of the Automatic Dependent Surveillance – Broadcast (ADS-B)
Study and Implementation Task Force (ADS-B TF/3))
fq. ICAO (2008). ICAO Doc 9871, Technical Provisions for Mode S and
Extended Squitter (1st ed.). International Civil Aviation Organization.
ISBN 978-92-9231-117-9.
ff. ICAO (2012). ICAO Doc 9871, Technical Provisions for Mode S and
Extended Squitter (2nd ed.). International Civil Aviation Organization.
ISBN 978-92-9249-042-3.