4 ms·

Can’t you trivially turn off a transponder?

Lendal 4y ago
Sure, but you still have to file a flight plan before you can get on a runway. Flight plans are quite detailed. I suppose you could file a fake flight plan though.
- joezydeco 4y ago
  Small aircraft flying visual rules (VFR) in lightly used airspaces like class A don't need to file plans. Look around any small airport and you'll see Cessnas doing training loops all day long. No flight plans. But their ADS-B transponders are always on. https://globe.adsbexchange.com/ https://globe.adsbexchange.com/
winged 4y ago
Technically yes, legally no, with a few exceptions for military and special operations. Most airspaces are TMZ (transponder mandatory zone).
- Waterluvian 4y ago
  I’m guessing it’s a great way to get fined or even banned from landing at the airports worth landing at.
2mol 4y ago
Wouldn't that be very illegal and noticed by every airport you ever land in?
- jcalvinowens 4y ago
  Inside the continental US, if you fly a small not-turbine-engine-powered airplane yourself and only go to rural airports with no tower, it is actually legal to have no transponder (see below, 91.215(b), 91.225(b)). But, if the transponder is installed, you are legally required to turn it on at all times no matter where you are (see 91.215(b)(3), "all controlled airspace" means everything above 700-1200ft AGL (depending on exactly where)). So for this to be legal, you can't just turn if off: you have to actually remove it from the airplane. Whether that is legal additionally depends on the airplane. https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/14/91.215 https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/14/91.215 https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/14/91.225 https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/14/91.225
joezydeco 4y ago
Yes. But that will trivially attract the attention of the FAA and, most likely, civil air defense.
bookofjoe 4y ago
You can't turn off an ultra-hi-res NRO satellite which is viewing/recording this plane's flight in real time.

Sure, but you still have to file a flight plan before you can get on a runway. Flight plans are quite detailed. I suppose you could file a fake flight plan though.

joezydeco 4y ago
Small aircraft flying visual rules (VFR) in lightly used airspaces like class A don't need to file plans. Look around any small airport and you'll see Cessnas doing training loops all day long. No flight plans. But their ADS-B transponders are always on. https://globe.adsbexchange.com/ https://globe.adsbexchange.com/

winged 4y ago

Technically yes, legally no, with a few exceptions for military and special operations. Most airspaces are TMZ (transponder mandatory zone).

Waterluvian 4y ago
I’m guessing it’s a great way to get fined or even banned from landing at the airports worth landing at.

2mol 4y ago

Wouldn't that be very illegal and noticed by every airport you ever land in?

jcalvinowens 4y ago
Inside the continental US, if you fly a small not-turbine-engine-powered airplane yourself and only go to rural airports with no tower, it is actually legal to have no transponder (see below, 91.215(b), 91.225(b)). But, if the transponder is installed, you are legally required to turn it on at all times no matter where you are (see 91.215(b)(3), "all controlled airspace" means everything above 700-1200ft AGL (depending on exactly where)). So for this to be legal, you can't just turn if off: you have to actually remove it from the airplane. Whether that is legal additionally depends on the airplane. https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/14/91.215 https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/14/91.215 https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/14/91.225 https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/14/91.225

joezydeco 4y ago

Yes. But that will trivially attract the attention of the FAA and, most likely, civil air defense.

bookofjoe 4y ago

You can't turn off an ultra-hi-res NRO satellite which is viewing/recording this plane's flight in real time.