Originally Posted by
Led Zep
I cannot believe this is even a topic of discussion - slow news day I guess.
How long does it take to plug in a transponder code? 3 seconds? Just do it.
It is a topic because the crew faced certificate action as a result of not squawking the code. I think that is ridiculous. It is a topic because you may be in a similar situation. Maybe you can learn something from this topic.
Originally Posted by
captjns
I reviewed a number of QRHs in my museum of flight from my current and previous carriers I have flown with. Squawking 7700 is part of the procedure for rapid depressurization with anticipation for an emergency descent. This allows the aircraft’s beacon return to standout, thus providing fast efficient separation of other aircraft from the one that’s in trouble.
I have heard fellow airmen in similar situations, reminded by ATC to change their squawk to 7700. It also makes ATC sector handovers easier too.
But reprimanded by the FAA, never heard that one before.
Our QRH also says you should squawk 7700. It is the fact that it is written in the QRH that got the FAA's panties in a bunch. Still I think some bureaucrat lost sight of the big picture. The crew got the airplane down and everyone was safe.